Big changes are coming that could make it much easier and quicker for Coasties to go solar.

The Government has just announced several updates aimed at encouraging more households to install rooftop solar panels.

The biggest shift?

You’ll no longer need building consent to add panels to an existing home.

Plus, if you’re building new and include solar in your plans, the council will now need to process your entire building consent in just 10 working days instead of the usual 20.

That could save homeowners around $400 a day in delays.

There’s also a behind-the-scenes technical change that matters.

The permitted voltage range for electricity networks is expanding, which will make it easier for homes to send unused solar power back to the grid.

Energy Minister Simon Watts says this could add more than 500 gigawatt-hours of solar generation across New Zealand, which is enough to make a real difference in power supply and household bills.

For the Hibiscus Coast, where sunshine is generally plentiful and community interest in sustainability is growing, these updates are likely to spark a surge in local solar installs.

They’re especially welcome at a time when many Coasties are looking for ways to save on power and future-proof their homes.

As Minister Watts put it: “Common-sense and cost-effective changes like these will make it easier for Kiwis to build sustainable homes and help strengthen our electricity system for the future.”

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