Setting up Hot Water Cyclinder Operating Hours

xsolider on 20/11/2025 - 13:32

I spoke with an electrician recently when he came to install a new cooktop for us. He mentioned that we could contact our power company to adjust the hot water cylinder settings according to our plan. I’m currently with Powershop (just joined), and they told me to call Orion. When I called Orion, they said it wasn’t something they handle and directed me back to Powersshop.

The last Powershop agent told me:

“I can reconfirm this isn’t something we control at all. The network controls the times for load controlling (turning your hot water off and on). You were also advised to get an electrician to put a timer on the cylinder if you want to control it yourself.”

We have a smart meter, so I thought this should be possible. Does anyone know whether this kind of job should be handled by the network provider or the power retailer?

General Discussion

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  • Toddy47 on 20/11/2025 - 16:40

    Ripple control is done by the network provider, if you want to switch your HWC yourself, something like a Shelly with a din mount contactor will do it.

  • LupinS on 20/11/2025 - 18:26

    Don't go giving everyone Legionella to try and save maybe a dollar a day. Any modern cylinder is well insulated and loses little heat.

    • Alan6984 on 20/11/2025 - 23:12

      Don't go giving everyone Legionella to try and save maybe a dollar a day.

      I think they are referring to the system whereby you get discounted power rates if you allow the network to turn off your water heater at times of high network load.

      As far as I know, it doesn't reduce the thermostat temperature, so will always return to that anyway.

      I have heard that modern cylinders don't even have temperature controls (they are preset at the factory presumably), but I can't confirm that myself.

    • scott on 24/11/2025 - 16:27

      Legionella is a good think to keep in mind, but all one needs to do (in the context of hot water) is ensure their cylinder is hot (60 deg+) for at least an hour a day.

      No issue at all using a timer to move hot water heating into either / both the solar window, or the off peak power window, but one should be mindful to ensure time has enough of a window for your cylinder size and element rating to reheat.

      If you have a 300L cylinder, and a 3 hour free power window, it would be prudent (depending on element size) to keep the element on for an additional couple of hours, to make sure it gets fully heated every day.

      Unrelated to this topic, but recommended to run taps that don't get used weekly. And extremely important to manage industrial / commercial evaporative cooling towers with chemical's (kinda like a swimming pool).

  • Shell on 21/11/2025 - 08:11

    Electric Kiwi offers this - you can opt in to schedule your hot water heating during off-peak periods when their rates are cheaper. They have options for mini, mid or mega savings - eg mini is off between 7-9 am and 7-9 pm. They also offer an 'out of town' option where you can set a date/time period for water heating to turn off if you are going away for longer periods.

  • doggos2 on 21/11/2025 - 09:12
    +1

    Genesis has day/night rates. When I added hot water to my night rate it reduced my power bill hugely. You need an electrician to change it on the power board. We got an overide switch so if we needed more hot water could just flick the switch. Be aware your day rate is higher if you have day/ night rates. It used to be much better before they increased the rates.

    • spam on 21/11/2025 - 09:17
      -1

      On this Genesis day/night rate, did you have to get your meter "physically reconfigured" ? I'm currently having this battle with them and had taken 4 weeks and still on the interim anytime rate.

      They spewed on like this when asked I had been on on/off-peak day/night rate with different power retail:

      Some retailers may provide an EV plan with a billing process for day and night usage without configuring the meter. You may have also had a day and night configuration that was then reverted by your previous company.

      The Genesis EV plan requires the Day and Night configuration on the meter itself. This means we remove the current Anytime register and split the Day and Night data at the meter itself.

  • doggos2 on 21/11/2025 - 09:42

    Yes, Had to get an electrician in to change it at the meter. Not all customer service reps know or care that what they are telling you is correct. Call a few times or oush forva suervisor. You will be told there is no one available, keep pushing and you will get there

  • xsolider on 21/11/2025 - 15:17

    Thanks for the discussions above. I've found an article on Orion. https://www.oriongroup.co.nz/be-prepared/managing-load
    It seems that they provide three options:
    F1 Night only
    F2 Night with afternoon boost
    F3 Nights and weekends

    • Liger Zero on 24/11/2025 - 11:39

      Did you contact them to change it?

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