7153 (2026). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy

7153 (2026). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Energy: Did advice he received on rooftop solar state that upfront cost was the primary barrier to household uptake, and if so, what specific policy options, if any, were recommended to address that barrier?

Hon Simon Watts: I have received advice that there are a range of barriers to household uptake of solar including cost and regulatory barriers. The Government has already implemented several initiatives to reduce barriers and costs of installing rooftop solar: • From October 2025 we clarified that households and businesses do not need a building consent to install solar on existing buildings, and for new builds the consenting time will be reduced from 20 to 10 working days. • From November 2025, the electricity safety regulations have been updated to reference newer joint Australia and New Zealand standards for these products to support safer and easier installations. • From November 2025 we expanded the permitted voltage range for electricity networks to allow households and businesses with solar to export more electricity back to the grid and a number of networks have already raised their export limits in response. • In August 2025, EECA published best practice guidance, making more information available to support choice and better solar installations. The Electricity Authority is also making several changes that will ensure kiwis are paid appropriately for any electricity they export back to the network: • From April 2026, networks will have to offer a rebate for electricity injected back into the grid at peak times • From July 2026, retailers will have to offer time varying consumption and injection plans to consumers • A new comparison and switching website expected to launch shortly, updates to rules to improve electricity billing are expected in October 2026