Expert says New Zealand should follow Australia on solar panel regulation
An Auckland University professor says New Zealand should follow Australia in regulating the solar panel industry. Professor Alex Sims said Australia has a dedicated body and more regulation for solar, rather than relying on the normal dispute resolution processes.
The call comes after Solar Zero, one of New Zealand's largest residential solar businesses, collapsed. Some Solar Zero customers were locked into 20-year contracts that restarted if they moved house. Former customers whose contracts are now serviced by SZ Servicing lost guaranteed pricing, and their bills rose sharply, according to RNZ.
Complaints about solar to Utilities Dispute, the body that handles complaints from utility customers, have risen more than 170 percent in the past four years. Customers who lease their panels from a solar provider can take complaints to Utilities Dispute. Those who paid for panels upfront are left with general dispute resolution, such as the Disputes Tribunal.
Solar Hub has also collapsed, leaving customers thousands of dollars out of pocket, Stuff reported. Several complaints about the company were investigated by SEANZ as part of its disputes resolution process in recent months. Customers in Solar Zero contracts have turned to disputes services for help, the New Zealand Herald reported.
Separately, the Regulation Minister has ordered a review of solar panel installation rules, citing excessive red tape around rooftop solar for homeowners.
A Ministry of Regulation report has recommended legalising plug-in solar. Regulation Minister David Seymour said there was no good reason to stop New Zealanders using plug-in solar, according to the New Zealand Herald.
