Electric Kiwi Customers - Check Your Rates

Litakestime on 08/04/2022 - 12:21

I've just found out that I've been paying over $50/month extra on my power bill due to a rate change by EK in December that wasn't passed on.

I'm on MoveMaster, joined in October 2021, and they changed the rates (quite substantially) in December 2021. I only found out when I looked at prices for someone else and decided to look it up again for my place.

After jumping on their online chat, they managed to change it for me, but I really had to ask for it.

I've just asked for a credit for the overbilling and managed to get about 1/8th of it back as credit.

From my experience, and we're all a bunch of Cheapies, so check your rates (I used my neighbour's address on the address finder as I can't put in my own as I'm already on EK)

(hopefully this post is allowed, just want to advise others that they may be paying too much)

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Comments

  • Wakrak on 08/04/2022 - 12:29
    +3

    Good yarns about this over on Geekzone starting with this comment:

    If you're on Move Master, you may want to do a price check with Powerswitch. They changed the prices in December and didn't move me over to the new pricing, even though it would've been less. Pretty dodgy given they don't advertise it as a fixed price plan! I'm sure if the price went up they would've moved me.

    https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=141&topicid=28…

    • Stoic on 08/04/2022 - 12:37

      I just compared my plan. The new rate is higher $0.3204 vs my current rate of $0.3080. I'm on the Stay ahead 200 plan.

      I'm waiting to use the rest of my credit before I move over to Contacts good nights plan. Recently got an extra $50 referral credit from a cheapies member so that'll last me another couple of weeks.

      • MightyTree on 09/04/2022 - 07:06

        Don't want to put you off, but check out how much power you'd actually use in those 3 free hours on Contact good nights. That plan comes at a cost with significantly higher standard rates at least in my area, and I worked out it wasn't actually going to save me as much compared to other lower rate providers. If you can get the most out of those hours all good, just my evaluation of the plan for me but everyone's different.

        • Stoic on 09/04/2022 - 09:17

          All good mate. I've checked the numbers and for me, both the unit rate and daily rate are slightly cheaper with contact.

          • Meridian on 10/04/2022 - 12:57

            @Stoic: I moved from EK to Contact and our rates were 10-20% cheaper with contact then EK and obviously 3x the free time. So total no brainer.

            I really liked EK at the start and would like to support the small guy over a contact. - but the constant rate rises that seemed way out of step with others turned me off.

            Doesnt sound like you will, but dont forget to use the $100 signup referral bonus for contact its valid on this plan.

            • Stoic on 10/04/2022 - 14:15

              @Meridian: There were a couple things that were making me stay with EK. I was on the stay ahead 200 plan so got the extra 10% credit, and am living in a small apartment with no dryer and dishwasher.

              We're moving soon and will have a dishwasher and dryer so can make more use of the 3 free hours.

              It's also good that contact will fix the rates for a while. Currently a low user and am worried about the phasing out of low user fixed charges.

        • JasonJ on 10/04/2022 - 16:54

          Totally agree, EK 1hr free hour saved me $5-$8 a month compared to my 2-yr fixed plan with CONTACT (no free 3 hours). I wish I had made the switch earlier and it's not worth the stress to wait to 9pm and start doing all the washing. If no use during those hours on the day, feel like missing out the saving and paying higher rates for rest of hours.

      • ace310 on 09/04/2022 - 14:32

        I feel the move master plan is quite good for people who use heat pumps/ heaters whole night as it offers half rate during night time. Even off peak rate is good to run air con due to wfh. Just my guess, check this against contact night plan. Atleast contact is expensive for me. We use heat pump most of the day and night mostly outside of peak hours. Got hot water on gas. So only thing to worry is dish washer and laundry which are set to work during free hour. So far it is working for us.

  • Arsonist on 08/04/2022 - 15:24

    I am currently paying $0.3486/kWh, but the website says my neighbour's rate would be $0.2853 per kWh.
    When I enquired about this, they said it was because they had a controlled hot water configuration in their meterboard, while I did not. That is because I am on Gas hot water. And my neighbour is on Gas hot water too (but apparently their meterboard might still have the hot water control relay in it).
    So, I get charged at a higher rate because they cant control the hot water power, even though my hot water does not use any power at all!

    • itakestime on 08/04/2022 - 15:32
      +1

      This is exactly what they said to me. They didn't even look into it. But I know for a fact that my neighbour does not have controlled power (their house is the same as mine, so I know there isn't controlled as I don't have it either). So I pushed the point and then they came back and said "oh yeah, we can do lower rates"

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