New Zealand electricity network operator Vector intends to broaden the rollout of its solar storage package for homes, saying it is clear that rapid developments in costs and technologies mean the nature of the electricity market is changing – and utilities needed to adapt, or face oblivion.
In an exclusive – and remarkable – interview with RenewEconomy, Vector CEO Simon Mackenzie says the success of the solar storage leasing package offered by the company earlier this year is confirmation of a fundamental change in the electricity industry. (You can read full interview here.)
So much so, Vector is to expand its solar battery lease offering to larger scale commercial businesses. He expects up to half of all new homes, and a third of consumers overall, to generate, store, and manage their own electricity.
Not surprisingly, Mackenzie speaks of a “new economic reality,” which means that the core of the industry is moving from centralised generation and transmission networks to the consumer. But he says most network operators simply refuse to accept this.
cleantechnica
