Frank Energy Review - 2022 Prices, Discounts, Deals, Tariffs and Fees

Our guide explains Frank Energy's pricing, bonuses, contracts, pros and cons and must-know facts, and how it compares to other power companies for residents of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Updated 10 May 2022

Frank Energy in a Nutshell

Frank Energy is owned by Genesis Energy, but has different rates and a separate customer service team. Frank Energy has been operating in New Zealand for over 20 years and was previously known as Energy Online.
Plans and Pricing: Frank Energy offers two core plans, related to the customer's energy consumption: the Low User Plan (aimed at households that use less than 8,000 kWh per year) and the Standard User Plan (for households whose consumption is above 8,000 kWh per year).

Our review: To help you understand how Frank Energy works and the pros and cons of their services, our guide covers:

1. Frank Energy Price Analysis

Our Price Comparison Research and Results:

Our latest 2022 research revealed that Frank Energy's plans for all major cities offered some of the cheapest electricity prices. Specifically, Frank Energy is one of the cheapest energy suppliers for low and standard users in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Our power comparison guide has more details.
Frank Energy is, from what we understand, focused on delivering competitive energy prices and daily charges.
We believe Frank 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 Frank Energy's prices with the rest of the market here.

Know This: How green is Frank Energy?

Frank is a subsidiary of Genesis Energy, which owns and operates a number of renewable generation power plants around New Zealand. These include hydro schemes Tongariro (361.8 MW), Waikaremoana (138 MW) and Tekapo (179 MW), as well as a wind farm at Hau Nui (North Island).

However, Genesis Energy does operate the Huntly Power Station, which is powered by gas and coal fired generating units. This is not a renewable or environmentally-friendly source of electricity.

2. Frank Energy Plans and Pros & Cons

As stated on their website, Frank’s aim is to keep their offering as straightforward as possible, and they offer only two simple plans: the Standard User Plan and the Low User Plan. The plans are based on the customer’s energy needs: if your consumption is below 8,000 kWh per year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), the Low user plan is probably suitable, and the Standard plan would be better if your consumption is above that.

To understand Frank Energy's pros and cons, we look at both plans given the slight differences.

Frank Energy Low User Plan Review

This plan is aimed at energy efficient or smaller households that have gas for heating and hot water, and use less than 8,000 kWh per year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island).

The Pros:

Competitive rates for users with low energy needs
Low daily fixed charge compared to the standard plan
No fixed-term contracts, no exit fees and transparent pricing for services
Option to manage your usage and bills through the Mobile App

The Cons:

Slightly higher variable prices than on the standard plan

Frank Energy Standard User Plan Review

This plan is aimed at households that require more than 8,000 kWh per year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island).

The Pros:

Competitive rates for users with standard energy needs
Low variable charge compared to the low user plan
No fixed-term contracts, no exit fees and transparent pricing for services
Option to manage your usage and bills through the Mobile App

Cons:

Higher fixed charge than on the low user plan

3. Our Conclusion

To determine which plan best suits your needs, you’ll need to consider the following:

Total energy consumption (kWh) per year: The choice between the plans offered by Frank Energy will depend on your annual usage. Kiwi households consuming below 8,000 kWh/year (9,000 kWh/year for southern regions of South Island) can benefit more from the Low User Plan whereas families consuming more power can benefit more from Frank’s Standard User Plan.
Flexibility and convenience: Since both plans offered by Frank Energy have the same benefits, the only difference between them is the rate applied. In other words, from the point of view of convenience neither is superior to the other.
Additional benefits: Frank also offers bottled gas. If that is something you need, you might save money by signing up to their “Dual Fuel Plan”. The price per cylinder and monthly gas bottle rental is lower than the gas on its own (“Single Fuel Plan”) when taking electricity as well as gas from Frank. Also, Frank currently offers a $50 bonus for referring friends to get their energy with Frank.

4. Frank Energy Frequently Asked Questions

To help you decide if Frank Energy is right for your home, we've published a number of frequently asked questions.

What does Frank 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 comparison guide has more information about estimated costs and how it compares to other companies.

Is Frank Energy available at my address?

Most likely - you'll need to type in your address to see if you're covered.

What does a Frank Energy bill look like, and how do I pay?

Frank Energy has an FAQ that covers many topics, including what charges make up your bill and which payment methods are available.

Does Frank Energy use renewable sources of electricity?

Frank Energy is owned by Genesis Energy, which owns and operates a number of renewable generation power plants around New Zealand. These include hydro schemes Tongariro (361.8 MW), Waikaremoana (138.0 MW) and Tekapo (179.0 MW), as well as a wind farm at Hau Nui (North Island).

However, Genesis Energy does operate the Huntly Power Station, which is powered by gas and coal fired generating units.

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