Up to 2x $110 Credit for Households on Low-Use Plans Struggling to Pay Power Bill @ EECA (Power Credits Scheme)

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Up to 2x $110 Credit for Households on Low-Use Plans Struggling to Pay Power Bill @ EECA (Power Credits Scheme)
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beatthatflight on 03/08/2026 - 22:26 eeca.govt.nz (560 clicks)
Last edited 04/08/2026 - 01:14 by 1 other user

Found on powershop but the dates say 2025, however it's still current on the eeca site linked.

As Kiwis continue to feel the pinch of rising costs and inflation, more may find that they are struggling with their power bills.

In light of the phasing out of the Low Fixed Charge Tariff regulations, New Zealand households will gradually all have a more fair playing field for their power bill. This 5 year phase-out is designed to create long-term benefits for households. However, some households may face higher power bills.

If you find that you are struggling with your power bill, you may want to consider contacting your power provider to see if you can make use of the power credits scheme.

Power Credits Scheme

To support low-use households who struggle with paying their power bills, the government has set up a $5 million power credits scheme to roll out during the phase-out of the Low Fixed Charge Tariff regulations. This scheme was introduced to help households experiencing energy hardships, and those who have been on a low-use plan within the last 6 months. This scheme began in June 2022.

Who is Offering It?

There are several energy retailers currently participating in the scheme.

  • Contact Energy
    • Mercury
    • Meridian Energy
    • Nova Energy

How does it Work? Am I eligible?

For customers who are struggling to pay their power bill, and are on a low-use plan, or have been in the last 6 months, may be eligible for a $110 credit from their retailer towards their energy bill.

Kiwis can even receive up to 2 power credits per year. You may be eligible for a second credit in the same year if you have received professional budgeting advice. It may be worth contacting your power provider to chat to them about your eligibility.

The funding for the power credits scheme comes from the Electricity Networks Association and the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand.

To see if you are eligible for the power credits scheme, NZ Compare recommends that you chat with your energy retailer. The power credits scheme may be able to help ease some financial hardship and help reduce some of the costs for your household!

Home & Garden Electricity

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Comments

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  • NovaAlpha on 03/08/2026 - 22:51

    Seeing deals like this is rather depressing. Not against the deal itself, just that the current state of the economy is sad.

    • 21
    • Foodie on 04/08/2026 - 10:13

      Getting bled dry

      • 5
    • TruthMaySting on 04/08/2026 - 12:07

      Heartbreaking even.
      Imagine a world without interest - most prices will never go up, ever.
      World peace.

      Long live Rothschild.

      Now know that Section 219 has passed via the NDAA. Israel has free weapons from now to infinity.

      Heard of Palantr?

      6G coming. Resist or D..

      Side note:
      I love Cheapies & most of you people, who are just trying to make ends meet, or stay ahead, in Nova’s case.

      • 2
      • sPacedman on 05/08/2026 - 07:13

        The bill has only cleared the House and still requires action by the Senate.

        But yes, the endgame of it is a bit chilling.

        • 0
        • TruthMaySting on 06/08/2026 - 16:01

          You will see (& I believe the non resistance is related to the still unreleased 50% Epstein files).

          But thank the heavens for righteous people like Thomas Massie.

          • 1
  • FrugalFinds on 03/08/2026 - 22:52

    Confirming this is available still, despite it mentioning 2025.

    It’s not delivered through EECA, so don’t contact them - go via your retailer!

    There are also other eligible power companies- e.g. PowerShop.

    • 0
    • GenAI on 04/08/2026 - 11:26

      What’s the keyword to use when contacting the power companies. Because I assume a lot of the customer service people don’t know about this and they need a keyword to look up or ask.

      • 1
      • dhirb on 04/08/2026 - 15:57

        I sent customer service the EECA link citing Power Credits Scheme . Will see if my account is credited in a week or so.

        • 0
  • nzmax on 04/08/2026 - 03:10

    They should never have removed the low energy user daily rate as it means many are paying double or more for their power. But that is how power companies are going to make a lot of their money moving forward as more people install solar, but will still require a power company.

    • 19
    • sPacedman on 04/08/2026 - 07:07

      The mealy-mouthed comms around this was so frustrating.

      "designed to create long-term benefits for households"
      How can having higher power bills be beneficial?!?

      • 12
      • nzmax on 04/08/2026 - 13:37

        Yes and it actually happened under labour too. So we can blame them for this. But also the unit rates were supposed to decrease, but they never did. Infact power companies are only making more profits and this may have allowed turn to increase margins for those users

        • 2
    • TruthMaySting on 04/08/2026 - 12:15

      They should never have stopped N. Tesla from providing the world free energy.

      $$$

      I now learn independence and save money from Elias Yoder.
      A true cheapies YT channel. 1000%👍

      • 0
    • Vic on 04/08/2026 - 14:58

      "We think the low user rate is unfair for you, so we're going to remove it and immediately raise both your fixed daily AND variable rate" is basically what they've said without the spin.

      • 4
  • CrustyJugglers on 04/08/2026 - 09:30

    So, they removed the low user tariffs using the argument that it was actually the poorest who ended up on standard user plans.

    Then, they make a scheme whereby you can get some relief if you’re struggling to pay your bill.

    But, they make the scheme only available to low user tariffs.

    Make it make sense!

    • 3
    • nzmax on 04/08/2026 - 15:33

      The cynical side of me thinks that this was just a way for power companies to make more money and increase their margins and profit from low power users. Going forward it also solves the problem for them as more people install solar panels, as most people will be still at least paying a daily rate and higher on peak rates in evenings. IMO we would all be far better off if they hadn’t reformed the electricity market and then sold off big parts of our power companies.

      • 2
  • JaydenNZ on 04/08/2026 - 11:03

    I wonder if this has any impact on credit score?

    • 0
    • kiwipork on 05/08/2026 - 21:16

      Same here. Wondering if anyone can shed any light

      • 0
    • jakesternz on 05/08/2026 - 23:16

      I checked my eligibility with Genesis Energy. They require a credit score of 179 or less to qualify. I asked when they check this score and it's when you sign up initially. I'm not sure how you can ever qualify as they would decline a customer with a rating that low. Mine is currently under 179 but because it was 180 when I applied, I don't qualify. Anyways, if you are asking for help, your credit rating is probably already shot. Not paying your power bill on time definitely affects your credit rating.

      • 1
  • nzmax on 04/08/2026 - 13:34

    I seriously don’t think this would be easy to get. You would probably have to show a lot of information showing you are having trouble paying your bills. Guessing they only tell people about it who have missed a payment etc

    • 0
    • realballr on 04/08/2026 - 16:32

      I just rang Contact and mentioned energy hardship and a power credit scheme for low users. They spoke to their supervisor who approved it within 10 mins. Ill see if the credit shows up in my account over next few days as they advised.

      • 0
  • bagelleoipiethesting on 04/08/2026 - 17:15

    I've gotten this. It wasn't advertised to me. Mercury made me ask for it, then made a big deal out of it - it was rather humiliating and I don't want to ask for it again next year - despite being in need. I had to ask twice.

    They should just automatically apply a credit to everyone eligible….instead, they make you seek out:
    a) it's existence
    b) an argument of your own eligibility that they already have the information of
    c) it's application has been applied properly the first time

    • 4
  • nzmax on 04/08/2026 - 18:50

    I checked with my electricity company, and they said they weren't part of the scheme. They said only big Gentailers are part of it. This was Electric Kiwi.

    • 2
    • Aba22 on 05/08/2026 - 07:45

      Same. Nau Mai Ra do not offer this.

      • 1
  • Beejay on 05/08/2026 - 10:18

    Wow thank you so much for this post! I am a low user with a medical condition and I had not heard about it.

    I contacted Genesis and they declined me straight away for not meeting the criteria, so I asked what the criteria was. It then turned out I did meet the criteria and they said they have credited my account. Bloody awesome! Off to put the heatpump up a few notches!

    • 1
  • jakesternz on 05/08/2026 - 23:18

    This is the Genesis Energy requirements for eligibility;

    Residential electricity customers on the active account for their primary residence. - Do no apply to estate accounts.

    When households are experiencing energy hardship and are, or have been, on a low-fixed charge in the last 6 months.

    Households that do not privately own energy generation at their residence (e.g Solar)
    Must be flagged Vuln Code Age with a credit score of under 179 or must be flagged Vuln Code’s HDSHP or HTH or MEDCO or MEDTC

    Power Credits roll over every 12 months from the date of the first application of the credit being applied to the customers account e.g. if a credit is applied on the 17/03/2026 the next credit (if customer is not eligible for the second allocation) can be applied from the 17/03/2027.

    Second allocation

    Customers are eligible for two allocations (per household) of the $110 power credits every 12 months from the date the credit is applied. However, to receive the second allocation we do require proof that the customer has sought financial assistance from a budgeting advisor and need to check TRA to ensure that they have received their first allocation.

    If you have a customer wanting to claim the second credit, they will need to provide written correspondence to us, and this will need to be saved in CRM under the ‘Notes & Attachment’ section at the bottom of the customer’s account

    • 0
  • HappyChipMonk on 06/08/2026 - 13:29

    Trying with merdian… will let you know if successful or not

    • 0
  • dhirb on 07/08/2026 - 23:52

    Update: Messaged Contact on Tuesday, $110 applied to my account today. Thanks OP!

    • 1
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