Meridian to warm Kiwis hearts with new partnership

28 July, 2011

Meridian Energy will offer its customers access to leading solar hot water technologies to help households make smart choices that save energy and money.

Meridian is working in partnership with innovative solar hot water company SolarCity, on a solar programme that will help its customers substantially reduce their electricity bills, while also helping the country reduce its carbon emissions.

Meridian also showed its support to The Solar Promise campaign, which launched on 11 July, with the goal of making solar more affordable for more New Zealanders.

Solar hot water technology is one way we can help empower our customers to take control of their own energy use, says Bill Highet, Meridian’s General Manager Retail.

“We know lots of our customers want to make savings and want solutions that are kind on the environment. With this solar opportunity our goal is to reduce our customers’ average residential energy bill by around 22%,” says Bill.

Targeting solar technology makes sense because a standard solar water heating system can produce on average up to 75% of a household’s water heating, (Source, BRANZ report number 188, Performance of Solar Water Heaters in NZ, 2008).

“SolarCity is the perfect solar partner for Meridian, as it is a leading innovator of solar hot water technologies, and is as committed as we are to a cleaner and sustainable future for Kiwis,” says Bill.

Andrew Booth, CEO of SolarCity says that working with Meridian helps reach the goal of making solar energy more accessible for New Zealanders.

“We are proud to partner with Meridian, and to work together to make solar more affordable for all Kiwis,” Booth says. “As our communities face tighter budgets, this is an opportunity for people to make real savings, while using the sun’s renewable energy to make a positive difference in the fight to stop climate change."

Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority Chief Executive Mike Underhill welcomes this partnership and says that this approach is another important step in the uptake of renewable water heating technologies.

“Consumers place a very low value on ongoing energy costs compared with the up-front capital costs,” Underhill says. “This represents a considerable barrier for solar water heating technologies. Smart partnerships that make renewable energy options more affordable are an important part of the solution to increasing uptake of solar water heating.”

Christchurch and Auckland Meridian customers will be some of the first to benefit from the company’s first ever solar programme, with a long-term plan to extend the offer to Meridian customers nationwide.

More details on the offer will be available at the beginning of August and customers can find out more, or register their interest, by visiting www.meridan.co.nz/solar.

ENDS

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