The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi is welcoming Labour’s Solar Saver policy to deliver more solar power to New Zealand households.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, anything that helps to reduce household bills is welcome,” says Acting NZCTU President Rachel Mackintosh.
“Electricity costs have risen by 20% in the last two years, well ahead of inflation. Working people can’t keep up – 132,000 households across the country couldn’t afford to heat their homes in 2024 (the latest available data).
“This proposal helps both homeowners and renters,” says Mackintosh. “It plugs a gap in the market right now, where renters face high energy bills but can’t get any financial support for solar energy. The support for middle- and low-income households should also help those households get over the financial hurdle of getting solar installed.
“It is critical that the workforce and the capacity to deliver on this scheme are put in place. We are calling for stronger support – alongside the Apprenticeship Boost programme – to make sure that people can be trained in solar installation, which would mean the creation of good, long-term jobs across New Zealand.
“We are also calling for bold reform of our electricity markets. Jobs across the country are being lost to power costs, while the profits for the generators reach record highs. NZCTU has been calling for the gentailers to be brought back into public ownership, as a part of our Aotearoa Reimagined policy platform.
“Solar Saver is a welcome first step in reforming the electricity market. New Zealand’s bountiful renewable energy should be a real advantage to our economy, and this policy helps deliver on that possibility,” says Mackintosh.
