We’re part of a much bigger shift in how energy is used in New Zealand. More people are moving away from fossil fuels and towards electricity to power their homes, businesses and transport. That shift’s one of the most important ways we’ll reduce emissions as a country. But for it to work, the system has to keep up - and it has to work for the people using it.
That’s why we’re focused on helping our customers decarbonise. It’s not just about the electricity we generate. It’s about how it’s used, when it’s used, and whether people can make the switch in a way that works for them.
A big part of that comes down to using electricity at the right time. There are moments when renewable energy is abundant and cheaper, and others when demand is higher and things are tighter. So, we’re creating simple ways for customers to shift their usage into those better times.
For our residential customers, our Smart Hot Water product lets us move peoples’ hot water heating outside peak periods, when there’s more renewable energy available. Customers are rewarded for it, but the real benefit is much bigger - it helps take pressure off the system and makes better use of the energy we’re already generating. It’s a small change in the background, but it makes a real difference when applied across tens of thousands of homes.
We’re also focused on removing some of the practical barriers that slow people down. Transport’s a good example. Switching to an electric vehicle only works if you can charge it easily and reliably. That’s why we’ve been expanding our public charging network, while also working with businesses on EV charging and larger energy solutions like solar.
You can see that in the work we’re doing with industrial customers, too. At LION’s brewery in Auckland, we helped them install thousands of rooftop solar panels that now help power the site. It reduces emissions, but it also gives LION more control over its energy and costs. In Southland, we’ve worked alongside customers to replace fossil fuel boilers with electric ones, including at Mataura Valley Milk and LION's Speight’s brewery. These are big changes, but they show how industrial heat can shift away from coal and gas when the right solutions are in place.
Basically, we’re trying to make it easier to be part of a lower-emissions future - helping customers use electricity in smarter ways, supporting them to switch away from fossil fuels, and working alongside them on practical solutions that make a real difference. It’s not just about supplying electricity anymore. It’s about helping people use it in ways that are better for them, and better for the country.