How should households get solar?

No subsidies; households could sell power to other buyers and export more where networks allow.ACT opposes solar subsidies; energy spokesperson Simon Court says "if solar stacks up, Kiwis are going to invest without handouts". Its election policy would let households sell the power they generate to a different company from the one they buy from, or to local businesses and community schemes, with metering, network charges and consumer protections. It would allow households to export more power where the network has room, make lines companies explain and justify restrictions, and require them to test major upgrades against options such as batteries. ACT has not published a cost or start date. The biggest tradeoff: ACT proposes no public spending on household solar, so households would still pay the upfront cost themselves; it has not said who would bear network costs from more exports.

Pay home solar owners the same price for exported power as they pay.NZ First's main electricity policy would split the large power companies into separate generators and retailers. Within it, the party says "if you generate power at home like solar, you should be able to sell it back to the grid at the same price you pay for it". It has not said how that price would be set. NZ First has not proposed loans or subsidies for household solar. Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones gives the party's reason: "we're not keen on individual houses, because we fear middle class capture"; he prefers solar on marae, council buildings and large commercial roofs. No cost or start date has been published. The biggest tradeoff: solar owners would be paid more for exports, but with no design published it is unclear who would pay the difference.

$1 billion fund for Māori and community energy; solar finance and payment for exported power.Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.

Homeowner loans with government-paid interest, solar on public homes, and plug-in solar rights for renters.The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

10-year government and council loans repaid through rates, and rooftop solar without a consent.National's Home Energy Fund would be a lending platform owned by central government and the councils that choose to join. It would pay an approved installer upfront, and the homeowner would repay the loan over ten years through their rates, or when they sell; a National spokesperson put the rate at about 2% below floating. Loans would cover solar, batteries and other electrification, for ratepayers with at least 20% equity in their home. The Crown would put in $7 million for a 20% share; councils and the Local Government Funding Agency would provide the rest. Its planning reforms would also let owners install rooftop solar without a consent. No start date has been given. The biggest tradeoff: ratepayers with enough equity could spread the cost over ten years, but renters, owners with less equity and those in councils that do not join would miss out.

Council-run loans for home electrification, and solar for low-income homes.Opportunity would set up a national Ratepayer Assistance Scheme run by local government, offering loans the party describes as low-interest for home electrification, tied to each rateable property. The party says the debt, borrowed through the Local Government Funding Agency, would sit off council and government books. It would also double the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to about $200 million a year and extend it to solar and electric appliances for low-income households, and co-invest in community-owned generation and storage of up to 15 MW. The party puts the cost of running the loans at about $6 million a year, paid, with the rest of its energy plan, from Crown power company dividends of about $500 million a year. Loan rates, terms and a start date are not published. The biggest tradeoff: the plan uses existing dividends, but that money would no longer be available for other government spending.

$1 billion fund for Māori and community energy; solar finance and payment for exported power.Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.

Homeowner loans with government-paid interest, solar on public homes, and plug-in solar rights for renters.The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

Council-run loans for home electrification, and solar for low-income homes.Opportunity would set up a national Ratepayer Assistance Scheme run by local government, offering loans the party describes as low-interest for home electrification, tied to each rateable property. The party says the debt, borrowed through the Local Government Funding Agency, would sit off council and government books. It would also double the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to about $200 million a year and extend it to solar and electric appliances for low-income households, and co-invest in community-owned generation and storage of up to 15 MW. The party puts the cost of running the loans at about $6 million a year, paid, with the rest of its energy plan, from Crown power company dividends of about $500 million a year. Loan rates, terms and a start date are not published. The biggest tradeoff: the plan uses existing dividends, but that money would no longer be available for other government spending.

$1 billion fund for Māori and community energy; solar finance and payment for exported power.Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.

Homeowner loans with government-paid interest, solar on public homes, and plug-in solar rights for renters.The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

10-year government and council loans repaid through rates, and rooftop solar without a consent.National's Home Energy Fund would be a lending platform owned by central government and the councils that choose to join. It would pay an approved installer upfront, and the homeowner would repay the loan over ten years through their rates, or when they sell; a National spokesperson put the rate at about 2% below floating. Loans would cover solar, batteries and other electrification, for ratepayers with at least 20% equity in their home. The Crown would put in $7 million for a 20% share; councils and the Local Government Funding Agency would provide the rest. Its planning reforms would also let owners install rooftop solar without a consent. No start date has been given. The biggest tradeoff: ratepayers with enough equity could spread the cost over ten years, but renters, owners with less equity and those in councils that do not join would miss out.

No subsidies; households could sell power to other buyers and export more where networks allow.ACT opposes solar subsidies; energy spokesperson Simon Court says "if solar stacks up, Kiwis are going to invest without handouts". Its election policy would let households sell the power they generate to a different company from the one they buy from, or to local businesses and community schemes, with metering, network charges and consumer protections. It would allow households to export more power where the network has room, make lines companies explain and justify restrictions, and require them to test major upgrades against options such as batteries. ACT has not published a cost or start date. The biggest tradeoff: ACT proposes no public spending on household solar, so households would still pay the upfront cost themselves; it has not said who would bear network costs from more exports.

Homeowner loans with government-paid interest, solar on public homes, and plug-in solar rights for renters.The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

Pay home solar owners the same price for exported power as they pay.NZ First's main electricity policy would split the large power companies into separate generators and retailers. Within it, the party says "if you generate power at home like solar, you should be able to sell it back to the grid at the same price you pay for it". It has not said how that price would be set. NZ First has not proposed loans or subsidies for household solar. Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones gives the party's reason: "we're not keen on individual houses, because we fear middle class capture"; he prefers solar on marae, council buildings and large commercial roofs. No cost or start date has been published. The biggest tradeoff: solar owners would be paid more for exports, but with no design published it is unclear who would pay the difference.

$1 billion fund for Māori and community energy; solar finance and payment for exported power.Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.

Homeowner loans with government-paid interest, solar on public homes, and plug-in solar rights for renters.The Greens would set up a loan scheme, owned 20% by central government and 80% by councils and the Local Government Funding Agency, offering homeowners loans over 15 to 30 years for solar, batteries and other electrification. The government would pay the interest. Loans would be tied to the property and repaid through a levy; some owners could defer repayment until they sell. Renters would get a right to plug-in solar, and solar would go on more than half of public homes within four years. The party costs the loans at about $429 million over four years and says its wider energy package would be paid for by its proposed wealth tax and other tax changes. The biggest tradeoff: borrowers pay no interest, but the government pays it over loans of 15 to 30 years, beyond the four years costed.

Government-backed solar loans, a subsidy of up to $3,000, and plug-in panels for renters.Labour's SolarSaver would offer two government-backed loans: one through lines companies at no more than the regulated cost of capital (about 6.5%, Megan Woods says), repaid on the power bill, and one through a council scheme repaid through rates, which Labour says was designed to offer rates below bank floating rates; no rate has been published. Labour says repayments would be set below expected bill savings. Low- and middle-income homeowners and renters could get a subsidy of up to $3,000. Renters could use plug-in panels after a rule change. There would also be a $30 million community battery fund and free EECA advice. Labour costs the package at $160 million over four years, from the government's Gas Security Fund. The biggest tradeoff: the subsidy lowers upfront costs for some households, but it uses money set aside for gas field investment, and who qualifies is unpublished.

Council-run loans for home electrification, and solar for low-income homes.Opportunity would set up a national Ratepayer Assistance Scheme run by local government, offering loans the party describes as low-interest for home electrification, tied to each rateable property. The party says the debt, borrowed through the Local Government Funding Agency, would sit off council and government books. It would also double the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme to about $200 million a year and extend it to solar and electric appliances for low-income households, and co-invest in community-owned generation and storage of up to 15 MW. The party puts the cost of running the loans at about $6 million a year, paid, with the rest of its energy plan, from Crown power company dividends of about $500 million a year. Loan rates, terms and a start date are not published. The biggest tradeoff: the plan uses existing dividends, but that money would no longer be available for other government spending.

$1 billion fund for Māori and community energy; solar finance and payment for exported power.Te Pāti Māori's 2026 policy manifesto would set up a $1 billion Energy Sovereignty Fund offering grants, concessional finance, guarantees, equity and co-investment, investing in reducing household energy costs, marae and papakāinga resilience, Māori-owned renewable generation, and community batteries and microgrids. It would support access to solar and batteries through "long-term, low-cost and zero-interest finance" and the Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a council loan model, and would set a "fair-value framework" so households are "properly paid" for power they send back to the grid. Its climate section adds a $1 billion Pūngao Auaha Fund to put solar and insulation on marae, kura, papakāinga and housing. It has not published who would provide the finance, how export payments would be set, a funding source or a start date. The biggest tradeoff: communities would take ownership stakes in energy, but how much of the money would reach individual households is not known.