The government is looking at 15 changes to make it easier for New Zealanders to put solar panels on their homes. One of the biggest proposals is to legalise plug-in solar panels, which are currently banned because of safety concerns.

The review was put out by the Ministry for Regulation on 30 July 2026. It covers solar panels that go on roofs, on the ground, and the plug-in kind. The Ministry says the changes could save New Zealanders between $28 million and $50 million over 10 years, and that all 15 changes could be ready within 18 months. Initial advice on the options is due later in 2026. Ministry for Regulation

A typical home solar system costs between $8,500 and $11,500, according to the Ministry for Regulation. Minister for Regulation David Seymour has said most households could save more than $1,000 a year on their power bill by going solar, and that getting panels installed currently takes months. Beehive.govt.nz

The plug-in solar idea is likely to get the most attention. Plug-in solar panels are panels you can plug straight into a normal wall socket, instead of needing an electrician to wire them into your home's switchboard. They are illegal in New Zealand because officials worry they could cause electrical or fire problems. Seymour pointed out that in Australia, people can buy them at Kmart and use them freely. RNZ

The group Rewiring Aotearoa, which pushes for more electrification, welcomed the 15 recommendations. Its policy director, Dave Karl, backed the package. Heath Coleman, co-founder of solar company Future Energy, also supported the changes. Consumer NZ's Paul Fuge said solar panels usually pay for themselves in less than ten years — meaning after that, the savings on your power bill are money in your pocket. RNZ

The review follows an earlier RNZ report that the Ministry for Regulation had recommended legalising plug-in solar. Seymour first signalled the review in a Beehive press release called "Solar panel installation to be done at lightspeed" on 7 May 2026. He also announced a separate "Solar on schools" initiative in 2026, saying schools will save money and have more reliable energy. Beehive.govt.nz

The broader context here is that the 18-month timeline matters because people in the solar sector have long complained about how slow installation can be. When Seymour says installation "currently takes months," he is pointing at rules and processes that slow things down, not just the cost of the panels themselves. The estimated savings of $28 million to $50 million are modest by government standards, but most of that money stays in people's pockets rather than coming from government spending. That fits the ACT Party's preference for making things cheaper by cutting red tape rather than by handing out subsidies.

The plug-in solar proposal is the part most likely to cause debate. The ban exists for real safety reasons, and any change will need to satisfy WorkSafe and electrical safety rules. Australia's more relaxed rules, which Seymour pointed to, work under a different system. Making that work here would mean the panels need to meet New Zealand safety standards, and there would probably need to be some kind of certification for installers or consumers, even if the overall process ends up simpler than the current outright ban.

The wider picture for the solar industry is that solar panels are already becoming better value. Consumer NZ's Fuge saying they pay for themselves in under a decade means the economics are improving on their own. The 15 recommendations could speed that up further rather than propping up something that does not make financial sense. Rewiring Aotearoa's support also matters, because the group focuses on electrification in general rather than just on selling solar products.

What is not yet clear is how quickly Cabinet will agree to the recommendations and which government agencies will be in charge of making them happen. The Ministry for Regulation's 18-month estimate is its own internal view, not a promise from Cabinet. The review touches on building consents, electrical safety, and how electricity is sold, which means several ministers and agencies will need to work together. The "Solar on schools" initiative, though separate, shows the government is also thinking about solar on public buildings, not just private homes.