Buy Me a CoffeeYour solar journey in 4 simple steps
Going solar in New Zealand is easier than it looks. Here's a friendly roadmap from curious to connected — no jargon, no pressure.
Get a couple of quotes
Reach out to a few companies you trust — a local electrician, a dedicated solar installer, or a country-wide franchise. Comparing quotes is the single best way to get a fair price and find someone you click with.
Before your first meeting, take a moment to think about what you want solar to achieve:
- →Save money on power bills
- →Power resilience during outages
- →Go fully off-grid
Your final system size will usually be limited by available roof space and your budget — that's normal, and a good installer will help you find the sweet spot.
Find a company that takes the time to teach
A great installer will set you at ease, not bombard you with jargon. Look for someone who happily:
- →Explains how solar actually works in plain English
- →Shows you how to read your power bill so they can size the system properly
- →Recommends a system size based on your usage — not just what they want to sell
- →Walks you through panel options, inverters, and battery trade-offs
If a company can't explain it, they probably don't understand it well enough to install it well either.
Pick the right power plan
Your savings depend just as much on your electricity plan as on the panels themselves. Different providers pay wildly different rates for the solar power you export back to the grid.
- →Compare import rates, export "buy-back" rates, and daily charges
- →Watch for free electricity windows ("Hour of Power") you can shift usage into
- →Research your local distribution company (Orion, Wellington Electricity etc) and any export limits they may have imposed at the network level
- →Don't chase the highest export rate — self-consuming the power you generate is almost always more cost-effective than exporting it back to the grid
Install, switch, and watch the savings roll in
Once you've picked an installer and a plan, the rest moves fast:
- →Your installer arranges grid connection paperwork with your lines company
- →Panels typically go up in 1–2 days
- →Switch to your chosen solar-friendly plan once the system is energised
- →Use your inverter app to track generation, self-use, and exports
Heads up on timing: while the panels themselves go up quickly, the full installation process typically takes around a week from start to finish. A mandatory inspection by a certified electrical inspector is required before the system can be energised, and scheduling that inspection can add extra days depending on availability in your area.
Revisit your plan every 12 months — providers change rates often, and you might do even better by switching again.
Ready to crunch the numbers?
Try the calculator to estimate your solar generation, savings, and payback period — using real NZ provider rates and location data.
Open the calculator→Join the conversation
Some of the best solar advice comes from real Kiwi homeowners sharing their setups, quotes, and lessons learned. These friendly communities are great places to ask questions and learn from people further along the journey.