A new scheme to subsidise household solar water-heating will replace a scheme that has had relatively little uptake in the South.
The Government is replacing the current flat-rate subsidy scheme with grants based on performance rating and industry standards.
The new regime, which offers $500 or $1000 grants, starts in September.
Grants for heat-pump water heaters will be in place by the end of the year.
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority figures released to the Otago Daily Times suggest the old scheme had relatively little uptake in the South.
Just 246 subsidised solar water-heating systems had been installed south of Ashburton since the programme started in May 2007, the figures show.
There were 151 grants in the Otago region outside Dunedin, 48 in Oamaru and Timaru and 39 in Southland.
Dunedin had seven subsidised installations and Invercargill one.
EECA solar water-heating team manager Nathan Ross said the variation in regional figures could be linked to how sunny an area was.
It might also reflect local councils' support of solar water-heating and other energy efficiency initiatives.
The Nelson Bays area (425) had the highest per-head uptake in the South Island.
