Frank and Ecotricity brands to be "merged" into Genesis,

Forums › Off topic › Frank and Ecotricity brands to be "merged" into Genesis,

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Behodar

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#3406121 21-Aug-2025 13:51

I just got an email from Frank saying I can stay with them for "a bit longer" and that I'll "enjoy Frank's competitive pricing for a bit longer". No idea how long "a bit" is, but I'll get "plenty of notice" "when the time comes".

Ragnor

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#3407642 26-Aug-2025 18:45

For those considering switching to Powershop be aware they charge a 0.76% credit card transaction fee.

KiwiSurfer

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#3408592 29-Aug-2025 14:57

First Powershop full month bill since I switched.

30 days and 484 kWh.

Using Frank prices this works out to:-

30 x $1.20 = $36.00

484 x $0.255 = $123.42

Total = $159.42

Total incl GST = $183.33

I bought all the special Powershop packs on offer this month and total price for the month was $177.11 (adjusting for promos) so seems to be cheaper off overall with Powershop.

Perhaps for the best I made the swtich.

mattwnz

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#3408598 29-Aug-2025 15:25

What is powershops daily rate? Buying promo packs does take some time to do. Your unit charge seems quite low but maybe your are in a main centre where power is cheaper.

KiwiSurfer

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#3408600 29-Aug-2025 15:30

mattwnz:

What is powershops daily rate? Buying promo packs does take some time to do. Your unit charge seems quite low but maybe your are in a main centre where power is cheaper.

172.50c daily charge (vs 138c with Frank incl GST).

I am in Auckland so possibly better prices up here? Powershop standard rates are between 27.99c/kWh to 31.58 depending on the month (vs 29.32c/kWh all year round with Frank incl GST).

antant

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#3408601 29-Aug-2025 15:47

KiwiSurfer:

172.50c daily charge (vs 138c with Frank incl GST).

I am in Auckland so possibly better prices up here? Powershop standard rates are between 27.99c/kWh to 31.58 depending on the month (vs 29.32c/kWh all year round with Frank incl GST).

For us at least, also in Auckland and also just switched over to Powershop (had been with them prior to Frank too), Frank was one rate all day, whereas PowerShop has different on and off peak rates, so that may also account for some of the difference, depending on when electricity is used.

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KiwiSurfer

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#3408602 29-Aug-2025 15:50

antant:

KiwiSurfer:

172.50c daily charge (vs 138c with Frank incl GST).

I am in Auckland so possibly better prices up here? Powershop standard rates are between 27.99c/kWh to 31.58 depending on the month (vs 29.32c/kWh all year round with Frank incl GST).

For us at least, also in Auckland and also just switched over to Powershop (had been with them prior to Frank too), Frank was one rate all day, whereas PowerShop has different on and off peak rates, so that may also account for some of the difference, depending on when electricity is used.

If you review my previous psots you'll see the peak/off-peak rate is the default option. But you can call/chat/email and ask to be changed to anytime/flat rate pricing. It was cheaper for us -- so maybe worth you doing your own calculations to see which prices are better. All the pricing is on the Powershop website so you just need look for it. :)

antant

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#3408718 30-Aug-2025 08:52

KiwiSurfer:

If you review my previous psots you'll see the peak/off-peak rate is the default option. But you can call/chat/email and ask to be changed to anytime/flat rate pricing. It was cheaper for us -- so maybe worth you doing your own calculations to see which prices are better. All the pricing is on the Powershop website so you just need look for it. :)

Thanks, somehow I had missed the earlier post. I had assumed (incorrectly!) peak/off peak would work out cheaper, but yeah, after crunching the numbers over the past year seems we'd need to get down to only using 21% of our power in peak to be better off with on/off peak. Currently we're about 33% peak usage, a large percentage of which appears to be morning showers / hot water reheating . I had enjoyed Frank for not having to worry about when to use power, good to know it's easy (but hidden) to do the same with Powershop.

hsvhel

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#3408890 30-Aug-2025 20:41

antant:

KiwiSurfer:

If you review my previous psots you'll see the peak/off-peak rate is the default option. But you can call/chat/email and ask to be changed to anytime/flat rate pricing. It was cheaper for us -- so maybe worth you doing your own calculations to see which prices are better. All the pricing is on the Powershop website so you just need look for it. :)

Thanks, somehow I had missed the earlier post. I had assumed (incorrectly!) peak/off peak would work out cheaper, but yeah, after crunching the numbers over the past year seems we'd need to get down to only using 21% of our power in peak to be better off with on/off peak. Currently we're about 33% peak usage, a large percentage of which appears to be morning showers / hot water reheating . I had enjoyed Frank for not having to worry about when to use power, good to know it's easy (but hidden) to do the same with Powershop.

Where on the site is the Anytime rate? We've been switched and it feels so "Gimicky" with the packs, We're doubting if its enough of a save to game the system every time

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antant

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#3408977 31-Aug-2025 10:48

hsvhel:

Where on the site is the Anytime rate? We've been switched and it feels so "Gimicky" with the packs, We're doubting if its enough of a save to game the system every time

Go to https://www.powershop.co.nz/our-rates/ , select your region / supplier / area, and it'll open a PDF with all the rates. For Auckland it shows both the Anytime rate, and the Peak / Off Peak. Other regions may differ slightly.

acetone

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#3408985 31-Aug-2025 11:46

I have moved over to Powershop and this is my first month.
I really dislike the whole power packs concept, it feels completely unnecessary and a waste of time.
If they can offer the "discounted" power rate, why not offer them as standard.

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Ragnor

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#3410819 3-Sep-2025 17:45

mattwnz:

What is powershops daily rate? Buying promo packs does take some time to do. Your unit charge seems quite low but maybe your are in a main centre where power is cheaper.

Without an account you can check the pdf for your region's lines company here

https://www.powershop.co.nz/our-rates/

Ragnor

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#3410821 3-Sep-2025 17:50

acetone:

I have moved over to Powershop and this is my first month.
I really dislike the whole power packs concept, it feels completely unnecessary and a waste of time.
If they can offer the "discounted" power rate, why not offer them as standard.

Yeah seems like unnecessary gamification for no reason, borderline predatory - you will be charged the higher default/fallback/standard rates if you don't manage it

However I did not find any other provider/plan for our usage that wasn't going to cost me more than the Frank anytime rates I was losing.

Ragnor

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#3410823 3-Sep-2025 17:54

A few other annoying things with Powershop

Credit card fee of 0.76% as mentioned earlier
"Your rates" in the web app always shows the standard rates not the special rates even if you have "activated" special rates by buying the appropriate packs
If you choose the 12 free weekends signup bonus it gives you no information in either the web or mobile app of which weekends are free and how many you have left (it's the first weekend in the calendar each month not first weekend in your billing cycle)
They put you on peak/off peak rates by default instead of anytime, changing to anytime is a manual support request it seems

As suspected before switching all fairly annoying, but there was no better option (at least for us) so far.

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