What do you think of this Powershop ad?

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Reply # 498242 26-Jul-2011 21:19

I'm in West Auckland. Interesting to see the different prices.

I use about 500 units a month. Haven't even needed to use heaters this winter!

I keep meaning to try and record the Powerpack prices and compare them to the Special prices when the seasons change, but eh. I think I'd probably save ~$100 a year if I bought them.

Creator of Tallowmere.

jonherries

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Reply # 498246 26-Jul-2011 21:26

I started with Powershop in September last year and have done some calcs on the savings. When I use the per unit rate and daily charge after 10% discount from Genesis which I was with, who were the cheapest at the time I have saved $120 (based on actual usage). When I adjust the price for Genesis to the current price, starting from the date of change (per the powerswitch price tracking) I have saved $280.

I use the iPhone app and get all the specials I can and buy in advance coming into winter (as the price goes up if you wait). I delay into spring as the price goes down (rates will only go down).

Tricky thing will be trying to predict a dry year!

Jon

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richms

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Reply # 498274 26-Jul-2011 22:39

ChrisNZL: I'm in West Auckland. Interesting to see the different prices.

I use about 500 units a month. Haven't even needed to use heaters this winter!

I keep meaning to try and record the Powerpack prices and compare them to the Special prices when the seasons change, but eh. I think I'd probably save ~$100 a year if I bought them.

I would love to have a fireplace since I have a lot of timber I could chop up to use in it, but there isnt one and the last thing I want is a building inspector thru the place to sign off on one because they would probably notice all the other things wrong inside with the place ;)

In normal winter its about 700 watts average overnight to keep it at 22 degrees. No idea how much the flatmate takes in his larger room with better windows, probably a little more than that. add on reheating the water cylander and you are easily at $6 a day just there.

Aquariums seem to average about 500W thru winter, some is lighting, some is filters but most is the heat, PCs are just under a kilowatt without screens. Quite easy to get up to 100 units a day without trying.

Richard rich.ms

sunfolk

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Reply # 498304 27-Jul-2011 00:06

It doesn't offend me, but why would anyone want to associate their product with extremist fascist communist dictatorial genocidal people?
Unless its just for the shock value.

In which case you have to wonder when are we going to see the one with Hitler using powershop for his furnaces?

Too shocking for you?

I think the Kurds in northen Iraq would be a bit p****d and shocked with the Saddam advert.

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Reply # 498308 27-Jul-2011 00:42

richms: What percentage do you save playing these games prepaying for the power before you use it in the end?

i pre-bought some packs back at easter or thereabouts which cost me around 23 c/unit, and my 'standard' price is around 26 c/unit now. Thats about 12% cheaper? (its too late at night to do proper math :)

One good thing about not paying per-day for line charges, is that your power is cheaper if you go away on holiday for a few weeks and turn everything off. Also, i'm a heavy gas user, so my electricty use falls below the low user plans on normal providers.

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richms

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Reply # 498309 27-Jul-2011 00:47

My baseline loading here with everything off that I have off when I am out (lights, room heating, entertainment gear) is about 1.1kW, so that already puts me out of the low user categories unless I was to shut down all the PCs and let the fish freeze. Worse in summer with the poolpump pulling 750 watts for most of the daytime too.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 498310 27-Jul-2011 00:47

freitasm:

You use more than 100 units a day Richms? We use about 70 and I thought it was a lot...

i'm around 15 units per day - plus gas (hot water, central heating, cooktop)

I actually used more power in January than in any winter month this year :)

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nigelj

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Reply # 498315 27-Jul-2011 01:12

richms: What percentage do you save playing these games prepaying for the power before you use it in the end?

Can save quite a bit from my observation here is some examples:

During Easter Powershop had a $99 winter pack (max purchase of 3 packs) which worked out as $99 of power each month (459 units - so 21.57c/unit), current price is 25.06c/unit. Based on on our usage since we switched, (number of days, number of day units, number of night units etc) the effective 'per unit' price we would have been paying Genesis is about 25.99c/unit.

What it means, is one $99 power pack, saved us $20 against Genesis pricing, and about $15 against normal Powershop pricing.

So I guess the answer for us is ~15-20%.

(n.b. for others playing the 'how does my price compare' game we are in West Auckland and on a Day/Night meter)

On the original topic, well, I thought the Ronald Regan ad was GW Bush, and it took a bit of looking to 'get' what the other two were about, but they are good.

That said, what I really wish Powershop would do, to show the pricing is to allow someone to enter their region + last bill meter readings (i.e. #days + units used for each meter) and return a indicative per unit price/how much that bill would have been for a customer with those characteristics.

When we switched that was the biggest question, all fair enough having fancy graphs, but data is the important bit. Maybe their advertising should have focused on that.

Niscoupe

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Reply # 498329 27-Jul-2011 07:13

We are using 34 units per day which I have recently questioned Powershop about (With no reply). We are 2 Adults, no electric heating only hot water, 2 freezers, 1 fridge, 2 Tvs, computer etc. We are careful with lights and general useage but can't see why our usage is so high. We have been in our rural 3 phase house for many years and the power bill has always seemed excessive. I wanted to know from Powershop whether we need to have an electrician check it out or whether the Power Company needs to look at it. They seem to be more interested in supplying pretty advertising pics than replying to their customers :-(

jonherries

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Reply # 498360 27-Jul-2011 09:28

We (2A, 1C, 1D) have a smart meter which powershop arranged to have installed for us. When I check our baseload ie. no heat, no lights, but do include standby for "the equipment", it is around 220W!

Almost all of our lights are now CFLs (and will start transitioning to LEDs as these die).

At the moment in Wellington we are using ~30 units per day (Bosch gas hot water and stove top).

We have an air-conditioner for heating and a fire box with a fan underneath that circulates air around the outside of the metal box (moves the heat into the room from the fireplace) - generally only gets used one or two weekends per year.

I am seriously considering a powered heat transfer kit that takes the hot air from the lounge ceiling and pumps it into the bedrooms (they have oil heaters on timers).

If you have the time, at the most basic, check how quickly your house is using power at the base load and then vary which appliances you turn on or off.

You might find the old fridge/freezer is using heaps of electric on its compressor as the gas has leaked out.

Has anyone looked at the condenser driers on the market? It means you don't have to vent the hot wet air outside, it dehumidfies and keeps the warm air inside.

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Reply # 498449 27-Jul-2011 12:08

Niscoupe: We are using 34 units per day which I have recently questioned Powershop about (With no reply). We are 2 Adults, no electric heating only hot water, 2 freezers, 1 fridge, 2 Tvs, computer etc. We are careful with lights and general useage but can't see why our usage is so high. We have been in our rural 3 phase house for many years and the power bill has always seemed excessive. I wanted to know from Powershop whether we need to have an electrician check it out or whether the Power Company needs to look at it. They seem to be more interested in supplying pretty advertising pics than replying to their customers :-(

Check your hotwater system, it could be leaking onto roof.
3 phase power, doesn't that cost more that single phase?
At thee times the cost you could get a super efficient heat pump dryer.

richms

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Reply # 498457 27-Jul-2011 12:22

hellonearthisman:
Niscoupe: We are using 34 units per day which I have recently questioned Powershop about (With no reply). We are 2 Adults, no electric heating only hot water, 2 freezers, 1 fridge, 2 Tvs, computer etc. We are careful with lights and general useage but can't see why our usage is so high. We have been in our rural 3 phase house for many years and the power bill has always seemed excessive. I wanted to know from Powershop whether we need to have an electrician check it out or whether the Power Company needs to look at it. They seem to be more interested in supplying pretty advertising pics than replying to their customers :-(

Check your hotwater system, it could be leaking onto roof.
3 phase power, doesn't that cost more that single phase?
At thee times the cost you could get a super efficient heat pump dryer.

3 phase was actually cheaper when I priced it up, mercury energy had a 3 phase residential plan with about a $2 a day line charge and 15c units, but that isnt listed anymore

It would have been $1000's to change over to 3 phase (new breaker panel with all new RCBO breakers etc) and at the time I looked into it vector/united networks wouldnt allow any changed to the powerpole because it was falling apart with the steel reinforcing showing where the concrete was falling off it. We would have had to have paid about $5000 to have that replaced. They later on came along and replaced the pole anyway but I am in no position to afford any upgrades now, and with only 1 flatmate here the pathetic 60 amp supply has been enough (also no 6kW spapool anymore helps with keeping the amps down)

Mercury dont list that plan anymore, which is a pain because it would save me a crapload.

Richard rich.ms

robbyp

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Reply # 498487 27-Jul-2011 13:06

I am just wondering why they would charge different per unit rates for 3 phase power, over single phase, as it is the same amount of power being used. It would be similar to a water company charging more or less per litre just becuase you have a bigger pipe coming into your house.
If 3 phase power does cost more to provide, I would instead expect a higher per day fixed fee instead.

richms

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Reply # 498488 27-Jul-2011 13:13

Higher lines charge as you have the ability to get more out of the usually underrated streetside transformers so need to contribute more to their upgrade whenever that happens. Still not upgraded the 100kVa one in the street here despite many many subdivisions going in on peoples back yards etc. Hell, I pull 10% of that transformers rating for hours on end some evenings. 9 more houses like me and it would be full.

Richard rich.ms

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Reply # 498510 27-Jul-2011 14:00

I saw these ads and though they were great. They're just a bit of humour. I really couldn't believe anyone would have been offended by them.

But they've pulled them due to complaints. New Zealand really still is in the dark ages if you ask me. I think people have a burning need to be offended by things.

Update: [Obligatory offtopic whinge about power prices]

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