Power rangers

Energy hardship is the new norm for an increasing number of stretched Kiwis. But a ground-breaking solar-panel trial could be the circuit breaker needed.

- RICHARD WOODD

Energy hardship is more than not being able to pay a power or gas bill. It often means hunger, sickness, depression and mental illness, going to bed to keep warm, ashamed to have visitors, kids unable to invite friends for sleepovers.

It is directly linked to cold, damp living conditions. In the last Census data published (2018), 102,123 people were identified as severely housing deprived or 2.2% of the total population; half of them were women under 25. A survey by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) says 110,000 households could not afford to keep their homes adequately warm last year.

Researchers have linked energy hardship and poor housing directly to serious human health issues. And it's not just the tenants in rental homes, but owner-occupiers who can't afford heating, insulation and proper ventilation, even with the rebates offered under the Healthy Homes scheme.

With the apparently overloaded electricity system causing periodic shutdowns, the, the future of natural gas supplies remaining in doubt and costs creeping ever upward, "energy hardship" has become real.

More than 8000 households were disconnected for non-payment to their power suppliers last year. Prepay electricity is typically used by consumers in energy hardship; it's more expensive than standard billing, and a third of those who are automatically cut off when their credit runs out are disconnected for more than 12 hours. Power companies can legitimately charge a disconnection fee and then a reconnection fee.