Time to give electricity the flick?

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250 posts

Master Geek
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#2006341 2-May-2018 05:58

Just had first day of winter peak (7-10am, 5-7pm) charges in Christchurch. Added around 9 c/kWh as expected. Prices (for me on the low user scheme) were slightly over 30 c/kWh in those times, around 22 c/kWh rest of the day, and around 10 c/kWh overnight.

Looking at lake storage levels it seems fairly likely spot prices will be a lot more stable this winter than last year.

Hammerer

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#2010143 8-May-2018 17:18

Hammerer:

heapsort:

But the saving really came from weekday daytime rates, not overnight or weekends. As most of our electricity use is overnight and weekends, we saw less saving with Flick at recent low spot price conditions than other households might.

That conclusion is interesting for me because we normally have people home all day on every day of the week. I've just moved to Flick so I will be analysing the data to see if that is true for my household.

Just completed the first month and I've found that the best savings do not come from the the weekday daytime rates. There are a few more opportunities open to me but the best savings have come at times when most people are home.

Night rates 1am-5am - lots of washing dishes and clothes, drying clothes and dehumidifying the southern end of the house.
Weekend rates anytime
Weekday evening rates 4pm on e.g. right now I'm saving 2c over the usual evening minimum. But generally this is the riskiest time for the highest peaks.
Weekday daytime rates have had little use with most days sunny 17-18C. Maybe it will be different in a cold southerly.

My rates for the month were 204 c/day and 15.3 c/kWh inclusive of GST on a relatively low usage for April of 1145 kWh. This is much less than the special price we previously had (213 c/day and 18.8 c/kWh). At this level, I doubt that my old supplier can get me back.

tdgeek

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#2010183 8-May-2018 18:35

Hammerer:

Hammerer:

heapsort:

But the saving really came from weekday daytime rates, not overnight or weekends. As most of our electricity use is overnight and weekends, we saw less saving with Flick at recent low spot price conditions than other households might.

That conclusion is interesting for me because we normally have people home all day on every day of the week. I've just moved to Flick so I will be analysing the data to see if that is true for my household.

Just completed the first month and I've found that the best savings do not come from the the weekday daytime rates. There are a few more opportunities open to me but the best savings have come at times when most people are home.

Night rates 1am-5am - lots of washing dishes and clothes, drying clothes and dehumidifying the southern end of the house.
Weekend rates anytime
Weekday evening rates 4pm on e.g. right now I'm saving 2c over the usual evening minimum. But generally this is the riskiest time for the highest peaks.
Weekday daytime rates have had little use with most days sunny 17-18C. Maybe it will be different in a cold southerly.

My rates for the month were 204 c/day and 15.3 c/kWh inclusive of GST on a relatively low usage for April of 1145 kWh. This is much less than the special price we previously had (213 c/day and 18.8 c/kWh). At this level, I doubt that my old supplier can get me back.

Its not a lot cheaper? You need to factor in winter highs and probably summer highs.

tdgeek

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#2010211 8-May-2018 18:37

I like Flicks approach, its another option, but the highs from big spot prices needs to be taken into account.

heapsort

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#2010262 8-May-2018 19:53

tdgeek:

I like Flicks approach, its another option, but the highs from big spot prices needs to be taken into account.

I'm happy with Flick on principle, as I like their pricing model, and I realise it's not for everyone, but the rarity of big spot prices also needs to be taken into account. Last winter had some very high prices, but they were the worst for at least a few years and the risk of anything close to a repeat this winter is extremely small.

Even with low lake levels in the 2017 winter, our highest Flick weekly bill ($81, in late July) was only 2.6 times our mean ($31) weekly bill for that year - and only two other weeks were over $60. The unusual spot price peaks probably made less than 3% difference to our annual electricity cost.

Hammerer

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#2010354 8-May-2018 21:56

I aware that spikes will reduce the benefit of the regular savings. We've already had a $20 spike a couple of smaller spikes. So far they have been about 10% of the bill. But we've also had two periods where the spot price was $0.00 so we only paid 6.7 c/kWh (plus GST and daily charges) - that feels good. Anyway we're paying the same amount as previously and building up credit with Flick that will be used to cover the expected spikes.

As mentioned earlier, there are good reasons why my household should continue to get good savings.

We have solar water heating which offsets expected higher summer rates.
We're high users so we have more scope for shifting consumption and greater savings from scale economies. There's a minimum of six adults in the house and someone nearly always home to take advantage of cheap rates.

D.W

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#2032744 9-Jun-2018 21:07

I was on Flick a couple of years back, and shifted to ElectricKiwi, however we use the majority of our power overnight (hot water cinder and heaters in kids bedrooms), and with the base rate of EK I think we're getting hammered on our power bills.

I do however like the tools EK provides online to view power usage, bills etc.

Are there any power companies that provide similar online tools, but offer reduced night rates? (am in Chch).

nickb800

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#2032760 9-Jun-2018 21:50

D.W:

I was on Flick a couple of years back, and shifted to ElectricKiwi, however we use the majority of our power overnight (hot water cinder and heaters in kids bedrooms), and with the base rate of EK I think we're getting hammered on our power bills.

I do however like the tools EK provides online to view power usage, bills etc.

Are there any power companies that provide similar online tools, but offer reduced night rates? (am in Chch).

Try Genesis, they offer a day/night rate in Chch and presume they all have an online dashboard these days

D.W

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Ultimate Geek
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#2032773 9-Jun-2018 22:27

Thanks they do look good, will likely go with them unless something better pops up (which I couldn't find), cheers.

mAYH3M

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Master Geek
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#2032784 9-Jun-2018 23:14

nickb800:

D.W:

I was on Flick a couple of years back, and shifted to ElectricKiwi, however we use the majority of our power overnight (hot water cinder and heaters in kids bedrooms), and with the base rate of EK I think we're getting hammered on our power bills.

I do however like the tools EK provides online to view power usage, bills etc.

Are there any power companies that provide similar online tools, but offer reduced night rates? (am in Chch).

Try Genesis, they offer a day/night rate in Chch and presume they all have an online dashboard these days

Have a look at Ecotricity.

Moved from Flick to Ecotricity on a ecoSaver plan and the rates are pretty similar to everyday Flick rates minus the spikes.No contracts and rates are locked in for 3 years.

Energy Usage 12am-4am - 11.45 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4am-7am - 11.99 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekdays) - 23.03 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekdays) - 22.74 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekdays) - 22.57 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 9pm-12am - 12.47 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekends) - 14.46 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekends) - 14.17 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekends) - 14.00 cents/kWh

Excludes GST

SBQ

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Master Geek
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#2032801 10-Jun-2018 06:49

Again, calling out all Christchurch users of Flick. I'm curious on the impact the winter surcharge has on your bill. If you look at Flick's schedule here: https://assets.ctfassets.net/8pjb06am7y41/FOuDJDMyswSAiU8AUS2mm/0d10bf97bb95f679d41d37fc02f90d07/Christchurch_Pricing_Schedule_Apr_1_18.pdf

The Low User 'Variable Charge Winter Peak' of a whopping 25.849 is really high. If I recall correctly when I was with Flick last year, the winter sur-charge applied on ALL hours at a tiered rate. The peak hours 7am-10am and 5pm-7pm were even higher again (compared to summer pricing). Ie in winter pricing, it seemed that it was always around the 18c/kW/hr mark and in peak hours in the day, it was always over 36c/kW/hr (and as high as $1.50/hr if the spot prices go bonkers).

Can other CHRISTCHURCH users confirm their Flick prices between day / peak / & night that would be great. I'm with Genesis and my May bill was at least 30% less then the same year ago with Flick.

SBQ

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Master Geek
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#2032802 10-Jun-2018 06:56

mAYH3M:

nickb800:

D.W:

I was on Flick a couple of years back, and shifted to ElectricKiwi, however we use the majority of our power overnight (hot water cinder and heaters in kids bedrooms), and with the base rate of EK I think we're getting hammered on our power bills.

I do however like the tools EK provides online to view power usage, bills etc.

Are there any power companies that provide similar online tools, but offer reduced night rates? (am in Chch).

Try Genesis, they offer a day/night rate in Chch and presume they all have an online dashboard these days

Have a look at Ecotricity.

Moved from Flick to Ecotricity on a ecoSaver plan and the rates are pretty similar to everyday Flick rates minus the spikes.No contracts and rates are locked in for 3 years.

Energy Usage 12am-4am - 11.45 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4am-7am - 11.99 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekdays) - 23.03 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekdays) - 22.74 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekdays) - 22.57 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 9pm-12am - 12.47 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekends) - 14.46 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekends) - 14.17 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekends) - 14.00 cents/kWh

Excludes GST

What I like about Genesis (FOR CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENTS) is the low night rate kicks in at 9pm - 7am on week days and ALL of Saturday & Sunday is ALSO on the low night rate. On my last bill, the night rate is 12.16 c/kWh (excludes GST) which looks like a far better deal than Ecotricity when you factor Genesis's 10% prompt payment discount (10.95 c/kWh net).

mAYH3M

163 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 24

#2032806 10-Jun-2018 08:20

SBQ:
mAYH3M:

nickb800:

D.W:

I was on Flick a couple of years back, and shifted to ElectricKiwi, however we use the majority of our power overnight (hot water cinder and heaters in kids bedrooms), and with the base rate of EK I think we're getting hammered on our power bills.

I do however like the tools EK provides online to view power usage, bills etc.

Are there any power companies that provide similar online tools, but offer reduced night rates? (am in Chch).

Try Genesis, they offer a day/night rate in Chch and presume they all have an online dashboard these days

Have a look at Ecotricity.

Moved from Flick to Ecotricity on a ecoSaver plan and the rates are pretty similar to everyday Flick rates minus the spikes.No contracts and rates are locked in for 3 years.

Energy Usage 12am-4am - 11.45 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4am-7am - 11.99 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekdays) - 23.03 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekdays) - 22.74 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekdays) - 22.57 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 9pm-12am - 12.47 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 7am-12pm (weekends) - 14.46 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 12pm-4pm (weekends) - 14.17 cents/kWh
Energy Usage 4pm-9pm (weekends) - 14.00 cents/kWh

Excludes GST

What I like about Genesis (FOR CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENTS) is the low night rate kicks in at 9pm - 7am on week days and ALL of Saturday & Sunday is ALSO on the low night rate. On my last bill, the night rate is 12.16 c/kWh (excludes GST) which looks like a far better deal than Ecotricity when you factor Genesis's 10% prompt payment discount (10.95 c/kWh net).

What’s the day rate like? My peak usage is between 4pm and 10pm on weekdays.

tdgeek

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#2032807 10-Jun-2018 08:22

SBQ:

What I like about Genesis (FOR CHRISTCHURCH RESIDENTS) is the low night rate kicks in at 9pm - 7am on week days and ALL of Saturday & Sunday is ALSO on the low night rate. On my last bill, the night rate is 12.16 c/kWh (excludes GST) which looks like a far better deal than Ecotricity when you factor Genesis's 10% prompt payment discount (10.95 c/kWh net).

That looks great.

pogo

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Master Geek
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#2032823 10-Jun-2018 09:24

God damn Flick's pricing schedule is confusing. I'm in Christchurch on the high user plan. I pay

5.886c fixed + spot OFF PEAK (9pm-7am weekdays and all weekend)
23.089c fixed + spot WINTER PEAK (7am-10am & 5pm-7pm May-August)
14.009c fixed + spot NORMAL (all other times)

This winter, this translates to roughly 8-12c off peak, 19-24c normal, and 30c upwards winter peak (tends to shoot up only when there's a cold snap).

We have a gas heater that usually gets turned on in winter peak times, just so we don't need to worry.

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