Plug-in generation
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Most people who generate their own electricity use rooftop solar panels. But not everyone can install solar panels on their home.
If you rent, live in an apartment, or cannot install rooftop solar, new technologies could make generating your own electricity more accessible in the future.
One example is plug-in generation, sometimes called balcony solar. These small systems are designed to plug into a standard power outlet rather than being permanently installed like traditional rooftop solar.
While these products are not currently available in New Zealand, we want to understand how consumers might use them and get important information they would need, before we consider any future changes to the Electricity Industry Participation Code.
We want to hear from people who:
- rent their home
- live in an apartment or unit
- have considered solar but have not been able to install it
- already generate their own electricity
- are interested in new technologies that could help manage electricity costs
Your feedback will help us understand the opportunities and challenges plug-in generation could create for consumers and the electricity system.
What is plug-in generation?
Plug-in generation, sometimes called balcony solar, is a type of small-scale electricity generation designed to connect directly to a standard power outlet.
Unlike traditional rooftop solar, these systems could potentially be plugged in and used without professional installation.
If a system generates more electricity than a household is using, some of that electricity could flow back into the local electricity network.
Plug-in generation could make it easier for some people to generate their own electricity, particularly renters or people living in apartments who may not be able to install rooftop solar.
However, before these products become available in New Zealand, we want to better understand how people might use them and what information they would need to make informed decisions.
