Contact Energy Review - Prices, Discounts, Rates and Fees
Our comprehensive guide compares Contact Energy's electricity plans and outlines the bonuses, contracts, pros and cons and must-know facts.
Updated 15 August 2024
Know This First - Contact Energy's kWh pricing and daily charges vary considerably throughout New Zealand. For up-to-date pricing comparisons and tools to help you find the cheapest deal, please use our electricity company comparison guide.
Contact Energy in a Nutshell
Our review: To help you understand how Contact Energy works and the pros and cons of their plans, our guide covers:
Contact Energy in a Nutshell
- Contact Energy Limited is New Zealand’s second-largest electricity retailer by market share after Genesis
- As the largest power generating company in New Zealand, Contact is able to offer its services nationwide providing energy to more than 350,000 Single Installation Control Points (ICPs), representing 19.5% of the total retail electricity market
- Plans and Pricing: Contact Energy offers a number of plans: including the Broadband Bundle plan which includes broadband and energy in one bill, the Basic Plan (for both low and standard energy users), and the Good Charge Plan (aimed at but not exclusive to Electric Vehicle owners), which we cover in this guide. Contact offers additional plans like the Good Weekends plan which offers free power on weekends, and the Good Nights plan which offers 3 hours of free energy every weeknight (9pm to midnight).
- Our power company comparison research concluded that Contact Energy offers good value to standard users in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and especially in Dunedin.
- If you are generating your own power, you can also opt for Contact’s Alternative Energy programme to sell any surplus energy back to the grid and save on your bill.
Our review: To help you understand how Contact Energy works and the pros and cons of their plans, our guide covers:
1. Contact Energy Prices
Our Research:
- Our research revealed that Contact Energy was competitive for standard and low users in a number of cities.
- We believe Contact Energy offers opportunities for many households to make market-leading monthly savings on their energy bills. However, as with any power company, the exact prices depend on where you live in New Zealand and how much energy you use.
- Compare Contact Energy's prices with the rest of the market using our comparison data.
How green is Contact Energy?
- Approximately 84% of the power generated by Contact Energy comes from renewable sources. Currently, Contact Energy owns and operates two geothermal plants located at Waikato (698 GWh/year), three geothermal plants located at Taupō (2,559 GWh/year), and two hydroelectric plants located at Otago (4,231 GWh/year).
- The remaining 16% of the energy though is generated from three gas-based thermal plants, two of them located at Taranaki (1220 GWh/year) and one in Waikato (196 GWh/year), as well as one diesel-based thermoelectric plant located at Hawke’s Bay (5 GWh/year).
- While it is true that those plants are not eco-friendly, worth mentioning that Contact is considering building an additional geothermal power station in Taupō as part of its environmental sustainability strategy.
Contact Energy Plans - "Broadband Bundle" vs "Basic" vs "Good Charge"
Contact Energy is currently offering a number of residential plans, but here we review three of them: the Basic Plan, the Broadband Bundle Plan, and the Good Charge Plan..
Contact Energy Basic Plan Review
- The Basic Plan is aimed at both, low and standard users, looking for a flexible hassle-free plan with no fixed term and transparent pricing
- Given its flexible nature, the Basic Plan has higher daily and variable charges than other Contact Energy plans
- To get the most out of this plan, you should feel comfortable both managing your bill and making your payments online.
The Pros:
- Great flexibility, no fixed terms or cancellation fees
- Transparent pricing, you can check your bill details as well as your household power usage through Contact app
The Cons:
- No additional discounts
- Charges may be higher compared to other plans with added benefits
Be aware:
- Additional fees apply if you decide to receive a paper bill instead of an online bill, or you pay by credit card.
Contact Energy Good Charge Plan Review
- The Good Charge Plan provides reduced electricity usage rates during designated nighttime hours. It is designed for customers who can shift energy-intensive activities to nighttime. The plan is flexible, with no fixed terms or early termination fees.
- While this plan is aimed at owners of Electric Vehicles, it is open to everyone.
The Pros:
- Offers reduced rates for electricity usage during specified nighttime hours.
- No long-term commitment, allowing customers to change plans if needed.
Cons:
- Requires an eligible smart meter to access the plan.
- Savings apply only to usage charges, not to daily charges or other services like gas.
Be aware:
- Nighttime rates are only available during specific hours, so customers should assess whether their energy usage aligns with this schedule.
- Check eligibility for the required smart meter before signing up.
Contact Energy Broadband Bundle Plan Review
- As its name implies, Contact Energy’s Broadband Bundle plan combines energy services with broadband options. It offers flexibility with no fixed terms or break fees, making it suitable for those seeking a single bill for energy and internet
- The plan includes basic energy rates, with potential benefits for bundling electricity and gas with broadband.
The Pros:
- Provides both wireless and fibre broadband options.
- Offers the convenience of managing energy and broadband in one bill.
- Flexible terms, allowing customers to change plans without penalties.
- Attractive discounts on broadband when bundled with electricity, greater discounts when bundled with electricity and gas.
Cons:
- Benefits require customers to be on the Broadband Bundle plan.
- Standard broadband rates apply when added to other electricity plans.
Be aware:
- Broadband availability depends on infrastructure and location.
- Fibre connections may require a compatible modem.
Read our guide on energy and broadband bundles to see how Contact’s offering compares to others in the market.
Good Nights Plan Review
This plan provides three hours of free power (9pm to 12am) Monday to Friday. Available only to users with smart meters.
The Pros:
The Cons:
The Pros:
- Three hours of free power every night, can save money by scheduling appliances to run at this time
- Able to track energy usage on the Contact App
- Open Term
The Cons:
- Only available to smart meter users, check if you’re eligible here
3. Contact Energy Conclusion
To determine which plan best suits your needs, you’ll need to consider the following:
Read our guide on energy and broadband bundles to see how Contact’s offering compares to others in the market.
The Basic plan offers straightforward energy pricing and flexibility, making it a good option for renters or individuals who value simplicity without the need for long-term contracts or added perks.
The Good Charge plan is well-suited for EV owners and other individuals who can shift their energy usage to nighttime hours. By leveraging reduced rates during off-peak times, customers can potentially save money without being tied to a fixed-term contract.
The Good nights plan is a good option for people who can shift their consumption to the night time to make use of the 3 full hours of power and a reasonable fixed term commitment.
- Lifestyle and convenience: Our view is that your lifestyle plays a crucial role in deciding which Contact Energy plan is better for you.
Read our guide on energy and broadband bundles to see how Contact’s offering compares to others in the market.
The Basic plan offers straightforward energy pricing and flexibility, making it a good option for renters or individuals who value simplicity without the need for long-term contracts or added perks.
The Good Charge plan is well-suited for EV owners and other individuals who can shift their energy usage to nighttime hours. By leveraging reduced rates during off-peak times, customers can potentially save money without being tied to a fixed-term contract.
The Good nights plan is a good option for people who can shift their consumption to the night time to make use of the 3 full hours of power and a reasonable fixed term commitment.
- Additional benefits: Aside from its electricity plans, Contact Energy also offers broadband, piped gas, and bottled gas services. While you can obtain interesting discounts by subscribing to Contact's "service bundles" some of these bundles are subject to the type of electricity contract you have (fixed or open-term). Simply put, your choice of electricity plan will affect the choices available for the other Contact services.
4. Contact Energy Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide if Contact Energy is right for your home, we've published a number of frequently asked questions.
What does Contact Energy cost per month, and is it the cheapest?
What you pay depends on where you live, how much energy you use and what plan you're on. Our electricity company comparison guide has more information about estimated costs and how it compares to other companies.
Is Contact Energy available at my address?
Most likely - you'll need to type in your address to see if you're covered.
What does a Contact Energy bill look like, and how do I pay?
This overview explains how the bill appears, what everything means and when it's due. Contact Energy accepts direct debits and credit cards - your can read more from their ways to pay your power bill guide.
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