Power Bill Time-of-Use Plan Comparator

For households with EV charging, heat-pump hot water cylinders, or pool pumps that can be timer-scheduled to night hours (11pm-7am), Time-of-Use plans typically save 25-40% vs flat-rate. For typical 9-5 working households without shift-shiftable loads, flat-rate is often simpler and similar in cost. Use Powerswitch.org.nz to compare your actual data. Source: Electricity Authority.

There's no single answer — it depends on your usage. Electric Kiwi Hour of Power (free hour every day) works best if you can shift heavy use to that hour. Octopus / Flick spot suits users comfortable with variable pricing. Genesis Energy Plus offers locked-in low night rates. Always check Powerswitch.org.nz with your last 12 months' data for an accurate comparison. Source: Powerswitch / Consumer NZ.

Use Powerswitch.org.nz (free, run by Consumer NZ) to compare 30+ retailers based on your last 12 months of usage. Process: (1) get your ICP number from a recent bill, (2) enter usage on Powerswitch — takes 5 minutes, (3) sign up online with new retailer; they handle the switch automatically, (4) old retailer issues final bill within 14 days. There's a 14-day cooling-off period after signing up — you can cancel without penalty. Most switches complete in 3-5 business days. No power outage during switching. Average switching saves NZ households $250-400/year. Source: Electricity Authority + Consumer NZ.

Low User plans cap your daily fixed charge at ~$0.30/day (vs $0.90-1.50/day on Standard plans) but charge a higher per-kWh rate (~$0.05/kWh extra). They suit households using <8,000 kWh/year (regional) or <9,000 kWh/year (Northern Wellington and warmer regions). Typical Low User candidates: 1-2 person households without electric heating, EV, or hot water cylinder; holiday homes; energy-efficient flats. The Low User option was being phased out from 2022-2027 — daily charge caps are rising each April. By 2027 it will be abolished, with all plans transitioning to a single 'national' structure. If you currently qualify, stay on it through 2026 for max savings. Source: Electricity Authority.