Cabinet agrees next steps for solar review recommendations

Cabinet has agreed a package of decisions to progress the recommendations of the Solar Installation Regulatory Review, marking the next step towards making it easier and faster for New Zealanders to install solar.

Published at the end of July, the Review examined the regulatory settings that apply to residential and small to medium-scale solar installations and identified opportunities to reduce unnecessary cost, delay and complexity.

The review found that while demand for solar is growing, the installation process can be more complex and slower than it needs to be. Households and businesses can face multiple approvals, inconsistent requirements and delays across different parts of the system, including building rules, planning processes, electricity network approvals, metering, inspections and retailer processes.

The review recommended a package of improvements focused on how the system works in practice, you can read the recommendations on our Residential and small to medium scale solar review web page.

The Ministry estimates that, when implemented, the recommendations could deliver net benefits of between $28 million and $50 million over 10 years through lower compliance costs, reduced delays, increased uptake of solar and a more efficient installation process, resulting in more Kiwis installing solar.

Cabinet has agreed a package of actions to make it faster, cheaper and easier for New Zealanders to install solar. The decisions will clarify building rules, reduce the number of solar installations that get caught up in needing to get resource consent, improve how the electricity system supports solar connections, explore a more risk-based inspection model and continue work to enable plug-in solar in New Zealand.

The Ministry for Regulation will continue to work with relevant agencies and stakeholders as implementation work progresses.

More information

Residential and small to medium-scale solar review.open_in_new