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Encouraging Customer Participation in Residential Electrification in New Zealand: A Systematic Literature Review

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Dissertation(958.58 KB)

Date

2025

Authors

Surve, Janhavi

Supervisor

Phillips, Megan

Item type

Dissertation

Degree name

Master of Business

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

As New Zealand pursues net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the electrification of residential energy use emerges as a critical yet underdeveloped component of the national energy transition. While commercial and industrial electrification have received substantial attention, residential uptake remains low, hindered by financial, behavioural, and regulatory barriers. This study conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) of 63 peer-reviewed empirical studies to identify the global factors (financial, social, policy, technological and geographical) influencing residential electrification and to develop a context-specific framework for supporting customer participation in New Zealand. The review identifies five core dimensions shaping household electrification decisions: economic and financial feasibility, social and behavioural influences, policy and regulatory settings, technological readiness, and geographical context. Economic factors- particularly upfront costs and perceived long-term savings- emerge as the most influential, with social norms, trust, policy stability, and retrofit complexity acting as key enablers or constraints. Policy design is found to significantly influence both financial and behavioural outcomes, especially when stable and well-communicated. The review also highlights critical research gaps, including the limited representation of renters, lower-income households, and emerging technologies like hot water heat pumps and battery storage. Drawing on these insights, the study proposes a New Zealand-specific framework that emphasises targeted financial support, especially for vulnerable households, long-term policy consistency, culturally inclusive communication strategies, support for technological retrofitting, and regionally tailored programme delivery. This framework reflects the interdependent nature of consumer electrification decisions and aims to inform integrated strategies across policy, industry, and marketing research. The findings underscore that residential electrification is not solely a technological shift, but a complex socio-economic transition requiring systemic, context-aware interventions. By synthesising global evidence and tailoring it to local conditions, this study contributes to more equitable and effective electrification pathways in New Zealand.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20564

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Masters Dissertations