Kristy Hoare

Founder of My Solar Quotes | New Zealand Solar Researcher

Kristy Hoare founded My Solar Quotes in 2012 and has spent the past 14 years helping Kiwis make sense of solar power - what it costs, how much it saves, and whether it actually stacks up financially.

Rather than relying on overseas figures or manufacturer claims, much of Kristy’s research is based on real New Zealand solar quotes and installations.

She has served as a board member of SEANZ, the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand, and has been involved in a number of industry research projects over the years.

More recently, Kristy analysed 279 residential solar quotes from 2026 to work out real-world solar payback periods by system size. The research found a median payback of 6.9 years for solar-only systems and was later covered by RNZ’s personal finance team.

She has also analysed pricing from more than 151 completed solar installations to help give homeowners a clearer idea of what solar actually costs in New Zealand.

Why focus so heavily on New Zealand data? Because solar numbers from Australia, the US or Europe don't necessarily mean much here. Our power prices, buy-back rates, sunshine, finance options, lines company rules and installation costs are different.

Kristy’s aim is to give homeowners realistic numbers - including when those numbers don't necessarily make solar look better.

Research and Media

RNZ - Is a bigger solar system always better?
RNZ Personal Finance looks at Kristy’s 2026 analysis of 279 residential solar quotes and what the results mean for homeowners choosing a system size.

The Real Numbers: Residential Solar PV Return on Investment, Payback, and Overall Value to Consumers
SEANZ research looking at the real-world financial performance of residential solar systems in New Zealand.

Exemplifying the Resilience of Solar and Batteries: Stories Unveiled in the Wake of Cyclone Gabrielle
SEANZ research looking at how solar and battery systems performed during and after Cyclone Gabrielle.

Universal DG Connection Project
A SEANZ project aimed at making distributed generation connection processes more consistent across New Zealand's electricity networks.

Credentials

Founder of My Solar Quotes
14 years in the New Zealand solar industry
8 years as a SEANZ board member
Sustainable Business Network member
My Solar Quotes is 100% New Zealand owned and operated

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Kristy Hoare's LinkedIn

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