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Switch to electric appliances

Switching to electric appliances for your heating, water and cooking could reduce your power bills and significantly lower your household emissions.

Heat your home and water with electricity

Space and water heating usually make up the biggest proportion of household energy bills, so finding more efficient ways to do this can be a smart way to save money. 

Keeping our homes warm in winter months is essential, and Kiwis have been great adopters of heat pumps. According to Rewiring Aotearoa, heat pumps are 3 to 4 times more efficient than gas heaters, meaning they are cheaper to run, but there are still plenty of homes using gas to stay warm.

Many New Zealand homes have gas or electric resistance water heating systems. Newer electric water heat pumps are highly efficient. While they can be more expensive to buy and install, they use less energy than their counterparts and can be significantly cheaper to run. 

Cooking without gas

Electric induction cooktops are more energy efficient than gas cooktops, meaning they are cheaper to run. As cooking only contributes a small amount to energy use, it might only be worth making the switch when doing a kitchen renovation, or when your existing cooktop reaches the end of its product life.

See what you could save

Rewiring Aotearoa have built a tool to show what you could save by going electric in your household. 

Answer the questions about your household and you'll get an assessment showing:

  • What you could save on your energy bills
  • What upfront costs you may have to pay

See calculator

*The calculator provides an estimate of cost savings for the average household and should not be used as financial advice. We recommend carrying out further due diligence and consulting with professionals before making any decisions or carrying out installation work.

Get better energy with the ASB Better Homes Top Up

You could access up to $80,000 at 1.00% p.a. interest, fixed for 3 years (minimum 20% equity), to make electric upgrades to your home.

Put it towards the installation of solar panels, an EV and charger, or a range of other appliance updates aimed at improving the efficiency of your home. 

Get started online Find out more

ASB Bank Limited's lending criteria, terms and exclusions apply. Rate, offer and fees may change. Refer to asb.co.nz for eligibility criteria and other fees and charges. At the end of the fixed rate period our Housing Variable Rate will apply. See asb.co.nz for details. An early repayment adjustment may apply if you break a fixed rate term.

Learn more about electric appliances

Rewiring Aotearoa have done all the hard work when it comes to switching to electric. Learn more about space heating, water heating and cooking at Rewiring Aotearoa.

Staying warm in your home is essential and if you don't have a heat pump, you could be eligible for a grant to cover some of the costs of getting one. Visit EECA to find out if you're eligible.

Always do your research when making large purchases (Consumer NZ is a great resource) and engage a qualified tradesperson to carry out installations. You can check the Electrical Workers Registration Board to verify that the tradesperson you choose to carry out your install is qualified. You can also choose to engage a tradesperson that is a member of a professional trade organisation such as Master Electricians.