Answering the big questions on home solar in NZ

Our team has helped thousands of Kiwis harness the benefits of home solar energy systems! Solar helps you reduce your carbon footprint, gain energy independence, and of course, enjoy some long-term financial wins.

If you’re considering going solar, you will naturally have a few questions. Here, our experts answer the most common questions we have from our customers, with up to date insights for going solar in 2024!

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“What does home solar actually cost?”

Installing solar panels is a long-term investment, it’s definitely worth it! 

Solar panels are more affordable and effective than ever

The cost of solar panels has decreased by more than 80% in the past 20 years, because solar technology has become more widely produced and more powerful. At Harrisons Solar we only use the best solar panels available in the market. Our panels come with a robust, credible 25-year build and performance warranty, and perform extremely well in all New Zealand weather conditions.  Harrisons Solar customers also have access to a range of financing options and sustainable home loans to make investing in solar even easier!

Upfront investment vs lifetime value

The cost of installing a high quality system that matches your home’s current energy needs is now equivalent to 7-9 years of electricity bills. After this, you’ll essentially be using ‘free’ power! So, over the 25+ year lifespan of a Harrisons Solar system, you could achieve energy bill savings of up to $51,000+. 

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This example uses a typical family home that has a $269 power bill in a month. They have installed a 5.2kW Harrisons Solar Power System that has 13 premium Qcells long-lasting and high power solar panels with a top-quality Fronius inverter.:

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The cost of solar vs grid power will improve every year  

New Zealand household energy bills have steadily increased by 3% per year in recent years, and are set to double by 2028, whereas the price of a solar energy system will likely decrease. So, these numbers will only continue to improve in favour of home solar!

Solar can generate $$ for your household

Increased property value

We teamed up with homes.co.nz to analyse thousands of homes installed with Harrisons Solar. On average, having a quality Harrisons Solar solar system on their roof increased the home's selling price by 4.4% or $35K!

Sell surplus power back to the grid

If you generate more solar power than you use, it’s not ‘wasted’ money. You can export your excess energy back to the grid and electricity retailers will pay you a ‘buy-back’ rate. Harrisons Solar customers have the added benefit of exclusive access to the highest buy-back rate in New Zealand! At 18c per unit (20c including gst), your solar investment goes further with us.

Learn more about how to generate the most value from your home solar system here. 

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“Is it going to be a complex process for me to install solar?”

Solar installations don’t have to be complex and we take care of everything for you. Our experts can complete most installations in just a day or two! All you need to do on the day is make sure that the team can have safe access to all the areas involved in installing the panels such as gardens, paths, loft, roof, switchboard as well as electricity supply. Learn about how we make installations easy in this article, or hear it from our customers below:

“Good quality workmanship

Very professional outfit, no pressure sales like some of the others that priced my system up, and no trying to upsell things that didn't make sense. Pre-installation comms were good and the the install went well on the day with no problems at all and good quality workmanship. Well done Team!”

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“Very professional to deal with. Superb communication and explained the products really well.

Hassle-free transaction with Daryl, Karyn, Blair and the team. Very professional to deal with. Superb communication and explained the products really well.The installation was neat. It only took 1 day to finished. Super impressed with the result.Thank you so much for your hard work and would highly recommend.”

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“I don’t really understand how solar works”

Here’s a short informational video to introduce you to solar!

You can learn more about solar in our Knowledge Hub, or you can reach out directly to our team. Our friendly experts are always happy to offer information and advice!

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“I’m worried the solar panels won’t look good on my home”

Gone are the days of giant, shiny solar panels! We have a range of panels with sleek, minimalist designs and the highly sought after pure all black panels. We work with you to ensure your solar panels enhance the architectural appeal of your home.

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“Can I get solar if I’m renting?”

It’s absolutely worth having a conversation with your landlord about home solar! Solar increases property value and can provide another income stream + as a tenant you can save $$ on power bills = WIN WIN. Both landlord and tenant could be reaping the benefits!

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“Do I need resource consent for home solar?”

Regulations for solar installations in NZ vary by region, but most homes do not need a special resource consent. You may need to apply for a consent if you are in a special interest or heritage zone, or if the panels affect your height-to-boundary restrictions. Our team will let you know if you need a consent, and will make the process smooth and simple for you!

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Ask our experts at an in-home, free, no-obligation consultation

Contact the Harrisons team today to have our team visit your home, assess your needs and answer all of your specific questions. It’s easy to take the first step in slashing your power bill and saving the planet, and we’re here to help!

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_*¹_{Your projected energy cost is calculated by considering a 3.0% increase in energy cost each year, due to trends in the raising cost of energy. This estimate is based on your selected preferences, current energy costs and the position and orientation of your roof to calculate the efficiency of the system. Projections are based on estimated usage of 7920 kWh per year, assuming AKL - Contact Energy Standard User Electricity Tariff. Your electricity tariff rates may change as a result of installing the system. You should contact your electricity retailer for further information.System Performance Assumptions: System Total losses: 13.9%, Inverter losses: 3.2%, Optimizer losses: 0%, Shading losses: 0%, Performance Adjustment: 0%, Output Calculator: System Advisor Model 2020.02.29.r2. Panel Orientations: 8 panels with Azimuth 7 and Slope 20. Estimates do not include replacement costs of equipment not covered by a warranty. Components may need replacement after their warranty period. Financial discount rate assumed: 6.75% Price excludes Retailer Smart Meter should you want us to install your Smart Meter it will be an additional cost. Please visit www.opensolar.com/proposal-disclaimer for additional disclosures from OpenSolar.Estimated solar generation is calculated by multiplying the number of estimated panels, the wattage of each panel, and the average number of sunshine hours per day. This calculation is based on a $0.30 per kWh electricity rate and is projected over a period of one year and twenty five years}