I spent $89,000 on solar power and an electric car… and it has a better return on investment than the sharemarket.

With electricity prices rising fast, more Kiwis are asking whether solar panels, home batteries, and electric vehicles are worth it.

So in this episode of the Making Cents podcast, I break down exactly what happened when I overhauled my home energy setup, including the real costs, the savings, and whether solar power in New Zealand actually stacks up financially.

In this episode, we cover:

The true cost of installing solar panels and a home battery in NZ
How much I’m saving on power (and why my bills are sometimes negative)
Whether solar can actually make you money, or just save it
How green loans (as low as 0–1%) can change the investment maths
Why timing your power usage matters more than selling it back to the grid
How to do this cheaper and smarter than I did

Plus, the practical realities, from power price trends to choosing the right system, avoiding common traps, and figuring out if solar is right for your home.

This isn’t a “go green” pitch. It’s a real-world breakdown of whether solar and EVs are a good financial decision, and how to make the numbers work in your favour.

If you’re trying to cut rising power costs, invest smarter, or future-proof your household expenses, this episode gives you the data and strategy to decide.

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This podcast was filmed & produced by Fanaticals

Video editing & content production by Lana Byrne

Audio engineering by Tash Chittock