The Dunedin City Council and nine other local authorities are joining forces to promote solar energy and help communities combat the rising cost of energy.
Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull has signed up for "The Solar Promise" campaign, initiated in Nelson by its mayor Aldo Miccio, Nelson-based company SolarCity and the Nelson Environmental Centre.
The campaign called on councils, central government, businesses and individuals to make solar more affordable, helping save money and combat climate change.
The mayors of Hastings, Wellington, Marlborough, Tasman, Invercargill, Southland, Gore and Wanganui have also signed up.
The initiative came as the city council continued work on its energy efficiency programme, which could result in ratepayers being offered low-interest loans to install solar energy technology, insulation, double-glazing or other energy-saving devices.
Mr Cull could not be contacted yesterday, but council strategy and development general manager Sue Bidrose said a report detailing the options was now likely to be presented to councillors in September.
The source of funding for the loans was still being considered, but the scheme itself could bring social and environmental benefits and seemed to make sense, she said.
"If you get the right mix for any given house, of energy-saving devices, then actually, the repayment costs barely more than what you're saving off your power bill. That does seem to be a really good idea."
The Solar Saver Scheme in Nelson had also proved a huge success, and was being considered by other councils.
In the Nelson scheme, the council met the initial cost of installing solar technology and residents then repaid the cost - together with interest - as a targeted rate over 10 years.
The repayment obligation remained with the house, rather than the owner, if properties taking advantage of the scheme were sold part-way through repayments.
Ms Bidrose said yesterday the same mechanism was being considered for Dunedin, to be operated at no cost to the council, but it would need approval by councillors to proceed.
Solar power would be one of the initiatives considered as part of the scheme and others would also be in the mix.
