Latest news with #RewiringAotearoa
RNZ News
25 minutes ago
- Business
- RNZ News
The electricity evangelist spreading the solar message
Woman with Morrison's lawnmower Photo: Hawkes Bay Knowledge Trust Mike Casey is an electricity evangelist, spreading the word from his fossil-fuel-free cherry orchard in Cromwell. He's the CEO of Rewiring Aotearoa, which has just released two reports - the first is a machine count of all the household items people could (and, the organisation says, should) convert to electricity; the second is a policy manifesto which sets out 59 ways to move towards an electrical utopia. In a political world where climate change issues don't appear to have a high priority , Rewiring Aotearoa's efforts could have fallen on deaf ears. However, says Newsroom senior political reporter and climate change writer Marc Daalder, the new energy minister Simon Watts has confirmed he's open to adopting the policy marked as the most important - making electrification loans accessible to everyone. The idea would be to use the high credit ratings of councils to leverage low-interest loans to install home solar panels. Daalder says such a scheme wouldn't put the debt on council balance sheets, and it would mean the government wouldn't have to put up much money to do it either. "Central government would only have to stump up for the set-up costs which would be two to six million dollars, so for someone like Simon Watts who really does want to see a deployment of solar, it's a great cost of living policy because it helps people reduce their energy bills, and that's one of the big growing aspects of our household bills at the moment." Daalder says not directly having to subsidise solar but still giving the industry a big boost is pretty appealing for the government. It doesn't need to plough billions into it because it's being consumer-driven and the economic case for the change is transparent as it is - there are just smaller failures around financing. He says it's fair to say this government doesn't have a great record on climate policy. "I think that Rewiring [Aotearoa] has done a good job of finding a niche where actually maybe there can be some progress from the government." And he detects a change of heart in coalition politicians over what some of them have described as "woke" or "left wing" technologies, particularly after it was revealed that solar energy mitigated about $20 million in damages and losses after the toppling of a power pylon that caused outages to 88,000 Northland homes last year. "I think having Simon Watts as the energy minister makes a big difference as well. There was a sense in the sector that Simeon Brown, the previous energy minster, was somewhat ideologically opposed to some of these clean and green technologies ... although, even that sounded like it was starting to shift as the benefits became apparent." Mike Casey says the Machine Count project was a case of 'you can't change what you can't measure'. The report bridges the gap between big, complicated climate policy that's hard to understand, and the sort of discussions people have in their homes - should they buy an electric lawn mower to replace the old one, or when is it best to get an EV, or put solar on the roof. If Kiwi households upgraded six million of the most easily electrifiable machines, they'd save the country about $8 million a day. And ditching those fossil-powered gadgets and old cars would slash 7.5 million tonnes off carbon emissions each year. Some things are too hard to go after. Getting farmers to swap out their tractors, or unglue people's hands from their barbeques, or get rid of their jetskis just yet is off the immediate agenda. "When you're talking about electrification, especially with a reasonably traditional Kiwi bloke, then the immediate thing that the conversation moves to is 'I've got no option to electrify my 200 horsepower diesel tractor', or 'electrification of international aviation is still a long way away'," says Casey. "So it's really important to quantify ... you know we've 10 million machines in New Zealand ... 8.5 million of them, the technology exists within New Zealand to electrify them right now. A million of them, the technology exists somewhere in the world but for whatever reason they're difficult for us to electrify. And there's about 700,000 machines in New Zealand that the technology just doesn't exist to electrify yet. "And it's a way of breaking that conversation open to make it less about the 200 hp tractors and more about all the small machines that exist in the home where there's a significant economic and emissions opportunity for our country." One of the big changes is likely to be gas cookers, both because the price of gas is going up as the resource gets more scarce, and because the toxins released when cooking with gas inside can be dangerous for children. But Casey is quick to point out they're not going after the 1,316,620 gas barbeques in the country - not only are electric versions not really up to speed yet, but they're not used often enough for it to be a priority. "The other thing we've learnt in this whole electrification discussion is that we don't really want to look at banning things or removing things because it actually creates an allergic reaction from a certain section of society which is unproductive for the overall electrification message." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
1News
2 days ago
- Politics
- 1News
The one prominent billboard turning heads in the Beehive
In a move reminiscent of stations on Washington DC's metro system, a towering digital billboard opposite Parliament has become the latest battleground for lobbyists seeking to influence policymakers. However, what's being flogged in Wellington is more political messaging than military hardware from defence contractors. An increasing number of campaigning organisations are buying time on the Whitmore St site, including Federated Farmers, the Motor Trade Association, Rewiring Aotearoa, and even a retired doctor calling out both major parties on the rebuild of Dunedin Hospital. Several of those organisations also highlighted to media their deliberate purchase of space on the billboard. In a release, the MTA said, 'to make sure Government MPs see where they're passing and failing, MTA has taken out billboard space right under their eyes, across the road from the Beehive.' And Federated Farmers spokesperson Toby Williams said, 'it's a clear target at the politicians, and the bureaucrats who make the decisions.' ADVERTISEMENT 'We want them thinking on their lunch breaks and when they're walking through the halls of Parliament, look out at our billboard and just get a really clear message from farmers.' Q+A asked around Parliament whether the messages have been noticed. Minister Chris Bishop said he'd noticed it, saying 'we travel from Parliament down that street, so it's pretty hard not to notice. To be honest, it's clever.' Labour MP Kieran McAnulty said he'd also noticed the billboard and offered support for the Federated Farmers campaign. But neither of those MPs is the primary target for two of the campaigns – that honour goes to energy and climate change minister Simon Watts. Watts appears on the billboard photoshopped into a superhero costume, as part of the Rewiring Aotearoa "MegaWatts" campaign. The minister points out that he didn't pay for it to go up. But he did note the billboards are visible from the ninth floor of the Beehive, where the Prime Minister has his office. ADVERTISEMENT The billboard is in prime position, but when asked whether that meant it cost a premium, billboard owner Lumo declined to comment. The Campaign Company has placed ads on the billboard, and general manager Ani O'Brien said the location has been a key consideration. 'A couple of our campaigns recently have been placed on the Lumo site on Whitmore Street, and that is visible from ministerial offices, and so that has been a very conscious part of our strategy because the message has been one that they want politicians to see and understand,' said O'Brien. But does the billboard actually change the minds of politicians and their staff? Simon Watts was sceptical on that point. 'I don't get caught up in ads. I'm focused as minister on energy affordability and security, and I don't need an ad to remind me of that.' Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand On Air
The Spinoff
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Spinoff
When the Facts Change: An abundance of energy
Mike Casey from Rewiring Aotearoa joins Bernard Hickey to discuss what could be done right now to electrify our transport fleet and the cost of living savings within our grasp. 'Abundance' is the hottest word in the political economy right now all around the world. A book by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein called Abundance: How we build a better future argues the centre-left should adopt urbanisation and electrification as central aims to improve affordability of housing and transport, rather than framing emissions reduction as an expensive and painful necessity that the right has successfully weaponised into electoral suicide. This week on When The Facts Change, Bernard Hickey talks to Rewiring Aotearoa about what could be done right now to electrify our transport fleet and the cost of living savings within our grasp.
Scoop
27-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electricity Authority Welcomes Plan To Empower Consumers And ‘Make NZ More Electric'
Press Release – Electricity Authority The electricity system is in a period of substantial change. The Authority is taking action, alongside others, to enable this change and ensure the system is fit-for-the-future and works for New Zealanders,' says Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies. The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) welcomes the manifesto released by Rewiring Aotearoa today detailing 59 actions to help households, businesses and farms switch to electric alternatives. According to Rewiring Aotearoa, these actions will help consumers access cheaper, cleaner power and the electricity system will be strengthened by more consumer energy resources, such as rooftop solar. 'We are working to deliver an electricity system that empowers consumers, supports electrification, and is reliable, secure and delivered at the lowest cost,' says Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies. 'We have work underway to boost security of supply, encourage more flexibility in the system, enable consumers to have greater control over their electricity use and costs, and create a more efficient electricity system. 'We agree with Rewiring Aotearoa that New Zealand's centralised electricity system can be complemented by more localised energy resources. Power generated at a local level can enhance resilience to climate change impacts, improve affordability, progress decarbonisation and empower communities and local economies. Our Decentralisation green paper aims to start a discussion about how we can move towards this future in a way that ensures people and communities benefit.' The Authority also has multiple, inter-related projects underway that could support more solar from as early as next year. For example, it is currently considering rule changes that would ensure fairer prices for consumers with solar when they supply power to the network at peak times. 'The electricity system is in a period of substantial change. The Authority is taking action, alongside others, to enable this change and ensure the system is fit-for-the-future and works for New Zealanders,' Gillies said. Notes: Other Authority work aligned with Rewiring Aotearoa's Electrification Manifesto includes: proposing rule changes to enable consumers to have contracts with multiple electricity retailers. For example, a household could be with the retailer that offers the best buy-back for solar they supply to the network, and another retailer for their electricity use. Consultation on proposed rule changes is scheduled for late May. Once in place, future rule changes will also enable peer-to-peer energy trading and for consumers to have separate retailers for selected appliances, such as their EV charger. enabling easier retail switching by improving comparison and switching services and tools for consumers, including working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to develop a potential electricity consumer data right. making it easier for businesses and infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, to connect to the networks through our proposed rule changes for connection pricing methodologies and application process. empowering consumers to better manage their electricity costs, eg, through proposed rule changes that would require large retailers to offer customers a time-of-use pricing plan. enabling more flexibility in the system across multiple workstreams, which can help keep costs down by avoiding the need for costly network infrastructure upgrades. The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown Entity with the main statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers. The additional objective of the Authority is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those consumers.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Electricity Authority Welcomes Plan To Empower Consumers And ‘Make NZ More Electric'
The Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (Authority) welcomes the manifesto released by Rewiring Aotearoa today detailing 59 actions to help households, businesses and farms switch to electric alternatives. According to Rewiring Aotearoa, these actions will help consumers access cheaper, cleaner power and the electricity system will be strengthened by more consumer energy resources, such as rooftop solar. "We are working to deliver an electricity system that empowers consumers, supports electrification, and is reliable, secure and delivered at the lowest cost," says Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies. "We have work underway to boost security of supply, encourage more flexibility in the system, enable consumers to have greater control over their electricity use and costs, and create a more efficient electricity system. "We agree with Rewiring Aotearoa that New Zealand's centralised electricity system can be complemented by more localised energy resources. Power generated at a local level can enhance resilience to climate change impacts, improve affordability, progress decarbonisation and empower communities and local economies. Our Decentralisation green paper aims to start a discussion about how we can move towards this future in a way that ensures people and communities benefit." The Authority also has multiple, inter-related projects underway that could support more solar from as early as next year. For example, it is currently considering rule changes that would ensure fairer prices for consumers with solar when they supply power to the network at peak times. "The electricity system is in a period of substantial change. The Authority is taking action, alongside others, to enable this change and ensure the system is fit-for-the-future and works for New Zealanders," Gillies said. Notes: Other Authority work aligned with Rewiring Aotearoa's Electrification Manifesto includes: proposing rule changes to enable consumers to have contracts with multiple electricity retailers. For example, a household could be with the retailer that offers the best buy-back for solar they supply to the network, and another retailer for their electricity use. Consultation on proposed rule changes is scheduled for late May. Once in place, future rule changes will also enable peer-to-peer energy trading and for consumers to have separate retailers for selected appliances, such as their EV charger. enabling easier retail switching by improving comparison and switching services and tools for consumers, including working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to develop a potential electricity consumer data right. making it easier for businesses and infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, to connect to the networks through our proposed rule changes for connection pricing methodologies and application process. empowering consumers to better manage their electricity costs, eg, through proposed rule changes that would require large retailers to offer customers a time-of-use pricing plan. enabling more flexibility in the system across multiple workstreams, which can help keep costs down by avoiding the need for costly network infrastructure upgrades. The Electricity Authority is an independent Crown Entity with the main statutory objective to promote competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers. The additional objective of the Authority is to protect the interests of domestic consumers and small business consumers in relation to the supply of electricity to those consumers.
