Electric Kiwi Ceased Prepay 300—Any Good Power & Fibre Deals?

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  Alan6984 on 30/07/2024 - 11:46

  The best approach is to contact as many providers as you can justify (there is a time cost to you of course), but I would suggest at least three or four.

  The deal you are offered will be specific to your location, so hard for anyone else to tell you whether there is another, better offer for sure.

  You can try using the comparison websites to start with, but note that not all providers are necessarily on all the sites, so you could still miss a good deal that way.

  • 

    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:33

    Thanks. Do you mean I can send emails to all the providers and ask for their rates?
    So far, I’ve only been using comparison sites and just realized that not all providers are included.

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  ace310 on 30/07/2024 - 11:52

  +2

  As you have already mentioned, switch to Contact in the interim get the $100 referral bonus(it has ended, but some old referrals are still working. PM) and later $300 broadband bonus. Use it for 2 months or so. Select the plan which suits you and see how much difference does it make.

  In the meantime do more research and find better options. I would recommend not bundling broadband and electricity together. Rates are normally higher if you bundle so not worth it. Also easier to switch.

  • 

    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:07

    +1

    Thanks. I have sent you a PM. I usually don't bundle broadband with electricity, but the EK rates offered at that time were among the best. And with an hour of free power per day, I calculated that it covered the extra cost of the broadband bundle, so I went for it.

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  nzmax on 30/07/2024 - 15:32

  All providers are increasing their daily rate it seems after the sector decided to get rid of the low user daily rate. But the unit rate was supposed to drop to compensate, but my power company Frank puts up both each year.

  • 

    huffboy on 30/07/2024 - 15:33

    not only frank. contact does the same.

    • 

      nzmax on 30/07/2024 - 18:58

      The whole situation seems ridiculous IMO. Any change to remove the low daily user rate was just an opportunity for extra profits to be made IMO as there doesn't appear to be any checking going on. Electric Kiwi are complaining about the sector openly too which just shows how broken it is. Also bundling other services to get better deals IMO shouldn't be allowed for something like power, and it makes it more difficult to switch providers. I am fine with Frank at the moment because they also give free gas bottle rental which is a good saving and I am a low power user.

      • 

        huffboy on 30/07/2024 - 19:09

        government owns most of them… except for contact which they own less of.

  • 

    Alan6984 on 30/07/2024 - 21:53

    All providers are increasing their daily rate it seems after the sector decided to get rid of the low user daily rate.

    I had thought that the last government mandated that the low daily user rates be removed - nothing to do with the 'sector' making a decision.

    However, perhaps I am mistaken?

    • 

      Fantail on 31/07/2024 - 09:24

      They are slowly phasing out the mandated maximum rate that the low user plans could offer. The power companies aren't mandated to raise this rate - my current electric kiwi daily rate is $0.69 vs the current maximum of $1.20. https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-consultations-and-reviews/electricity-price/phasing-out-low-fixed-charge-tariff-regulations#:~:text=Maximum%20low%20fixed%20charge%C2%A0(excluding%20GST)

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    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:37

    From what I can see, prices have increased across all the providers compared to the rates I checked 8 months ago :(

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  kiwical on 31/07/2024 - 07:26

  +2

  Don't forget Electric Kiwi aren't taking new customers now. That could mean if you leave, and find the grass isn't greener, you can't come back.
  Just something to be aware of if you are going to do the switch for a referral or new customer bonus then return to EK

  • 

    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:11

    Thanks for the heads up. My plan is to switch away as the rate is going up drastically. I reckon it will double or triple my bill :(

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  curiousb on 31/07/2024 - 17:28

  After checking PowerSwitch, look through all the deals at Contact, Flick, Octopus and Frank. If you do that very high chance you're getting the best deal

  • 

    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:13

    So far after comparing with all the comparison sites, Powerswitch is the cheapest for me. Thanks for confirming this!

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  Tmurder91 on 31/07/2024 - 18:52

  Some comments here might be helpful

  I had a go at making a spreadsheet where you can add your usage data and 2 plans different peak / free usage periods and see which would be cheaper for you

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    doubledippps on 01/08/2024 - 11:27

    Thank you! That's some exceptional work mate! I will look into how to use the form later today!