Energy at Home — Where to Start

Before you call a solar company or sign anything, it's worth getting impartial advice. An independent energy advisor has no stake in which product or brand you choose — they're paid to help you understand what's right for your situation. Likewise, there are plenty of free online tools available through EECA (see below) or your energy retailer.

What an advisor can help with: 

• Reviewing your current energy use and bills 
• Assessing which technologies might be a good fit for your home 
• Helping you avoid over-investing in equipment you don't need 
• Identifying whether your existing electrical supply can support new equipment

Where to find one: 

• The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority's (EECA) GenLess tool (genless.govt.nz) is a good free starting point for assessing solar suitability
• Ask your energy retailer if they offer impartial energy assessments 
• Look for electricians or energy consultants who are ECANZ-registered or similar 

Before you invest in anything, it's worth knowing where you stand today. This means understanding: 

• How much electricity you use (kWh per month) and when you use it 
• What fuel sources you currently rely on (electricity, gas, LPG, firewood) 
• What your biggest energy costs are 
• Whether your home has any constraints (roof orientation, shading, older wiring) 

Your electricity retailer can provide your usage history. If you have a smart meter, you may be able to access this online. This information is essential before any advisor or installer can give you a reliable quote or recommendation. 

Once you have a rough sense of what you might want to do, start talking to the parties who need to be involved early. This includes: 

• Your electricity retailer (they manage your billing and tariff) 
• Qualified installers (for solar, heat pumps, EV chargers) 
• Unison (if your plans involve significantly increasing your electricity load or exporting solar power to the grid) 

Talk to Unison early if: You're planning to install solar panels larger than a typical residential system, add a battery, install an EV charger that will charge quickly (Level 2 or above), or switch from gas to electric heating across a large home or multiple properties. We can tell you whether your current connection is suitable and what any upgrade process looks like. 

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) offers tools and, in some cases, funding support for households looking to improve energy efficiency or adopt renewable energy. 

Useful starting points: 

• GenLess.govt.nz — free solar assessment tool for homeowners 
• EECA's home energy efficiency advice at energywise.govt.nz 
• Your energy retailer may participate in EECA-supported programmes for insulation, heat pumps, and EV charging 

Funding eligibility varies. Check EECA's current programmes directly at eeca.govt.nz as these change over time. 

Take time to assess your options. You don't have to do everything at once. In fact, a staged approach often works better — both financially and practically. 

A typical staged home energy plan might look like: 

1. Start with efficiency: insulation, LED lighting, smarter appliance use — low cost, immediate savings 
2. Switch to a heat pump for heating and hot water if you're currently using gas or resistive heating 
3. Consider solar once you know your actual electricity demand from the heat pump 
4. Add EV charging when or if you move to an electric vehicle 
5. Review battery storage only once you have solar and understand your generation and consumption patterns

A good advisor can help you assess your options and sequence these steps to maximise any available funding and avoid redundant investment.