What’s Your Power Cost?

Mrs Holy and I live in a 3 bedroom home, 180 sq M. Built in 2018. 6 solar panels, electric hot water, gas heating in lounge only. Two heat pumps. Our average power bill excluding gas is $180 per month. That is supplied by Genisis. There is only the two of us. On TV and youtube we see adverts for billy. where you can go and compare your power company with others. They use people with power bills $4-500 per month. That got me thinking what would the average power bill be for ysb’ers

1. Spending Question

What is your average monthly electricity bill?

• Under $100
• $100 – $150
• $150 – $200
• $200 – $250
• $250 – $350
• Over $350

(This covers the national average of ~$200–$216/month, with room for winter spikes up to $280+.)

2. Consumption Question (Usage volume)

Roughly how many kilowatt-hours (kWh) does your household use per month

• Under 400 kWh
• 400 – 600 kWh
• 600 – 800 kWh
• 800 – 1,000 kWh
• Over 1,000 kWh

(Based on NZ average of ~7,100 kWh per year / ~590 kWh per month.)

3. Context / Household Question

How many people live in your household, and what type of home/heating do you have?

• Number of people: __
• Home type: Apartment / Unit / Small house (2-3 bedrooms) / Medium house (3-4 bedrooms) / Large house / Lifestyle block or rural
• Main heating: Heat pump / Electric heaters / Wood burner / Gas / None (or very little) / Other

4. Provider & Plan Question

Who is your current electricity retailer, and what type of plan are you on?

• Retailer (select one or type in):
  Mercury / Genesis Energy / Contact Energy / Meridian Energy / Electric Kiwi / Octopus Energy / Pulse Energy / Other / Not sure
• Plan type:
• Standard / Anytime rate
• Time-of-Use (cheaper off-peak / night rates)
• Low User plan
• Fixed daily charge with lower variable rate
• Prepay (e.g. Globug)
• Other / Not sure

5. Perception & Future Question

How do you feel about your current electricity costs, and what are you considering?

• Prices feel reasonable for what we get
• Electricity prices feel too high
• Electricity is a major financial burden for our household
• I’m actively trying to reduce our usage
• I’m considering switching retailers
• I’m looking into solar panels and/or battery storage
• I’ve already installed solar / heat pump / insulation
• Other (please comment)

New Zealanders can now compare and switch power plans with confidence using Billy, the new, free, publicly-owned comparison and switching site launched today by the Electricity Authority Te Mana Hiko (the Authority). Named as a nod to the power ‘bill’, Billy will make it easier for households to take control of their power costs.

“Billy gives people a simple way to check their plan and make sure they’re getting the best deal for them,” says Authority Chief Executive Sarah Gillies. “As Billy says, ‘there’s power in checking’. We want people to be confident they’re getting good value for their power by providing clarity and choice.”

Gillies says Billy builds on other changes the Authority has made to strengthen competition and empower consumers with better bills and clearer information.

“Electricity is a lifeline not a luxury. It warms our homes, powers our lives and connects us to opportunity. But for too many people, it’s a source of stress. Heading into winter, many households will face an increase to their power bill. It’s more important than ever to check whether your plan is delivering good value for your household, and whether you could save money with a better deal.”

Owned and operated by the Authority, the interactive site uses real data from 27,000 Kiwi households to model how people use power and create personalised comparisons. The Authority does not receive commissions or promote any particular power company. Billy simply shows how different plans could work for each household.

“Electricity is one of the biggest regular costs for most New Zealanders,” says Gillies. “Power bills rose by an average of about 10% in the first half of last year – around $17 per month for the average home.”

Research commissioned by the Authority in 2024 highlights why tools like Billy are needed. Of the households surveyed, half of those who switched power companies did so to save money. Among those who hadn’t switched, the main barriers were:

1. Uncertainty whether savings would be real (50%)
2. Feeling the benefit might not be worth the hassle (37%)
3. Believing switching would be difficult (25%).

Billy makes it easy to see what you could save by either uploading a recent power bill, or answering a few simple questions. Within seconds, you will receive personalised comparisons based on your electricity use and guided through a simple process if you choose to switch.

“The Authority has no commercial interest in whether someone switches. For many people, the outcome may simply be reassurance that their current plan is working well.”

Gillies says trusted information makes a big difference. “Billy will help people better understand their options and make informed choices.”

Minister for Energy Simon Watts says making energy affordable is a top priority for the Government.

“Helping you save money is our priority. Billy is a simple tool that takes the guesswork out of power bills, making sure you’re on the best plan so you can keep more in your pocket without the hassle.”