Ecotricity Review - 2022 Prices, Discounts, Deals, Tariffs and Fees
Our guide compares Ecotricity's plans and outlines the pricing, bonuses, contracts, pros and cons and must-know facts
Updated 10 May 2022
Ecotricity in a Nutshell
Our review: To help you understand how Ecotricity works and the pros and cons of their services, our guide covers:
- Ecotricity markets itself as “New Zealand’s cleanest, greenest electricity company”. It provides carboNZero Certified Electricity, which means that all of their electricity is sourced from wind, hydro and solar and that they offset all carbon emissions from their operation.
- Ecotricity does not supply gas and has moved away from fossil fuels, since 2014 all of their company-owned vehicles are either electric or plug-in-hybrid-electric.
- Plans and Pricing: Ecotricity offers four core plans, two for standard users consuming more than 8,000 kWh (Eco anytime, Eco saver) and two aimed at low users whose annual power usage is below 8,000 kWh (Low Eco saver, Low user). Our research for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin suggests the plans are more expensive than the average electricity retailer.
Our review: To help you understand how Ecotricity works and the pros and cons of their services, our guide covers:
1. Ecotricity Price Analysis
Our Price Comparison Research and Results:
- Our latest 2022 research revealed that Ecotricity's plans for all major cities offered some of the most expensive electricity prices for low and standard users in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Our power comparison guide has more details.
- Ecotricity is, in a nutshell, expensive. However, as with any decision making process, we suggest getting a quote and comparing it to other providers. You can get an estimate here. As with any power company, the exact prices depend on where you live in New Zealand and how much energy you use.
- Compare Ecotricity's prices with the rest of the market here.
Know This: How green is Ecotricity?
Ecotricity is New Zealand’s only provider of 100% Renewable and carbonzero Certified electricity. You can read more about their eco-electricity here. Ecotricity's electricity comes from hydro sources (Monowai, Roaring Meg and Teviot hydro dams), wind sources (Flat Hill Wind Farm) and Solar sources (buy back from ecotricity customers). Full details can be found here.
2. Ecotricity Plans and Energy Prices Comparison (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin)
Ecotricity offers four core plans, two for standard users consuming more than 8,000 kWh (Eco anytime, Eco saver) and two aimed at low users whose annual power usage is below 8,000 kWh (Low Eco saver, Low user). We explain the plans below:
Eco anytime Plan Review
- This plan is aimed at standard users (consumption above 8,000 kWh per year - 9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), and has a flat rate 24 hours a day (no distinction between peak and off-peak times).
The Pros:
- No long-term contract, no joining fee
- Energy prices are fixed for 12 to 36 months
- Carbonzero certified (energy comes from hydro, wind and solar sources)
The Cons:
- The same rate applies any time of the day so you don’t benefit from cheaper energy prices at night.
Eco Saver Plan Review
- This plan is aimed at standard users (energy usage above 8,000 kWh per year - 9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), who can shift some of their consumption to off peak times, as it offers lower rates in off peak times.
The Pros:
- The off-peak price for energy is up to 40% cheaper compared to the anytime plan rates
- Suitable for owners of Electric vehicles and solar customers
- No long-term contract, no joining fee
- Energy prices are fixed for 12 to 36 months
- Carbonzero certified (energy comes from hydro, wind and solar sources)
Cons:
- You’ll need a smart meter installed to join this plan and benefit from off-peak pricing
Low User Plan Review
- This plan is aimed at low users (consumption below 8,000 kWh per year - 9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), and has a flat rate 24 hours a day (no distinction between peak and off-peak times).
The Pros:
- No long-term contract, no joining fee
- Energy prices are fixed for 12 to 36 months
- Carbonzero certified (energy comes from hydro, wind and solar sources)
The Cons:
- The same rate applies any time of the day so you don’t benefit from cheaper energy prices at night.
- Higher variable rate than on one of Ecotricity’s standard plans
Low Eco Saver Plan Review
- This plan is aimed at low users (annual consumption above 8,000 kWh per year - 9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), who can shift some of their consumption to off peak times, as it offers lower rates in off peak times.
The Pros:
- The off-peak price for energy is up to 40% cheaper compared to the anytime plan rates
- Suitable for energy-efficient or smaller households (1-2 people)
- Off peak rates apply every night and through the weekend
- No long-term contract, no joining fee
- Energy prices are fixed for 12 to 36 months
- Carbonzero certified (energy comes from hydro, wind and solar sources)
The Cons:
- You’ll need a smart meter installed to join this plan and benefit from off-peak pricing
- Higher variable rate than on one of Ecotricity’s standard plans
3. Ecotricity Conclusion
To determine which plan best suits your needs, you’ll need to consider the following:
- Total energy consumption (kWh) per year: The first choice you’ll need to make when deciding between Ecotricity’s plans will depend on your annual usage. If your annual consumption is below 8,000 kWh/year (9,000 kWh/year for southern regions of South Island) you would probably benefit from either the Low User Plan or the Low Eco Saver plan. Households consuming more power would get better rates from the Eco Anytime or Eco Saver plans as the variable rate is lower than on the low user plans.
- Lifestyle and convenience: The next thing you’ll need to consider is whether or not it would suit your household to shift some of your energy consumption to off-peak times, when the energy is cheaper. If you’re not interested in running your appliances at night and prefer to have a consistent rate throughout the day, then you’re probably more suited to the Eco Anytime or Low user plan. On the other hand, if you can schedule some of your kWh-heavy appliances (like your Electric Vehicle, washing machine, etc) to run in the evening or weekends when the energy is cheaper, you could save money by signing up to the Eco Saver or Low Eco Saver plans.
- Additional benefits: Ecotricity is very committed to the environment and labels itself as “New Zealand’s cleanest, greenest energy supplier”, so you have the benefit of knowing that you’re supporting clean energy and sourcing your power needs from a carbonzero certified company. Also, if you have solar panels installed in your home, you could benefit from selling this energy back to the grid at competitive rates. Ecotricity is one of few energy suppliers that lets you use and generate solar energy during peak and off peak times.
4. Ecotricity Frequently Asked Questions
To help you decide if Ecotricity is right for your home, we've published a number of frequently asked questions.
What does Ecotricity 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 comparison guide (LINK) has more information about estimated costs and how it compares to other companies.
Is Ecotricity available at my address?
Most likely - you'll need to type in your address to see if you're covered.
What does an Ecotricity bill look like, and how do I pay?
This page shows you how the bill appears, what everything means and when it's due. Ecotricity accepts direct debits and online payments to their kiwibank bank account, full details can be found here.
Does Ecotricity use renewable sources of electricity?
Yes - Ecotricity is New Zealand’s only provider of 100% Renewable and carbonzero Certified electricity. Ecotricity's electricity comes from hydro sources (Monowai, Roaring Meg and Teviot hydro dams), wind sources (Flat Hill Wind Farm) and Solar sources (buy back from ecotricity customers). Full details can be found here.
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