FAQs - questions about pricing
This page answers questions we’re sometimes asked about our pricing plans and charges. Please email us at help@contactenergy.co.nz or call our Customer Service Team on 0800 80 9000 if you can’t find the answer to your question here.
1. What is kWh?
Your electricity meter records the amount of electricity you use in kWh (kilowatt-hour). A kWh is one kilowatt (kW) of electricity used for one-hour (h).
This is how you are billed for your electricity usage.
A kWh is equal to 1000 watts used over a one hour period. For example, 1 kWh = 10 x 100 watt light bulbs burning for one hour.
2. What makes up the fixed daily charge amount?
The fixed daily charge appears on your bill as a ‘cents per day’ (c/day) amount. This is made up of meter rental costs, overhead costs including meter reading , a margin component and, in most cases, a fixed fee charged by network operators or lines companies.
3. What is a Low user plan?
We offer different pricing plans depending on your electricity usage. The low user plan is generally the best option if you use less than 8000kWh per year, or 9,000 kWh a year if you live in parts of the Lower South region.
Our low user plans have a lower fixed daily charge than our standard options and a higher variable charge for the electricity used. The amount of the variable rate varies depending on where you live and what type of meter you have. To qualify for a low user plan, your home must:
- be used or intended for occupation mainly as a place of residence
- be your principal place of residence, and
- not be covered by an exemption to the Electricity (Low Fixed Charge Tariff Option for Domestic Consumers) Regulations 2004.
4. What is the difference between Anytime and All Day Economy pricing plans?
With an Anytime plan a property has a continuous supply of electricity to all appliances connected to this meter 24 hours a day.
All Day Economy has a continuous supply of electricity to all appliances except hot water, which will be on ripple control. This means for example, that the electricity supply for a hot water cylinder may be turned off during peak times - as determined by the network company in your area.
5. What is a Day/Night pricing plan?
This pricing plan usually has a special type of meter that has two registers. These registers will record your day usage and night usage separately. Different rates apply for the day and the night.
This plan generally benefits customers who use an above average amount of electricity at night. For example, this plan may benefit you if you predominately run appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, heaters and dryers at night. There are no restrictions on which electrical appliances you use at night; you choose when you want to operate them.
6. How do I change the plan I am on?
If you want to change your pricing plan just give us a call, and we’ll help you determine the best pricing plan option for you.
If you are changing to a pricing plan other than the low user equivalent of your current plan, you may require a new meter or modifications to your existing meter. If we need to make changes to your meter set-up you will be charged a fee as we’ll need to send a contractor to carry out this work for you. Any other work requiring an electrician will be additional to this and will need to be arranged separately.
7. Why can’t I have the pricing plan that I used to have in my new house?
We supply energy to most areas in New Zealand using many different network companies that own the lines or pipes through which your electricity or gas is transported. Pricing differs around the country as network companies charges are specific to each area.
Also, the pricing for each property depends on your meter setup at home. This may be different to what you had in your previous house.
8. What is a gas conversion factor and why does this change?
Gas meters measure energy usage in cubic metres (m3 ) while electricity meters measure consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh). We convert gas cubic metres into kilowatt-hours for consistent billing purposes by using a gas conversion factor.
A gas conversion factor is made up of a number of elements (eg altitude, pressure, temperature, calorific value) and can change each month because of variations in temperature and calorific value during that month.
9. What is the DualEnergy™ discount?
DualEnergy™ is the combination of your gas and electricity accounts in a single monthly bill with a discount for both. From 1 May 2009 this discount means you will save more than $160 (incl. GST) each year.
