We believe Flick is very open about their business model; there are no hidden fees and what you pay is what the market price is plus a per unit usage fee and a fixed daily fee if you are a 'low user'.

The price you pay every week follows the rules of supply and demand - electricity is more in demand in winter as people heat their homes, so the price goes up. In summer, demand is much lower, so you'll pay less.

Know this: The price of power is entirely out of your control, and it's also out of Flick's control. Flick advertises that you'll pay less overall year after year, given the low margins they charge per unit. The Flick approach is a very different model to how other power companies operate - in most cases you'll pay a stable charge per unit of electricity year-round. This price factors in the ups and downs of the wholesale power market. 

Most power companies will bill you for a month, which during winter can make for a fairly hefty bill. Flick bills every Thursday for the power you used in 9-16 days earlier. 

This may not suit you if you get paid monthly or fortnightly, and we believe Flick has this policy to limit its losses from people who don't pay their bills.

If you prefer to have flat bills, Flick offers a free program called Volt which lets you overpay every week and build up a credit balance. The credit balance you build up is then used to help with larger bills, meaning what you pay is much more consistent. And if you decide to leave Flick, you are refunded your Volt balance once your final bill is settled. 
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Unlike almost every other power provider, Flick does not offer prompt payment discounts in any form. 

Flatting? Flick's weekly bill can be extra work when it comes to arranging flat finances as most other bills (Sky TV, Netflix, internet etc.) will be paid monthly.  
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It's inevitable - New Zealand periodically suffers low lake levels, and because 60% of our electricity is generated from hydroelectricity, the price of electricity jumps up. News media report heavily on the price of electricity during a drought, and if you're with Flick, you'll see those prices directly. Because Flick charges customers the wholesale price and not an agreed flat price, power shortages will translate to relatively higher bills. 

Leaving Flick when there's a drought

• While droughts don't usually last too long, nothing is guaranteed and week after week of sky-high power bills is not something you need to put up with. 
• Most other power companies offer year-round promotions with fixed prices not influenced by any current power shortage. Signing up to one will usually see your bills will return to a constant level. Flick customers can quit and be with a new supplier within hours. 
• Money Saving Tip: If you are switching, tell the potential power company you're leaving your existing provider and ask for a discount - many offer bonuses such as $100 credits and/or short-term contracts.   

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Some power companies charge connection fees and make you sign a contract for a minimum number of months. Flick does not - standard use customers pay a daily charge to be with Flick (usually around $0.50),  and you are free to leave whenever you want without a fee. 
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Flick promotes itself as being transparent and fair - we raise an issue with the charges advertised and on the Flick app not including GST so the weekly bill may not reflect what you saw on your screen. 
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Electricity isn't simple, and there are a lot of companies involved in getting power from its source to your home. This includes:

• Generation costs – this is the cost to produce the actual electricity, and its a 'good' that is traded on the wholesale market (also known as the 'Spot price'). Flick, like all other power companies, buys its electricity on this market.
• Transmission/distribution – this is the cost of moving the electricity from where it's produced (i.e. a hydro station) to your home. This is also known as 'network charges'.
• Metering – this the cost of renting your home's smart meter (you never own a smart meter despite it being attached to your home).
• Electricity Authority Levy – this is the cost that the Electricity Authority charges anyone consuming power; the level contributes towards the Authority regulating the electricity industry
• Flick Fee - in addition to the fees above, there is also a 'Flick fee' - this is the cost of having Flick provide their service. Flick adds this to every electricity unit consumed, currently at these rates:

1. Standard users - 1.58¢ per unit and 42¢ per day
2. Low Users - 3.15¢ to 3.62¢ per unit, no daily charge​

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Flick customers generally pay very little in warm months but as it gets cold budget-busting bills can start. If you struggle with bills, a flat-price electricity provider may be better for your overall finances. You'll pay more overall, but what you pay month to month will most likely be more consistent. In summary, there will be no spikes. And unlike Flick, most other providers bill monthly which is something to take into consideration. 
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Flick's app may torment you during winter with its price of power alerts and can make you spend time worrying about the price of power every time you want to do something like turn on a heater or have a shower. In the summer the power price will be a lot lower, but when you need to use a lot of electricity (i.e. for cooking and heating) it will cost more as there is more demand. 

If you have better things to worry about than the price of power and want to put on a heater without waiting for the 'right price' or feeling guilty for doing so, Flick's app is probably not for you. 
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Because Flick records your power use every half hour of every day, you'll need to have a smart meter. Confusingly, Flick can't install one for you so you won't be able to sign up. If this is you, Flick recommends you arrange an upgrade through another retailer and then switch over to them. 

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Flick's power prices as all demand-driven. At 7.30am on Monday there are millions of people getting ready for work and school, and at 6pm everyone is at home cooking dinner. The price of power at those times increases much more than say at 1am or 10pm when almost everyone is asleep and businesses are closed.

Flick charges you directly what the spot price any time you use electricity;  how and when you use electricity is what you'll pay. If you run a dishwasher, washing machine and heat pump at 12am that will be a lot cheaper than 6pm for example. 

Know this: Variable rate" does not mean "cheaper electricity, all the time
Flick is arguably as honest as power companies come, and does its best to educate prospective customers on the way they charge. If a customer signs up in summer, they'll most likely pay much less than their previous provider. All pricing is variable based on demand, and in summer, demand is low. But the market price is up and down twice an hour, and if there is a shortage of electricity for any reason, Flick customers will immediately pay more.

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