Solar power shouldn't just be for wealthy: SolarSaver would fix that

Thursday, 9 July 2026

Megan Woods is Labour spokesperson for Energy and Resources.

OPINION: One of the things I hear most often from New Zealanders is that power bills feel out of control. People are working hard, doing the right thing, but every month another power bill arrives and it's higher than the last.

Power bills have gone up 20% in just the last two years. Yet the Government’s big energy idea has been to pour millions into fossil fuels, and solar remains out of reach for families squeezed hardest by rising bills.

This is why Labour has announced SolarSaver, a new solar policy to help more Kiwis with their power bills, with new ways to save for homeowners, renters, and whole communities. It’s a comprehensive package that allows for two new loan options, new plug-in solar for renters, and new options for communities, plus kickstart grants to support those who need the most help getting started.

Read more:

• Labour banks again on retail politics with generous solar plan

• Labour unveils $160m household solar package funded from Gas Security Fund

• National promises renewable energy fund for households, repaid through rates

• Home solar systems or grid-connected solar farms, which make most sense?

Here’s how it works.

The first new financing option is a loan through your local lines company. Line companies own the poles and wires in your area. When households install solar and batteries, they take some of the load off the network, meaning line companies can defer or avoid costly network upgrades.

Line companies have a stake in helping families go solar, but today’s rules get in the way. Labour will change those rules so networks can back household‑owned solar and batteries on fair, affordable terms.The loan is attached to the property and repayments are collected through a dedicated lines charge on the property.

The second option is the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a new low-interest loan administered through local councils and repaid through your rates bill. Like line company loans, these loans are linked to your property so if you sell your home it transfers to the new owner. New research shows that homes with solar in New Zealand are starting to sell at a premium.

Participation in both loan schemes is voluntary for councils and line companies, but the new rules will allow those who want to offer these products to do so.

Under Labour’s plan, renters won't miss out either. We will fix the regulations to allow plug-in solar panels – safe, portable solar panels that plug straight into a wall socket and are already used by more than a million households in Germany. Depending on where you live, a renter can save between $300 to $400 a year on their power bill with plug-in solar.

For families who need a little help getting started, SolarSaver includes a kickstart grant of up to $3000, available to low- and middle-income households.

Labour will also invest in a new Community Battery Fund to help neighbourhoods, marae, councils, and charities install shared solar batteries. A community battery stores power and feeds it back when people need it most - at peak times, or when the network goes down. It works like a home battery, but shared across an area, so everyone nearby can share the savings, panels or not.

Finally, Labour will create a new one-stop shop to help households work out what option is best for them. With SolarSaver, families will get free, independent advice from EECA to help pick the right system, find an accredited installer, and get the best deal for their homes. No upfront costs. No navigating multiple lenders. Just one simple process, with more options and more savings for more New Zealanders.

National and its coalition partners have chosen expensive fossil fuels that won’t lower your bills, but Labour is choosing a smarter investment with SolarSaver. It will help more Kiwis cut the costs on their power bills. It will also strengthen New Zealand’s energy resilience and create new jobs as the solar rollout ramps up.

Alongside our expanded Apprenticeship Boost scheme, Labour will support thousands of young tradies to build careers in a growing industry. It’s all part of Labour’s plan to make life easier and more affordable.

Editor's Note: When political parties announce major policies, The Post will cover them fairly and fearlessly and evaluate them critically, including comments from their opponents and other stakeholders. We will also offer the relevant party the opportunity to submit 750 words outlining the policy to readers clearly and factually, without extraneous political content, in their own words. When parties sufficiently meet those tests, as in this case, we will usually publish their pieces the morning after their announcement, subject to space.