Electrifying Southland: what the report says
Rewiring Aotearoa's regional report, published 15 October 2026, finds Southland households could save $310 million a year on energy bills by switching their homes and vehicles to electric. Here are the numbers, what sits behind them, and what they leave out.
The key numbers
- $850,000
- saved on household energy bills every day across Southland, or $310 million a yearTotal bills fall from about $550 million to $240 million a year.
- $7,700
- a year off the average home's energy billsTypical gas and petrol home: about $12,420 a year. Electric home with solar and battery: about $4,710.
- $3,800
- a year better off after paying for everythingUpfront costs and 5.5% loan interest included. About $57,000 over 15 years.
- $1.3 billion
- net saved by Southland households between 2026 and 2040$2 billion in bill savings before upfront costs. The earlier homes switch, the more they save.
- $550,000
- spent by Southland households on fossil fuels every dayAbout $200 million a year, mostly on imported fuel. That money leaves the region.
- 119,000
- fossil fuel machines in Southland homesIncluding 99,400 petrol and diesel cars, 7,200 LPG heaters, 5,800 LPG water heaters and 6,100 LPG cooktops.
- 210,000 tonnes
- of CO₂e avoided each yearRewiring compares it to 1.4 million one-way flights from Auckland to Queenstown.
- 1,500
- new local jobsAbout one job for every 71 Southland residents.
By council area
Each council area has its own report. Figures are rounded and modelled separately for each area, so the three areas do not always sum exactly to the regional total.
| Area | Household bill savings a year | Per home, bills | Per home, net | Fossil machines | CO₂e avoided a year | Local jobs | Net savings 2026 to 2040 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invercargill | $170 million | $7,600 | $3,700 | 68,400 | 120,000 tonnes | 820 | $680 million |
| Southland District | $93 million | $7,700 | $3,800 | 32,100 | 57,000 tonnes | 440 | $360 million |
| Gore | $46 million | $7,700 | $3,800 | 18,100 | 32,000 tonnes | 240 | $180 million |
| Southland region | $310 million | $7,700 | $3,800 | 119,000 | 210,000 tonnes | 1,500 | $1.3 billion |
Machine by machine
Southland-specific savings for each switch, using local heating needs, driving distances and 2026 prices.
- From flued LPG heater toHeat pump$36,000over 15 years, including upfront cost7,200 LPG heaters in Southland homes
- From LPG instant hot water toHot water heat pump$9,200over 15 years, including upfront cost5,800 LPG water heaters
- From LPG cooktop toInduction cooktop$1,900on energy bills over 15 years6,100 LPG cooktops
- From petrol medium SUV toElectric medium SUV$12,000net over 15 years99,400 petrol and diesel cars
- From grid power only to9 kW solar + 10 kWh battery$2,500off power bills every yearFinanced solar about 12c/kWh vs 26c/kWh from the grid
Southland drivers average about 170 km a week. A diesel ute driver saves about $14,000 net over 15 years by going electric. Hot water is around 30% of a typical home's energy use.
How to read these numbers
The report is a model, not a forecast. It shows what an average Southland home could save under stated assumptions. Your own numbers depend on your house, how far you drive, what you already own and what you pay for power.
Two things are worth keeping in mind. The net savings assume you finance the gear at 5.5% and spread the cost over its life, so the case is strongest when you replace things as they wear out. And the regional totals count households only. Southland's farms, processing plants and businesses burn a lot of diesel, coal and LPG too, so the real opportunity for the region is bigger than $310 million a year.
For a figure for your own home, try Rewiring's free household calculator.
Questions about the report
What is the Electrifying Southland report?
A regional report published by Rewiring Aotearoa on 15 October 2026, one of a set covering every New Zealand region and council area. It applies the model from Rewiring's peer-reviewed Electric Homes and Vehicles 2026 report to Southland's own heating needs, driving distances, energy prices and housing.
What does it assume?
An average Southland home running on gas or LPG appliances and two petrol cars, compared with one that has electric heating, hot water and cooking, two EVs, and a 9 kW solar and 10 kWh battery system. Region-wide figures assume all homes electrify and 80% add solar and batteries. Net savings include upfront costs and loan interest at 5.5% a year. Bill savings use 2026 energy prices.
What does it leave out?
It covers households and their vehicles only. Farms, businesses, councils and industry are not in these numbers, so the full Southland opportunity is larger; see our farm report and business guide. The 2026 fuel price spikes were also left out of the national model, which Rewiring says makes the figures conservative.
Where can I download it?
The full report and a shareable PDF are on Rewiring Aotearoa's website: Electrifying Southland and the PDF download.
Sources
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Electrifying Southland (regional report v1.0, 15 October 2026)
- Electrifying Southland report (PDF)
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Electrifying Invercargill
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Electrifying Southland District
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Electrifying Gore
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Electric Homes and Vehicles 2026 (29 June 2026)
- Rewiring Aotearoa, Regional Reports announcement (15 October 2026)