Lodestone selects Hawke’s Bay to launch virtual rooftop solar power plan for homes and businesses
MEDIA RELEASE:
Solar retailer Lodestone Energy has chosen Hawke’s Bay, where its sixth solar farm will be located, as the perfect region to enter the residential market and launch its virtual rooftop solar product for homes and small businesses.
Previously only available to commercial customers, Lodestone’s virtual rooftop solar product will now give Hawke’s Bay residents access to the benefits of solar power without needing panels on their own property.
The Hawke’s Bay solar farm is being constructed in partnership with local lines company Centralines and will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 7,000 local homes and businesses.
Gary Holden, Managing Director Lodestone says “We are delighted to be part of this important project, and the partnership with Centralines is a great example of how two like-minded companies can bring these projects to life and benefit the local community. Local generation is the future, and our vision of seeing a solar farm in every community has taken another step forward.”
What makes this farm particularly special is that this new solar generation will provide the energy for Lodestone’s new residential and small business power product, the EASY Plan.
Lodestone has adapted its commercial contract to enable Hawke’s Bay customers including renters, apartment residents, and those unable to install rooftop systems, access to the benefits of local energy.
Through the EASY plan, customers are offered a daily power allocation at a set daily price, with the customers’ estimated annual usage matched to a portion of the projected electricity production from the local farm.
“We’ve called it the EASY Plan as the Estimated Annual Solar Yield of the farm provides much the same basic outcome of installing solar on a rooftop. Except in our plan, we smooth out the intermittency of weather and daylight periods for the customer. We convert the variability into a simple payment that takes away the worry.” Holden adds.
The innovative plan will ensure a customer’s annual consumption will be fully covered over the year. “We want to provide a simple way for customers to enjoy the benefits of locally generated solar power without the hassle of thinking about the weather. The EASY Plan gives customers a daily power allocation for the same daily price and what they don’t use gets banked as carry over for use when they need a bit more.” said GM Customer, Sarah McHardy.
An added benefit of the plan is it provides extra rewards for shifting power usage away from the evening peak period. Customers will be credited for using less than their evening allocation between 6pm-9pm. This means shifting consumption is a powerful way to lower their power bill.
Gary Holden says, “Through this plan we’ve created a product that benefits customers and the wider electricity system. By providing a strong reward for customers who can choose different times to use electricity, we’re encouraging smarter energy use and helping reduce pressure on the grid during peak periods.”
Lodestone expects this product to be popular and is providing a way for locals to sign up on a ‘first-come, first-serve’ basis.
Sarah McHardy adds: “With the size of farm already set, the offer can only serve a limited number of customers. To ensure customer allocation is fair and equitable, we’re opening early registrations of interest. Pre-registered Hawke’s Bay customers will be prioritised when Lodestone makes energy allocations this September.”
Lodestone is committed to honouring the EASY Plan pricing for all its customers, until the local solar farm’s completion in early 2027.
To find out more or reserve a place in the priority queue, Lodestone is now taking registrations of interest www.lodestone.co.nz
