News & Updates

Overall, Rewiring Aotearoa welcomes the objectives of this package of proposals. from the Energy Competition Task Force. We view the package as a critical step in improving energy system outcomes for all consumers. We consider retailers paying consumers fairly as a critical step, and we are mostly satisfied with the Task Force’s approach to this (initiative 2C) and think it will create better outcomes for New Zealand consumers and the energy system as a whole. In contrast, the Task Force’s preferred option around how distributors are required to reward peak input from consumers (initiative 2A) will not in our view meet the Task Force’s (or the Electricity Authority’s) stated objectives.

Focusing on the emissions reductions at home through electrification is a major opportunity (and challenge) for Aotearoa NZ. Homes, farms, and businesses must play a role in driving emissions reductions through electrification and the potential must be recognised and addressed to our 2035 international climate change target.

Rewiring Aotearoa believes we need to make better use of our existing infrastrucuture, see customers as an essential part of a 21st Century energy system and that electrification will lead to much greater energy security and resilience.

Rewiring Aotearoa's submission to the Electricity Authority on its Network Connections Project - Stage One is in and it is good to see the Authority practicing its statutory objective of protecting the interests of consumers.

The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment opened consultation on a discussion document about amendments to the Electricity Safety Regulations to expand the permitted voltage range for electricity supply. Rewiring Aotearoa's submission believes changes are needed to prepare for the rapid adoption of customer energy resources, and electricity distribution companies need to be compelled to allow export limits to be increased.

The Department for Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Ministry for the Environment proposed a topic for a Long Term Insights Briefing entitled 'Everyone plays a part: building New Zealand’s resilience in the context of global trends and our unique natural environment'. Rewiring Aotearoa's submission says energy security and resilience, critical infrastructure failing and commodity/energy price shocks are especially important for Aotearoa NZ’s resilience to future challenges, and farms can also play an important role.

Our ERP2 submission outlines what we think needs to be done to improve the Government's plan to reach our climate targets, electrify the Aotearoa New Zealand economy and build a fairer future energy system for New Zealanders that saves people money and does not leave anyone behind.

There is a relevant saying: ‘Information wants to be free’. While the proposed Consumer and Data Product Bill takes a step in that direction, it does not offer the level of freedom that could be technically accomplished, nor the level of freedom that is likely to unlock the maximum level of innovation.

Rakiura / Stewart Island faces the highest electricity prices in New Zealand. Successive governments have funded report after report and numerous fly-in visits by Ministers have failed to change this situation for the local community. Rewiring Aotearoa believes the opportunity is to harness existing solar and battery technology to deliver significant cost-of-living savings and reduced emissions at scale via electrification on Stewart Island right now. With financed solar and batteries, electricity usage costs for residents could be halved without delay. Rewiring Aotearoa has been engaging with the local community, who have been sending us their power bills. On Saturday 27th April some of the Rewiring team visited Stewart Island (including Mike Rewi who has strong whakapapa to Stewart Island). What we are hearing from this community is many locals fear the proposals and the likely “preferred option” will be focused on replacing current diesel generators, not on reducing the cost of energy for consumers. Our proposal outlines Rewiring Aotearoa’s pitch for an alternative approach to develop a community-led energy solution for the Island.

Overall, we encourage the Commission to think beyond competition merely as a driver for innovation, to consider the outcomes from innovation for the long term benefit for New Zealanders. Rewiring Aotearoa believes one such outcome from market innovation is supporting the electrification opportunity for Aotearoa New Zealand. The Commission has the opportunity to play an active role in driving this not just through the energy market, but also through the personal banking market. It is important that these functions are not seen in isolation, but as a system, to better realise the Commission's role in delivering on NZ’s emissions reduction plan, and 2050 Nationally Determined Contribution.

18 March 2024: New Zealand is one of the first places in the world where electric appliances and vehicles are now more affordable than their fossil fuel equivalents. A new report has shown that, on average, homes currently using gas appliances and petrol vehicles could save thousands every year if they went electric and got their electricity from a combination of rooftop solar, home battery and New Zealand’s already highly renewable grid.

In this future, consumer infrastructure needs to compete on a level playing field with traditional infrastructure – if a $10,000 battery on a consumer’s premises can provide the same service as a $20,000 supply-side asset (a network or generation investment), the consumer’s asset should be selected for the service. However, today there is a systemic bias towards traditional infrastructure largely because it is seen as significantly more ‘dependable’. There are a variety of historical reasons for this. Our primary context to this submission is that many of the assumptions and rationale for this bias are quickly falling away, and DPP4 provides a significant opportunity for the Commerce Commission (the Commission) to reset the assumptions and correct some of this bias.

The EA has the ability to take a leadership role in the energy transition on behalf of electricity consumers. Far more than the Commerce Commission’s oversight of EDBs investment plans, the EA’s network pricing workplan gives consumers agency in the development of the electricity system. When consumer agency is stifled, they will likely have significantly worse financial outcomes on their bills. Much of the necessary changes have been demonstrated already locally or overseas, and the remaining question is not if the changes are possible but if we as a nation will have the courage to implement them on the timeline required to drive better energy transition outcomes for consumers.

More news, views and hullaballoos from the world of electrification, with a big event next week spelling out the economic opportunity for New Zealand; red states embracing solar and coppers embracing EVs in the US; Norway getting close to 100% on EVs; hydrogen cars sucking; Europe looking to the sky to get off Russian gas; and exciting news for e-bike entrepreneurs and explorers.

We're all charged up this week with some more big - and magical - machines; one of the best looking caravans we've ever seen (plus some EV towing info); how the big batteries in these big machines are starting to play a role in the energy system; a solar breakthrough that might allow us to put solar cells on our clothes, mobiles or cars; and if you liked the movie Don’t Look Up, you might be into a new play at Silo Theatre called Scenes From The Climate Era. 

EVs cross a big tipping point in China and upfront costs are expected to keep falling this year; sales of gas hot water systems decline in New Zealand for the first time in ten years; 'why the solar industrial revolution is the biggest investment opportunity in history' and opens up some amazing possibilities; the many benefits of induction cooktops; and Australian comedian Tom Gleeson explains why big power companies might want to put some solar panels on their power stations.

In this week's best of, a report showing that batteries beat oil by a long way when it comes to mining, EV sales in New Zealand still growing (and sun is an excellent fuel in Africa), the amazing electric machines currently being built in China, a handy video explainer on the concept of useful energy, and a classic Nissan Leaf commercial that makes you think about the machines that still burn fossil fuel.

A new electric dumper in Wellington and new electric buses in Christchurch, an energy hardship project with real world data, a novel scheme in some US resort towns that makes up for outdoor energy use, Rivian's very appealing new charging outpost and easily the best love song we've ever heard.

Earning a place on this week's electrification podium, Auckland's new electric bus hub (and Palmerston North's big electric bus investment), Germany's new law enshrining solar rights and how tenants can benefit from publicly-owned panels in Zurich, an Australian experiment shows how EVs could play a role during grid emergencies (and why we need smart charging to reduce stress on the grid), and the inside story of New York's first all-electric skyscraper.

The cup runneth over with good electrification news and this week's selection features EVs becoming cheaper than fossil cars in China, a promising peer-to-peer electricity sharing scheme on Aotea / Great Barrier Island, massive growth in renewable generation (and massive opportunity for New Zealand to become the Saudi Arabia of renewable electricity), Energy Mad reaches a milestone, and a special electric toy for the snow lovers.

On this week's e-highlight reel, electricity generating windows from across the Tasman, the role community-owned microgrids can play in regional areas, the rise of electric boats, and how heat pumps save money and reduce emissions.

On this week's electrification highlight reel, Contact Energy's new grid-scale battery project with Tesla, how the really big machine manufacturers are going electric, solar power reaches a big audience - and a big milestone - and a succinct summary of the efficiency of electric machines.

This week on our electrification compendium, the country's coolest coffee delivery van, potentially the country's coolest truck, a new report with lots of amazing graphs on the transition to clean energy, how EVs should be seen as batteries on wheels and Climate Town's explanation of the dirty tricks the gas industry has used to keep us hooked up.