Uralla local Neal Howard says they are making more income by working with solar power

In the heart of Barnaby Joyce’s New England electorate, Neal Howard said there were “huge opportunities” for locals who wanted to upskill into solar.

A family electrical business that once boasted the highest colour television sales in town and built control systems for coal-fired power stations is still booming amid demand for efficiency upgrades and solar.

Neal Howard’s Electrical Service in Uralla, just south of Armidale, was founded by Wayne Howard’s grandfather in 1953, and has continued to flourish by moving with new technologies.

“Energy efficiency is probably 90 per cent of the first conversation we have on a new build now … that was not the case 20 years ago,” he said.

Three generations of the Howard family – Danika, Neal and Wayne Howard – work at Neal Howard’s Electrical Service in Uralla, south of Armidale. Picture: Simon Scott

“The primary reason for solar panels is economic, sure people get the feel good sense of doing something for the environment, but that’s not the main driver.”

In the heart of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce’s New England electorate, Mr Howard said there were “huge opportunities” for locals who wanted to upskill into solar.

“If you stick at it you can make a lot of money,” he said.

“Even electricians not up to date with renewables and energy management can pick up a lot of work upgrading the systems and repairing old wiring in preparation for solar.”

Mr Howard originally learned the trade under his father – and company namesake – Neal, 85, and years later his own son Jacobis now a third-year electrical apprentice.

His daughter also works in the office, while one of Mr Howard’s brothers is the business electrical supervisor.

“Dad sold the first black and white TVs, and then later he actually sold the most colour TVs in a Channel 9 viewing region and they sent him overseas as a reward,” he said.

Almost 70 years later, Mr Howard’s business is now subcontracted to do work on major solar builds.

The family business, which was established in 1953, is still going strong. Pictures by Simon Scott.

His company even came full circle working on renewable projects connected to the Liddell and Bayswater coal-fired power stations in the Hunter, years after they had previously built control systems for those same plants.

Mr Howard said talking about renewables and solar “gets half the population on edge,” but the really the uptake was about efficiency to drive down the cost of electricity.

For more on this series go to: www.missionzero2050.com.au

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Originally published as Uralla local Neal Howard says they are making more income by working with solar power