Solar panel deal for Aucklanders

It is envisaged that the Vector solar system will provide over 50% of the electricity needs of the average home. Image: supplied.

Energy and infrastructure company Vector is running a pilot scheme for Aucklanders to have solar electricity system installed - without the large financial outlay.
The city-wide pilot to fit photo voltaic (electricity producing) panels, storage batteries and an intelligent control unit to homes in the city is underway, with the company asking for expressions of interest.
Unlike traditional solar systems, Vector's home solar system gives customers the ability to store excess electricity that is produced during the day in a hefty 10.7 kWh battery for use during evenings or times when the sun isn't shining.
And like traditional solar systems, the Vector solar system is integrated with the electricity grid, automatically providing extra power when more is needed than what the solar panels have generated. It is expected a 3kW system will produce around 50% of the electricity required to run an average home.
By default, the system is programmed to offset the home's consumption during the evening period when electricity usage is at its peak. By having battery storage, homes gain a measure of resilience with some backup power - handy in the unlikely event of an outage.
"We believe that solar is going to play a very significant part in the future of energy in New Zealand. Vector has been delivering grid-integrated energy solutions for more than a decade so this pilot scheme is a natural extension into the exploration of innovative sustainable energy solutions for our customers," explains Simon Mackenzie, Vector's chief executive.
Customers can see their electricity usage and how the system is performing through a real-time online dashboard which is optimised for smart phone and tablets, as well as home computers.
Research has consistently shown that given the ability to easily monitor energy use households are able to reduce their power bill.
The second phase of the pilot programme has been announced and started this month. Interested parties can find out more at www.vector.co.nz/solar

The deal
Vector owns, manages, and monitors the system- guaranteeing the equipment for the entire life of the agreement. They are offering the system for $1999 setup fee and $70 per month for 12.5 years allowing households to effectively fix a portion of their overall power bill until 2025.