Councillor’s Comment
Blink and you might miss it: Nelson's best chance to save money, cut emissions and build resilience, all at once. The electric revolution is in full swing, and last month's Electrify Nelson Expo showed people are paying attention.
The numbers stack up so clearly that the question has shifted from "why should I?" to "how do I start?" That came through in the political debate, where every candidate wanted a piece of the action. But why wait for politicians when so many of us have something to gain right now?
Households across the Nelson region spend $430,000 a day on fossil fuels. Electrifying could save the average household around $7,300 a year once the switch is made, or about $3,000 a year including up-front costs - roughly $210 million a year across the region, and more than $1 billion in net savings by 2040.
Nelson City Council is moving quickly. Our fleet now includes five full EVs, four plug-in hybrids and two hybrids. Since the eBus launched in 2023, passenger journeys have climbed from 462,000 to 963,000 a year.
We're also installing solar on council and community facilities for the purpose of community resilience: $950,000 of investment, with $620,000 from Council and $330,000 from EECA. We’re adding batteries, so the buildings can run as Civil Defence Centres in an emergency.
The proposed Ratepayer Assistance Scheme, a nationwide initiative, would give households here access to low-cost loans. But real change starts with each of us asking where we could take advantage now, be it solar, EVs, heating, water, cooktops and more.
Most banks now offer low-interest finance to those with a mortgage. Schemes like WorkRide help employees electrify, with tax savings as a bonus. Plug-in solar is just around the corner, and some landlords are even splitting the benefit of solar with their tenants, so it's worth asking the question.
People often ask if the grid can cope. Here's a fun fact: if a family of five swapped its electric hot water cylinder for a heat pump one, the annual energy savings would run their EV for a year.
If you’re keen to take the plunge but don’t know where to start, ask a friend, ask a neighbour, or ask your local city councillor.
You can always contact me via email james.hodgson@ncc.govt.nz and I am more than happy to share my experience.
