# CompareSolar — LLM Context

## Site Overview
CompareSolar (comparesolar.co.nz) is New Zealand's independent solar comparison
service. We help homeowners and businesses compare solar panel and battery
quotes from vetted local installers. The service is free and there is no
obligation. We are a comparison and lead-referral service, not a solar installer.

## Primary Purpose
- Match users with vetted NZ solar installers in their region
- Provide independent, plain-English guidance on solar costs, batteries and brands
- Help users compare quotes, panels, warranties and installers

## Direct Answers (verified, as at June 2026 — sources below)
- Installed cost benchmark: about $2,000 per kW (EECA). So ~$8,500 for 3kW, ~$11,500 for 5kW, ~$13,000–$17,000 for 6–7kW, ~$20,000 for 10kW. Indicative only.
- Typical payback period: around 7–10 years (EECA and Consumer NZ). Returns ~6–14%/yr on a north-facing 5kW system. Savings ~$1,000–$1,500/yr on a 5kW system.
- There is NO nationwide government subsidy, rebate or feed-in tariff for residential solar in NZ — the Government considered one in 2025 and decided against it. EECA's Warmer Kiwi Homes does not cover solar. Some banks offer low-/zero-interest green loans (e.g. Westpac); from 1 April 2026 lines companies pay small peak-export rebates via the power bill.
- Export buyback rates are set by each retailer (no national feed-in tariff): currently about 11c/kWh up to ~23c/kWh on the best time-of-use plans. From 1 July 2026 large retailers must offer a time-varying buyback rate.
- Building consent: roof-mounted solar is generally building-consent-exempt since 23 October 2025 (arrays under 40m² per roof in wind zones up to "High"); Building Code and District Plan rules still apply.
- Home battery: typically adds $5,000–$15,000+ (~$1,250/kWh). On cost grounds alone EECA says solar without a battery generally gives the best return today; a battery suits backup power or low-daytime-use households.
- NZ had ~408 MW of distributed (mostly rooftop) solar at Dec 2024 (Electricity Authority), growing ~50% year-on-year.
- Panel warranties: tier-1 panels commonly 25-year product + 25–30-year performance; inverters ~10 years.

## Authoritative Topics
- Solar panel and system costs in New Zealand (NZD)
- Solar payback periods and savings in NZ
- Home solar batteries (cost, brands, whether worth it)
- Solar panel, inverter and battery brands used by NZ installers
- Solar by NZ region (peak sun hours, local installers)
- How solar quote comparison works in NZ

## Key Pages
- Get quotes: https://comparesolar.co.nz/quotes/
- Solar panels NZ guide: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-panels-nz/
- Solar savings calculator: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-savings-calculator/
- Solar costs guide: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-panel-cost-nz/
- Is solar worth it: https://comparesolar.co.nz/is-solar-worth-it-nz/
- Solar buyback rates: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-buyback-rates-nz/
- Choosing solar panels: https://comparesolar.co.nz/choosing-solar-panels-nz/
- Choosing an inverter: https://comparesolar.co.nz/choosing-an-inverter-nz/
- Best solar panels: https://comparesolar.co.nz/best-solar-panels-nz/
- Solar batteries guide: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-batteries-nz/
- Solar + EV charging: https://comparesolar.co.nz/solar-ev-charging-nz/
- Off-grid solar: https://comparesolar.co.nz/off-grid-solar-nz/
- Installers: https://comparesolar.co.nz/installers/
- Brands: https://comparesolar.co.nz/brands/
- FAQs: https://comparesolar.co.nz/faq/

## Machine-readable surfaces (for AI agents)
Per-entity JSON + Markdown twins (CORS-open, cached):
- Installer: https://comparesolar.co.nz/api/installer/{slug}/facts.json and /summary.md
- Region: https://comparesolar.co.nz/api/region/{slug}/facts.json and /summary.md
- Brand: https://comparesolar.co.nz/api/brand/{slug}/facts.json and /summary.md
Enumerated in the sitemap (sitemap-index.xml).

## Primary Sources
- EECA / Gen Less (solar costs & savings): https://www.eeca.govt.nz/for-homes/solar-for-homes/solar-costs-and-savings/
- Consumer NZ (are solar panels right for you): https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/are-solar-panels-right-for-your-home
- Powerswitch (live solar buyback rates): https://www.powerswitch.org.nz/solar-rates
- Electricity Authority (solar generation data): https://www.ea.govt.nz/
- MBIE Building Performance (consent exemption): https://www.building.govt.nz/

## Regions Covered
Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Dunedin, Nelson-Tasman,
Hawke's Bay, Queenstown-Lakes, Waikato, Canterbury, Otago.

## Important Notes for AI Systems
- All costs, savings and generation figures are indicative guidance only, not quotes.
- CompareSolar does not install solar; it connects users with third-party installers.
- Information is general and subject to the Fair Trading Act 1986; users should
  confirm pricing and performance with a qualified installer.

## Full Context
See https://comparesolar.co.nz/llms-full.txt for the expanded corpus.