Zigg:

 

Stuff are ramping up the number of scare mongering articles

 

Gotta get them clicks and adviews anyway they can.

freitasm:

 

At some point, something needs to be said about a government that thinks investing in gas is sensible, and that removing EV subsidies and avoiding EV charger investments are good things.

 

Almost like they didn't have a vision for the future.

 

I have the added insight by way of a close relative that works in the gas sector. What I hear through the media is often a long way from the real situation 'on the ground'. The reality is somewhere between a government who is ignorant or dismissive of the mechanics of their energy policies or one that intentionally is misinforming the electorate. Probably a bit of both. The LNG initiative detail is also poorly thought through and far from the 'solution' that the public is being presented with.

The facts around Marsden Point's relevance (almost nil) to the current fuel situation, and the ability of our electricity infrastructure to cope with significant EV uptake are both similarly skewed by the government, and not helped by weak media coverage.

So much of this coalition's policy is trapped in a 1960s mindset it is frankly frustrating and downright embarrassing.

Zigg:

 

Stuff are ramping up the number of scare mongering articles

 

Don't normally read Stuff, but took a look. I didn't see anything too alarmist: explanation of level 1-4 colour coded restrictions according to 2024 plan, article on how other countries are setting wfh/day off to save fuel, Willis saying "We're ready to Act", and one about fuel prices.

Nothing too alarmist or click baity as far as I can see.

I'm getting my info from sources closer to the action, or where there has been more analysis than a poorly resourced/free newsroom can provide.

ezbee:

 

Libertarian view might be to step back and let market sort it out.

 

Or in other words, power to the strong / f*** you, I got mine.

I would like to see the electricity coys take a much more active role in promoting and underwriting solar power solutions for NZ. They need to play this to have a license to operate basically.

In other words:

 

1. For solar you only deal with them and pay them.
2. They source competent suppliers and installers done at scale with cost savings a bit like the fibre roll out that went from single jobs to batches at a time. They sort all technical matters and integration to existing house wiring.
3. Pricing for any back feed is very visible and reasonable.
4. They warrant the payback as long as the agreed usage is there. This isn't left to the house owner to wrangle and try to figure out what's going on.
5. The own the servicing where required.

This needs to be moved on from the present cottage industry. 

Oh, and new houses must have solar built in from the get go unless there is a really good reason why not.

M.

ascroft:

 

I would like to see the electricity coys take a much more active role in promoting and underwriting solar power solutions for NZ. They need to play this to have a license to operate basically.

 

In other words:

 

 

1. For solar you only deal with them and pay them.
2. They source competent suppliers and installers done at scale with cost savings a bit like the fibre roll out that went from single jobs to batches at a time. They sort all technical matters and integration to existing house wiring.
3. Pricing for any back feed is very visible and reasonable.
4. They warrant the payback as long as the agreed usage is there. This isn't left to the house owner to wrangle and try to figure out what's going on.
5. The own the servicing where required.

 

This needs to be moved on from the present cottage industry. 

 

That boat has sailed, 
But The large generators are all over solar, just not on your roof,  their biggest bang for buck is large scale, 

Dealing with installers for 1000's of locations is Simply not where they want to be, when they can install at 10c/unit...

https://www.meridianenergy.co.nz/news-and-events/meridian-to-proceed-with-227m-ruakaka-solar-farm

I would like nothing less than to have a power retailer involved in my decisions about what I install on the house. Worst is that I have to seek their "approval" just to connect things to the grid.

richms:

 

I would like nothing less than to have a power retailer involved in my decisions about what I install on the house. Worst is that I have to seek their "approval" just to connect things to the grid.

 

Absolutely. Domestic solar installations are usually bespoke so the 'cookie cutter' approach will usually produce a mismatched system in terms of location, scale and owner's energy usage model. Giving lines co's access to control of home battery storage is not a comfortable strategy for many solar owners so allowing access at the ground floor isn't going to be acceptable for many.

freitasm:

 

Eva888:

 

By now most are acutely aware of the situation so it’s everyone’s responsibility to act sensibly and not wait for Government to tell us we need to ration. Even if the war stops, there won’t be a return to normal for some time. Our geographical position at the bottom end of the planet makes us a lot more vulnerable and our first world lives can fast become third world. 

 

We collectively need to pull our weight immediately and cut out unnecessary trips because the worst case scenario will be dire and very unpleasant. 

 

 

That was the same situation and worldview when COVID-19 struck. Asking everyone to act sensibly and ration things will go some way, until it doesn't, and the government of the day started being called out as "tyrannical" by some aligned with conspiracy theories.

 

As an example, "alert levels" are being proposed. COVID-19 deja vu.

 

 

My suggestion that we take matters into our own hands immediately is because I am shocked that Government have been largely downplaying this as some sort of non event and kicking the can down the road. Listening to Fox News scenarios would give the impression that nothing needs to be done. Do they not listen to expert educated commentary on what the future will hold if this continues? The fact that no level is in place yet defies common sense. 
 
This is far worse than Covid when we could still function and wheels brought food and goods to our home. When transport and wheels stop, we starve. When farmers can’t get fertiliser, we starve.

 I just listened to one political commentator being interviewed who said this war is likely to last 6 months and meanwhile bombing continues in the Gulf further eroding any chance of those States providing the world with anything tangible in the near future. 

The time to wake up and impose some restrictions is yesterday. 

richms:

 

I would like nothing less than to have a power retailer involved in my decisions about what I install on the house. Worst is that I have to seek their "approval" just to connect things to the grid.

 

Exactly  my sentiment.

I hax an excellent installer who was happy to allow me to do the mechanical side, which saved thousands.

And I did not need to deal with the stupid competition inhibiting companies  apart from selecting a tariff and term.

.

freitasm:

 

sen8or:

 

Reminds me a bit from Jordan Peterson's "12 rules" - Clean your own room first. Before we can sort out the country as a whole, there is a lot we can do at an individual level to minimise fuel use, even in whatever car we drive (Toyota Aqua Hybrid through to Fuel guzzling planet warming Ram TRX) - regular vehicle servicing, tyre pressures, smooth acceleration / braking, combine tasks into a journey rather than multiple journeys, ride sharing etc. Lots of small changes is a lot simpler to accomplish than trying for big changes.

 

 

This sounds like a typical libertarian approach, or as they say in America, "Pull yourself up by your bootstraps". 

 

Some of the suggestions seem sensible. Some are clearly not. Expecting an already squeezed population to change cars because it's better for the country, when the options are "no food, no house, but a shinny new car that makes the government look good even though they didn't help" is not feasible to a large segment of the residents.

 

Are we back to the "take your vaccine because it helps everyone?" 

 

If so, the part missing here is the thousands of dollars each family would have to pay for this.

 

I would think that a lot of individuals taking personal responsibility for their efforts to reduce consumption is a lot easier / more realistic than waiting on some politicians to sort things out for us? (and not just those that are in power now, but politicians of any allegiance, Govt's are a massive ship that can't turn on a dime, the population will always be more agile at an individual level).

Not sure who is expecting people to change cars. I work for a car retailer and we sell multiple brands of EVs and PHEVs, so I would ofcourse encourage people to come to us and upgrade, but spending thousands on a new EV clearly isn't the right solution for many.

HarmLessSolutions:

 

Giving lines co's access to control of home battery storage is not a comfortable strategy for many solar owners so allowing access at the ground floor isn't going to be acceptable for many.

 

And yet we think V2G is going to be the next hot thing...

richms:

 

I would like nothing less than to have a power retailer involved in my decisions about what I install on the house. Worst is that I have to seek their "approval" just to connect things to the grid.

 

Also, wasn't that the premise of SolarZero.....

OK - you are part of the present cottage industry….

Thats unlikely to lift this to scale so we need a different model to get to say 60% coverage. 

The people I know with solar today are tech enthusiasts primarily not your average NZr.

fastbike:

 

richms:

 

I would like nothing less than to have a power retailer involved in my decisions about what I install on the house. Worst is that I have to seek their "approval" just to connect things to the grid.

 

 

Exactly  my sentiment.

 

I hax an excellent installer who was happy to allow me to do the mechanical side, which saved thousands.

 

And I did not need to deal with the stupid competition inhibiting companies  apart from selecting a tariff and term.

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

ascroft:

 

 

 

OK - you are part of the present cottage industry….

 

Thats unlikely to lift this to scale so we need a different model to get to say 60% coverage. 

 

The people I know with solar today are tech enthusiasts primarily not your average NZr.

 

I maybe an enthusiast,  like many on this  forum.

But two colleagues have had solar installed in last year, very non tech, as is the 80 year old friend  of mum who had it installed  2 years ago.