Description:

Electricity is the backbone of modern life, but most people don’t understand it, can’t see it, and don’t feel in control of how it’s used at home. Traditional switchboards haven’t changed in nearly a century. They’re passive, confusing, and disconnected from how we live today.

The result is the Basis Smart Panel. With its classic NZ backyard BBQ origin story – its kiwi co-founders shared a frustration with the state of home energy, and a belief that it should be safer, smarter, and more empowering for everyday people.

That backyard conversation and 5 years of work, led to a modern replacement for the switchboard that gives homeowners visibility and control over their energy use. It puts people back in charge, with real-time insights, safety features, and a design that’s ready for today’s demands and tomorrow’s upgrades.

Connected to the Basis Home App, the system gives users circuit-level visibility into where and how energy is used. They can identify waste, monitor habits, and make better energy decisions from their phone, whether they want to go deep or let the system handle things quietly in the background.

In early trials, homes using Basis saved up to $1,079 annually, without installing solar or batteries, just by switching to better plans, automating usage and making small behavioural changes. The panel also makes future upgrades, like EV chargers or solar, easier and cheaper to add, helping homes adapt without starting over.

The design is simple, purposeful, and intuitive. A clean white exterior blends into modern interiors, while a contrasting black “user zone” signals where interaction happens, an insight drawn directly from user research. E-ink labels, LED indicators, and tactile toggles make everyday tasks easier and reduce stress in urgent situations.

This clarity extends to the app, which avoids technical jargon and instead delivers alerts, insights, and support in plain language. Together, the panel and app form a seamless system that’s easy to use and built to inform, empower, and protect.

For electricians, the panel is faster to install and easier to maintain. Built to rigorous standards, it meets international IEC standards and complies with Australian and New Zealand electrical codes, ensuring performance and safety across local and global markets.

More than a product upgrade, the Smart Panel marks a shift in how people relate to energy at home. It supports hands-off users and energy geeks alike, bridging powerful hardware with human-centred software. By serving the needs of both homeowners and professionals, Basis sets a new benchmark for residential energy systems.

It’s energy, reimagined, designed in New Zealand for a smarter, safer, and more connected future.