Solar is available today to the masses

Solar is available today to the masses

Plummeting costs of solar installation, buying the power generated from a solar system on your roof without any capital, lease to own schemes and low interest loans for solar system, mean that today, anyone with an electricity bill can get solar on their roof the Sustainable Electricity Association (SEANZ) said today.

Recent studies by Otago University show that lower income households intend to purchase solar in the future as financial barriers lower, although historically solar customers have been wealthier.

“Solar has the ability to be a great leveller in society bringing low cost electricity to the masses” said Brendan Winitana, SEANZ Chairman.

Mr Winitana was responding to comments by Meridian CEO Mark Binns yesterday that solar power was creating a social divide.

“The solar industry is responding to rising consumer demand for low cost renewable electricity and all New Zealanders can be part of that that growth” said Mr Winitana.

“The solar industry is committed to ensuring that a 21st Century grid is affordable and fit for purpose, but the large utilities need to rethink what value they offer consumers if they are to survive. For them it’s about retaining customers in the face of increased competition and a forecast decreasing electricity demand”.

“The Otago University study also showed that lack of trust by consumers in their power companies is also driving the growth in solar energy”.

“Consumers are moving to solar because it offers specific values that many traditional power companies cannot and that will continue unless those power companies respond to consumer demand” Mr Winitana said.

The report published by the Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago. PV in New Zealand: The story so far. Ford, R., Stephenson, J., Scott, M., Williams, J., Wooliscroft, B., King, G., & Miller, A. (2014). https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/4992/PV%20Uptake%20in%20NZ%20The%20story%20so%20far%20140917.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Mr Binns comments can be found here: http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/meridian-solar-power-creating-social-divide-2015030418#axzz3TOv6BCV8

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