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linw

2849 posts

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#2059185 20-Jul-2018 09:07

Holy, moley, they say I can save $953 per year compared with Mercury!!! Is this realistic? Does it include predicted savings using the free hour?

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#2059462 20-Jul-2018 16:49

Mmmmm, Powerswitch says I will save $126/yr.

Pretty hard to reconcile $953 with $126!

timmmay

20578 posts

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#2059493 20-Jul-2018 17:21

@linw add up your power usage for the past year in kwh. Multiply it by the EK rate. Reduce that number by say 10% for a conservative estimate of your hour of power savings to get the estimated cost for the next year. My hour of power savings have averaged 20% over the past year but I think that is sometimes difficult to obtain.

stinger

628 posts

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Inactive user

#2059498 20-Jul-2018 17:25

linw:

Holy, moley, they say I can save $953 per year compared with Mercury!!! Is this realistic? Does it include predicted savings using the free hour?

Under more details "Powerswitch calculations include the Free Hour of Power discount based on the average annual Hour of Power savings for existing customers", although it doesn't seem to state what this percentage is.

If I saved $953 per year, I would be receiving a credit from Electric Kiwi (bills usually $25 per fortnight in winter, slightly less in summer, average HOP is 30%, single person household).

Toastiewarm

57 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2059633 20-Jul-2018 20:18

We've just switched to EnergyClub will see how they go. Based on the rates they offered and amount of power we used last year the savings should be considerable and better than ElectricKiwi who knows though

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#2060296 22-Jul-2018 09:20

Ooops, I entered the Mercury Bill BEFORE discount. EK now says I will save $353. Powerswitch says save $250 with Paua and $126 with EK.

Energyclub calc on their website does nothing. Good look for potential customers.

Still thinking!

linw

2849 posts

Uber Geek

#2060504 22-Jul-2018 16:53

The inability to get the pricing info from Energyclubnz.com is related to my win 10 being on Insider Preview. Fails on Chrome and Edge.

Anybody on Insider like to try it for me to see if it is just my comp?

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jandal160165

170 posts

Master Geek

#2060590 22-Jul-2018 19:18

I like Nextgen. I am with them. They are non profit.

linw

2849 posts

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#2060885 23-Jul-2018 11:02

Chucked the contenders (Mercury, EKiwi, Energy Club, Meridian and Nextgen-not aval here) into a spreadsheet. Calculated for a year's worth to get all seasons. We use 12,600kWh/yr.

Interestingly, all except Energy Club, come out very close to each other, just over $3,000 with variance around $122 less than Mercury. Clearly they monitor each other's charges!

The standout is Energy Club at $426 cheaper than Mercury. Yes I have included the $5/wk! Their kWh rate is quite low at $0.1487 so that is where the advantage lies.

Nextgen has a low daily charge of $1.495 but higher kWh rate of $0.1955. This would help low users.

To me, EK needs to have the free hour hammered, like timmay! Allowing for a 10% reduction in kWh, saving over Mercury is then $355.

Also of interest, is the check with Powerswitch figures. They underestimated the yearly total by $328-$340 except for Energy Club that was $56 over. (No comparison for Nextgen).

My conclusion is that Energy Club and EK can give worthwhile savings, but EK needs more hands on management to achieve it.

Interested in comments (and corrections if I have got it wrong!).

stinger

628 posts

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Inactive user

#2060912 23-Jul-2018 11:17

linw:

Nextgen has a low daily charge of $1.495 but higher kWh rate of $0.1955. This would help low users.

With a few exceptions, low users (less than 8000 kWh per year) are going to be better off on a low user plan than a standard plans. Low user plans have the daily charge capped at 30¢+GST/day (after eligible payment discounts), but a higher usage rate.

timmmay

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#2060957 23-Jul-2018 12:21

I don't do much management. Heating and hot water are on a timer, I just have to hit the delay on the dish washer and clothes drier every evening.

wsnz

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2061706 24-Jul-2018 14:46

Powerswitch has ranked Nova for gas + electricity as number two for choice (ecotricity + genesis for gas are #1) , however when entering the same details into Nova's calculator, they say they can't match what we paid for gas.

Edit: Just ran the same figures through Switchme and the recommendation was to go with Nova, and provided figures higher than the actual bill, even before applying the various discounts.

It's difficult to make an objective decision when the results contradict each other.

Hammerer

2476 posts

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#2061822 24-Jul-2018 17:45

wsnz:

Powerswitch has ranked Nova for gas + electricity as number two for choice (ecotricity + genesis for gas are #1) , however when entering the same details into Nova's calculator, they say they can't match what we paid for gas.

Edit: Just ran the same figures through Switchme and the recommendation was to go with Nova, and provided figures higher than the actual bill, even before applying the various discounts.

It's difficult to make an objective decision when the results contradict each other.

Those websites only provide indicative results that are subject to a number of provisos. And they don't always include all the options: e.g. Flick was not on Switchme last time I looked; e.g. with my last company I was on a price that wasn't in any published tariff.

Calculate it yourself in a spreadsheet and then you'll understand exactly what is going on. I've picked up errors every year I've done the final comparisons myself.

wsnz

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2064708 29-Jul-2018 22:21

That was something I was hoping to avoid, but you're right, it's the only way to draw a reasonably accurate comparison.

Comparing the offers turned into quite an exercise, given the differences between treatment of PPD's, other discounts, inclusions, timing of pricing reviews (on an open term, you wouldn't want to change right before they review the price upwards), lack of clear pricing information on their websites etc.

The end result is that my calculated savings are roughly comparable in percentage terms, between what I received on the Powerswitch website and my actual calculations.

wsnz

649 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2065836 31-Jul-2018 19:00

Next issue: Nova has a special lead-in offer used for their on-line calculator, that if you sign up for is reviewed "after a few months". So it's not a true representation of what you'll pay in the medium to long-term.

Currently there's a $0.027 per KW/h variance in the area where I live, between the on-line lead in offer and the current market rate.

Even more complexity in drawing comparisons.

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