From harnessing solar power to smart home automation, these experiences offer a glimpse into the future of efficient and cost-effective home energy use.

It’s not just about numbers and graphs; it’s about real people making smart choices and seeing awesome results.

Customer 1: Using Solar Power for Efficient Water Heating

We have solar panels installed on our roof and use a standard hot water cylinder to heat our water. A power diverter is in place to redirect any excess solar-generated electricity to our hot water cylinder when our solar production exceeds our needs. Once the cylinder reaches its desired temperature, any surplus power is then fed back into the grid. The power diverter autonomously manages the energy supply to our hot water cylinder. It's programmed to activate at 5 pm for two hours in case there's no solar energy generated during the day, and again at 4 am for two hours, ensuring we have hot water in the morning.

Since we consistently require power at 4 am, I've scheduled our hour of power for this time. On average, we receive 30-40 kW of free power every fortnight, which translates into substantial savings of hundreds of dollars annually.

Customer 2: Integrating Timers and Solar Power with Batteries

Since moving to our new property and adopting a time-of-use rate, we've made considerable adjustments to our lifestyle. Our initial step was simple: avoiding the use of the dishwasher and washing machine during peak hours, which was easily manageable as we both work from home. We've also installed timers on our hot water system, ensuring it heats only during off-peak hours at night. Additionally, we're fortunate to have a solar power system with batteries. I've modified this system by setting the inverter to charge the batteries to 50% by 7 am, when peak rates begin. This charge level is sufficient to get us through the morning peak, even on cloudy days. The system is also programmed to fully charge the batteries before the evening peak. Typically, this is achieved solely through solar power, though occasionally it's supplemented by grid power during shoulder periods.

Our hour of power is set for midnight each day. At this time, the inverter recharges our batteries, and our hot water system reheats, leading to additional savings.

Overall, this strategy has been highly effective, saving us a substantial amount of money compared to the flat rate plans we've previously considered.

Customer 3: Smart Timing cuts Power Costs

Initially, I switched to Electric Kiwi to capitalise on the hour of free power, recognizing that our hot water cylinder was our home's main energy user. I found myself constantly adjusting the hour of power to coincide with our shower times, which became quite a hassle. I eventually found a solution by installing a timer switch on the hot water circuit. We programmed it to activate the hot water for an hour each afternoon during the 'hour of power' and for three hours early in the morning before 7 am. This change has allowed us to shower at our convenience without the need to reschedule the hour of power. It's an excellent arrangement for us!

The most rewarding discovery was that simply by adding a timer to our hot water cylinder, we've been saving at least $60 monthly on our power bill. Hot water was a major energy guzzler, particularly as my wife frequently uses hot water. Now, the cylinder only consumes power during off-peak periods, mainly at the half-price night rate.

Additionally, we've set delay start timers on our washing machine, dryer, and dishwasher to run overnight while we sleep. Our heat pump is also programmed to pre-heat or cool the house during off-peak hours.

There's much we can do to transfer our power usage to off-peak times, and it's surprisingly easy.

Customer 4: EVs and Smart Power Management

My husband and I switched to Electric Kiwi after retiring. After considering various plans, we chose the MoveMaster account, anticipating the purchase of an electric vehicle (EV). This plan has proven to be an excellent way for us to save on electricity costs in multiple ways.

We now own an EV and charge it overnight at the lowest rate. If it only needs a minor boost, we charge it during our free hour of power. Since we have a spa pool and are home during the day, we've scheduled our hour of free power from 9 am to 10 am, which allows the spa to heat up. During this hour, we also run our washing machine and dishwasher and charge our laptops, phones, vacuum cleaner, earbuds, Kindles, and Bluetooth speakers.

I've set alarms on my phone to remind me to switch everything on at 9 am and off at 10 am. I also use our EV's charging app timer for overnight charging. Apart from essentials like the fridge, freezer, hot water system, TV, modem, and toothbrush, we switch everything off at the wall. We're adapting to this routine of turning devices on and off.

The MoveMaster account has made us more mindful of our power consumption, and the Electric Kiwi app is a great tool for tracking our usage.

It may sound like a lot to manage, but we've established a routine that works for us. We adhere to a rule that everything should be done calmly and without stress. When we have visitors, for instance, we're more relaxed and simply do what's feasible.

Customer 5: Automation for Off-Peak Load Shifting

We've been loyal customers for many years now, and while the Hour of Power is fantastic, off-peak load shifting has been a game-changer for us, akin to a ninja-level strategy.

Our home springs to life at off-peak hours, reminiscent of an automation scene from 'Home Alone,' just as we're getting ready for bed. With the arrival of off-peak time, our home buzzes with activity. The various aftermarket wall plug timers we've installed start clicking into action. In winter, our heaters begin to circulate warm air, while our trusty washing machine starts another load, regardless of the season. Outside, our electric vehicles emit a couple of out-of-sync beeps as they start guzzling free electricity. If we're particularly organised, the dryer in the garage hums to life, spinning the day's remaining laundry. Sometimes, we find ourselves scurrying around the house, plugging in other appliances that need charging, or we might use our Alexa voice automation system to manage any we might have forgotten.

The appliances work through the night, completing their tasks, and by morning, we're all recharged and ready for another day of family chaos.

Our top load-shifting tips include:

• Utilising electrical timers, especially Wi-Fi plug timers with app control from a local hardware store, which are particularly useful during the festive season for controlling lights and decorations.
• Pairing these Wi-Fi switches with a budget-friendly voice-activated home automation system helps orchestrate our electrical needs, including Wi-Fi lighting.
• Checking if new appliances have built-in timers or delayed starts to leverage off-peak power.
• Making the most of electric vehicles, which often have built-in charging timers, is ideal for economical transport. Adding a higher capacity wall charger at home allows for faster charging of the vehicle’s batteries.
• Bathing the kids around 2-3 pm or showering after 9 pm, so the water cylinder heats up the next tank with cheaper off-peak electricity.
• Preparing meals early during off-peak or shoulder periods, as appliances like ovens and kettles consume considerable power.
• Avoiding the use of power-hungry appliances during peak times and using Wi-Fi switches to turn them off.

Joining EK has revolutionised how our family uses energy. By selecting quality electrical products, vehicles, and appliances, and automating their usage during the Hour of Power and off-peak periods, we stay prepared for the day ahead. These simple yet carefully refined changes have made us more energy-conscious and saved us significantly on energy costs, for which we are immensely grateful. Thank you for your excellent customer service and for continually offering fresh ideas.

Customer 6: Smart Switches for Off-Peak Usage

We've implemented smart switches and carefully managed appliance timings to maximise off-peak usage. Here's how we've maintained an impressive 77% average in off-peak usage while saving on energy costs:

• We installed an additional smart main switch equipped with a metering function.
• A similar smart switch was installed on the hot water circuit, which also includes timer and metering functions.
• We use a smart multiplug extension with four individually controllable power outlets and two USB outlets, all featuring timer functionality.
• The timers on the latter two are set to align with our chosen hour of power time slot. During this period, rechargeable batteries for our lawnmower, power tools, and electric bikes are charged automatically. We manually switch on other devices like the washing machine, ice maker, and begin pre-cooking the evening’s main meal. Four rechargeable power banks are also charged, ready to power our mobile phones the next day. Instead of using a dryer, we dry our laundry on a clothesline, utilising the sun and wind.

These strategies enable us, a household of two retirees, to average 3 kWh per day for hot water and 3.5 kWh per day for general usage, while maintaining over 77% off-peak usage.

What could MoveMaster mean for me?

Our MoveMaster customers are not just saving money; they’re leading the way in smart, sustainable living.

Their journeys, filled with practical tips and a dash of ingenuity, show us that shifting to a time-of-use plan isn’t just about cutting costs—it’s about embracing a lifestyle that values efficiency and environmental stewardship. From the clever use of solar power and batteries to effective automation of household appliances during off-peak hours, these stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re a roadmap to a future where every home can be more energy-smart.

So, whether it’s the middle of the day or the quiet of midnight, our customers are proving that a little planning and some smart tech can make a big difference to your wallet and the planet.

The post How our MoveMaster customers are saving money on a time-of-use plan appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

We have introduced time-of-use pricing across all of our plans. To understand why, it helps to understand the basics of power generation.

In New Zealand, energy is sold in half-hour chunks. The market figures out how much power is needed, and then generators toss in their bids. It starts with eco-friendly cheaper generation like solar, hydro and wind.

The more power we need, the less likely the green sources can meet all of the demand. So expensive heavy weights like coal, gas, and diesel are bid in at much more expensive prices.

And here’s the interesting bit, the last bid sets the price for ALL the energy types in that half-hour slot. Whether it’s wind, water or coal, the prices for all power during a high-demand period are sold at a premium. Whereas the power sold during off-peak times is often much cheaper (and greener!) because the expensive, non-renewable generation sources aren’t as likely to be needed.

So by moving your power off-peak, you are more likely to be using renewable generation, and on a time-of-use plan, that power will cost you less!

What’s load shifting and how can I save money?

Load shifting simply means moving your electricity use to off-peak hours and it can lead to significant savings on a time-of-use plan. The amount of change you see on your bill will depend on how much you use your Hour of Power and cheaper off-peak times.

Peak Hours (7am – 9am and 5pm – 9pm) are the times when most people are using electricity – typically in the evening when everyone’s cooking, watching TV, or running appliances. Because of the high demand during these hours, the cost of energy is higher.

Off-Peak Hours (the rest of the time, and all weekend) are the quieter hours, like late at night, early in the morning before 7am when most people are sleeping or during the day. This includes the time after the rush hours too, when most people are already at work or in school. During off-peak hours, electricity demand is lower and it tends to be more affordable.

Here’s where load shifting comes in – once you get started, you will be surprised how easy it is. Simple things include running the dishwasher, dryer or washing machine off-peak. To start planning, you can check out a list of common appliances here and how much power they’re likely to use, and we’ve created a handy guide with tips that will help you become a load shifting superhero.

Electric Kiwi’s switch to time-of-use plans is a practical step for both our customers and the environment. The reality of New Zealand’s electricity market highlights the importance of finding innovative solutions, and as we transition to more renewable energy generation, load shifting will become even more vital. Renewables are cheaper and better for our planet, but they do not always run when we want them to. The sun shines during the day, and wind generation depends on weather conditions.

In the future real time shifting of load to match intermittent renewables will help us balance demand with supply in real time. This can be done via sophisticated industrial control, automation of EV charging, control of our hot water and more. The future is exciting, and we’re getting started now because reducing peak electricity use has the power to reduce electricity costs and help our planet. You can keep up to date with everything Electric Kiwi is doing in this space here.

We are all part of the solution, and you can help by saving as much money as possible by moving more power off-peak!

The post Why time-of-use plans are good for all Kiwis appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

A smart home is a house that uses smart gadgets and technology to make life easier. These gadgets talk to the internet and can be bossed around from your phone.

When it comes to load shifting, a smart home is like having a team of superheroes managing your energy use. They shift tasks to when electricity is more affordable, giving your wallet a break and making your home kinder to the planet!

With smart home gadgets, you can automate your load shifting and set-and-forget. Let’s take a look at some of the most useful ones.

• Gizmo 1: Smart Plugs. These control when your appliances turn on or off, allowing them to kick in during off-peak hours and turn off when prices are high. Options like Kasa are cheap and effective.
• Gizmo 2: Energy Monitoring Systems. Energy monitoring systems are like Sherlock Holmes, sniffing out the power-hungry culprits in your home. The device sits inside your home’s electrical panel and communicates data via wifi to show you how much energy your home is using overall and which devices are hogging the most energy! This helps you to keep tabs on your energy consumption and make changes to bring down your power bills.
• Gizmo 3: Smart Thermostats. If your heater has no thermostat, consider a Heater mate. These have timers and an accurate thermostat built in for any heater type. They can turn themselves off on a timer or by an ideal temperature you set, so you can schedule your heating and cooling to run during off-peak hours. You can also add a smart thermostat to your hot water cylinder – this will map your usage to decide when it’s safe to turn your cylinder down or off.
• Gizmo 4: Smart Lighting.Lights, camera, energy savings! With smart lighting you can customise your lighting from a smartphone app – programming them to turn on or off at specific times, or to adjust based on natural light conditions. It’s basically mood lighting on steroids, making your home feel a bit more like the future.

Renewable Energy Integration

So, you’re on the renewable energy vibe – nice one! You can beef up your savings by combining your solar panels or other renewable energy sources with time-of-use plans! Here’s how to make the most of your renewable energy:

Align your energy usage with your production of renewables

It’s an obvious one, but try to use energy-intensive appliances (like washing machines, dishwashers and electric water heaters) during daylight hours when your solar panels are producing electricity. This allows you to directly use the energy you generate.

Self consume as much as you can, to avoid lines charges

The cost of electricity from the grid is not solely based on the energy consumed but also includes additional charges such as distribution and transmission fees (lines charges). When you export electricity back to the grid, you receive a feed-in tariff based on the energy portion only, without the added fees, so it is best to self-consume as much of your renewable energy as you can.

Consider throwing in a battery storage system with your solar setup

On those sunny days when your panels are in overdrive, store the excess power in the battery. Then, when peak hours hit and electricity rates spike, release that stored power. It’s a solid backup plan to dodge high rates without breaking a sweat. Check out our solar page for exclusive offers for Electric Kiwi customers.

These moves aren’t just about pinching pennies; they’re about being smart with your energy choices to make substantial savings on your power bills and lessening your impact on the environment. Everybody wins.

The post Make the most of load shifting with Smart Home Devices appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

Here are some practical tips to make the most of load shifting and lower your power bill.

The easy steps!

Tip 1: Toss those dirty dishes in the dishwasher just before you go to bed – you’re not going to empty it until the next morning anyway. Delay that baby and it’ll cost you less.

Tip 2: Start your washing machine during the day or just before you hit the hay. Many machines have a delay feature, so try and get into the habit of delaying it outside of those pesky peaks.

Tip 3: Same goes for the dryer, and these can be power hungry beasts! If it’s too cold outside to dry your clothes properly, keep its use to late at night or during the daytime if you can.

Bonus round: For maximum savings, use your Hour of Power at 11 pm – that way the first hour of your washing/drying/dishwashing extravaganza will be 100% free!

It’s gettin’ hot in here!

Tip 4: Heat things up early, before the peak hours hit. This means that you wake up to a warm house, and doing it early saves you money! Many heaters have timers built in, if not you can buy these – see the ‘timers are your new BFF’ section below.

As it’s usually hottest during the day in summer, use your air con during those daytime off-peak hours whenever possible – it all counts.

Tip 5: Consider investing in a thermostat – which is a device that regulates temperature by maintaining it at a set level. You can buy one at any electronics store, just make sure it is compatible with your heating and cooling systems. Many people heat their houses too much – a cosy, but expensive, habit! Once you’ve set the perfect temperature of your home, you can let your temperature-controlling wizard do the rest, meaning it won’t be driving your heating unit hard during peak hours!

But what does this actually mean in terms of savings? Is it worth it?

Short answer, yes! Take a look at the below table, which shows average power use of the appliances mentioned above, and how much money you could save by moving them from peak to off-peak times. This uses our Kiwi plan rates for peak ($0.4488) and off-peak ($0.3345) ^★.

$6 a week might not seem like much, but it stacks up fast to an awesome $350 a year!

• Dryer

• Dishwasher

• AC/Heatpump

• Washing Machine

Appliance	Dryer
Power Required	6.8 kWh per load
# of times used per week	3
Weekly Savings	$2.33
Annual Savings	$121.25

Total Weekly Savings	$6.79
Total Annual Savings	$353.05

Appliance	Dishwasher
Power Required	2 kWh per load
# of times used per week	5
Weekly Savings	$1.14
Annual Savings	$59.44

Total Weekly Savings	$6.79
Total Annual Savings	$353.05

Appliance	AC / Heatpump
Power Required	3.5 kWh per load
# of times used per week	7
Weekly Savings	$2.80
Annual Savings	$145.62

Total Weekly Savings	$6.79
Total Annual Savings	$353.05

Appliance	Washing Machine
Power Required	0.9 kWh per load
# of times used per week	5
Weekly Savings	$0.51
Annual Savings	$26.75

Total Weekly Savings	$6.79
Total Annual Savings	$353.05

Sources:
Canstar Blue - How Much Electricity Does a Clothes Dryer Use?
Consumer NZ - Appliance running costs
▲Note that kWh consumption is approximate and will vary depending on your usage and the efficiency of your appliances.
★These rates are a blended average from across New Zealand.

If you aren’t on the Kiwi plan, you’ll need to use your electricity rates to get an accurate picture of what you can save, and remember to check the kWh of your own home appliances. As you can see, small changes can make a really huge difference!

For the big win, try these tips

Tip 6: Got a pool or spa? Score big by running those pumps during the off-peak hours. Changing some energy usage habits takes a bit of thought, but running your pool pump off-peak at cheaper rates is a no-brainer! As well as a clean pool, you’ll get a clean conscience from knowing this energy usage is more likely to come from renewable sources.

Tip 7: A huge contributor to your power bill is hot water. Try to shower at night, or early in the morning if you can (before 7am) and you will drastically reduce your hot water costs. Just remember, your hot water cylinder heats up after your shower.

Tip 8: Night owls, rejoice! Tip 8 is to make sure you charge stuff at night. If you have an electric vehicle (EV) this move is a game-changer, but even for laptops and phones night charging means a fresh start every morning. It’s like a power nap for your devices. And the more you charge during off-peak hours, the more you save.

Timers are your new BFF

Check which of your devices have built-in timers and schedule things in off-peak hours like a pro.

No in-built timers? No problem! Grab some smart plugs (such as Kasa). Cheap, effective, and they let you boss your devices around from an app. Perfect for a heater that has a thermostat in it but no timer.

 that has a thermostat in it but no timer.

If you like the sounds of gizmos and want to take your load shifting to superhero levels, check out our blog about how to make the most of load shifting with Smart Home Devices.

As you’ve read, there are heaps of ways for you and your family to save a bundle by making small changes and creating new habits. And don’t forget your Hour of Power too! By reducing load in the peak hours, you’ll not only be saving yourself money, but you could also be reducing your impact on the environment. Go you!

The post How to save money on your power bills with load shifting appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

But don’t worry, there are tons of easy and practical steps you can take to save on your heating bills this winter. Check out these tips that range from small lifestyle changes to bigger home upgrades. Let’s get started!

Whether it’s sealing air leaks, reversing your ceiling fan, or taking advantage of the Hour of Power, every little bit counts towards a more sustainable future.

Get a home energy audit

Consider getting a professional home energy audit to identify any areas where you can improve energy efficiency. This can help you save money on your power bill in the long run. Many energy efficiency companies offer this for free. You can also visit your city council’s website for more information regarding free energy audits.

See if you’re eligible for an insulation and/or heating subsidy

This grant covers 80% of the total cost of ceiling and underfloor insulation. In some areas the cost to you may be even lower, thanks to generous funding from community organisations. Visit the EECA website to see if you qualify for grants.

Seal air leaks

Place draught stoppers along the bottom of your doors and windows to prevent cold air from entering your home. This can significantly reduce your heating costs.

Use draught stoppers

Place draught stoppers along the bottom of your doors and windows to prevent cold air from entering your home. This can significantly reduce your heating costs.

Reverse your ceiling fan

Set your ceiling fan to rotate clockwise in the winter. This will push the warm air that rises to the ceiling back down into the room.

Use LED lights

Replace your incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. According to Gen Less, LED light bulbs use up to 85% less electricity than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs and can last 15 times longer. They cost more upfront – but the long-term savings are worth it.

Make the most out of the Hour of Power

Run your dryer, dishwasher, oven, and everything else you can during your free hour. On average our customers save a further 9.5% on their bills with the free hour, with some extra dedicated people saving more than 30%!

Go off-peak with Movemaster

If you tend to use your heat pump overnight during winter, you can save with our MoveMaster plan – cheaper off peak rates and half price overnight (11pm 7am)! For half the price, you can stay cosy while you sleep.

By practising these energy-saving tips, you can reduce your power bills during winter without compromising on comfort. Whether it’s sealing air leaks, reversing your ceiling fan, or taking advantage of the Hour of Power, every little bit counts towards a more sustainable future. By making these changes, you can not only save money, but also contribute towards reducing your carbon footprint.

The post How to save on your power bills this winter appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

The post This is how we can lower your power bill, by saving on water heating appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

Mastering Hour of Power

The more power you move off-peak, the more money you could save and the better it is for the
environment.

Anne describes her energy usage habits as ‘just the right thing to do’. The former science teacher told us: “I wanted to charge the car overnight because it’s better for the country – plus, it’s good money-wise too. I make the free hour of off-peak power 3am most of time because no one else is using energy then. When you do things on timers, you can do it anyway you like. It just makes sense.

“I normally score above 92% off-peak. My goal is zero kWh between 7am and 11pm but I haven’t hit that yet. Possibly under 1kWh is achievable. I enjoy playing the game.”

Anne has always been conscious of her environmental impact and wants to do her bit to limit the effects of climate change. But the devastation of the Christchurch earthquake has also influenced the investments she’s made in making her home as energy efficient as possible.

Saving with solar-powered hot water

“My first reason for wanting solar was the security of supply. The second reason was climate change, and third reason was saving money,” she says. “Solar makes me happy, though it’s not for everyone. If you use most of your electricity during the day, it makes sense to generate it if you can. But I know it can take quite a few years until it’s paid for itself.”

Anne attributes much of her money-saving success to her solar-powered hot water heating, which is why she encourages others to do what they can to reduce these costs.

“On the main roof is a solar hot water panel, together with a microprocessor controlling the hot water cylinder. As soon as I figured out how to do it, I set the water cylinder to only heat the water overnight (from 3am) if the sun did not do the job during the day. We shower and wash clothes in the morning, so on the rare occasions where the water isn’t piping hot at 9pm, it doesn’t matter,” she said.

Read more: How to use your battery to save with MoveMaster

Keeping warm for less

While her summer bills are low, winters in Christchurch inevitably lead to higher costs, despite Anne’s best efforts to utilise the solar and battery that’s been fully charged with cheap overnight electricity rates. But the heat pump is sometimes used at peak times. That’s why Anne encourages everyone to insulate their homes as well as they can –including double-glazed windows and draft stoppers – and ensure internals doors are closed so that you can focus on heating the most-used areas of the house.

“I set my Hour of Power to match my hot water setting, then I set the house battery to charge for that hour, and have a timer for my car so it charges then, too. Charging my car for an hour per day covers about 70% of my needs. The rest I mostly get from free chargers in select car parks like my local supermarket. It seems to me that paying to charge EVs is now optional… at least for someone driving 50km per week.”

Use the tools at your fingertips

“Do as much as you can to insulate your home because every little helps in both quality of life and reducing energy costs,” Anne says.

“This goes for people renting their homes, too. You could easily hook linings to curtains to help keep the cold
out.”

Anne understands that her circumstances are unique and that not everyone is able to invest in their homes the same way she has been able to. She wants experts – and energy retailers – to help inform customers more about their power usage habits and where efficiencies are possible. She loves to use the EK app and other resources to monitor her usage and make adjustments where she can.

“I think the most valuable tool I have is the app on my phone that tells me, every five minutes, the power generated, power to and from the battery, and power to or from the grid. It shows me what appliances use lots of power and which don’t. For example, I know my vacuum cleaner uses lots of power, so I try to use it on sunny days,” Anne says.

“People need more information about their personal energy usage, people need to know what uses a lot of energy and what doesn’t – everyone who pays for electricity needs to understand how their water is heated and when. Knowledge is power. It can help people alter their behaviour.”

EK customers have access to a range of helpful insights through our easy-to-use mobile app. You can monitor your energy usage over time, nominate and change your Hour of Power to suit your needs, and manage your account and billing information. Here’s our guide to mastering the Hour of Power.

Read more: How much power are your home appliances using?

We’re always working on new, innovative ways to help customers shift their energy usage off-peak, reduce their bills and support the energy transition. We’re especially proud of the trial we have been undertaking to control the times when hot water cylinders are powered to help households cut back on costs. Learn more about that trial here.

If you have an awesome story about using our MoveMaster plan – or any other great tips to become more energy-efficient – we’d love to hear from you on our Facebook page.

The post ‘Knowledge is power’: How this EK customer is saving with MoveMaster appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

No matter how many people are taking showers and baths at your place, chances are water heating is one of the biggest contributing factors to your energy bills.

Despite this, it’s easy to overlook given that most general consumer advice about saving money on electricity refers to using appliances less, or just turning the lights off! Technically helpful tips sure, but if you really want to
make a noticeable dent in your bill, water heating is the place to start.

It’s hard though, right? The first question is: Where do you even begin? Well, you could have fewer showers… Or only use the washing machine and dishwasher when they’re full (you should be doing this anyway, during your Hour of Power).

What about a more practical, technical answer that means you can go on using the same amount of hot water, but at much reduced prices? That’s where Electric Kiwi is starting to make a splash. We’re testing the water to see how much households could save by letting us upgrade their energy meters and controlling when their cylinders are heated.

Not content with shallow promises of helping customers save money, our team has been working on an innovative solution that means you can pay cheaper rates for water heating and genuinely reduce your bills.

It all relates to controlling when power is used to heat your water. By shifting the ‘load’ to off-peak times when energy rates are cheaper – provided you’re on an awesome time of use power plan like MoveMaster – you can get the hot water you need at a much lower price.

Plus, as a pretty sweet bonus for both you and the environment, the energy used at off-peak times is more likely to come from renewable generation sources. Everyone’s a winner.

Practical solutions to support the green transition and helping customers to save money. These two things are at the heart of everything we do.

The post Our awesome trial to save on water heating appeared first on Kiwiland Times.

However, if you only use your spa pool on weekends, the best way to reduce your power bill is to turn off the heater during the week. This way, you’ll only need to heat it up once, and for the next two days you can just maintain the temperature. For example, you can start the heater on a Friday evening and keep it at your desired temperature throughout the weekend, then turn off the heater once you’ve finished using it but keep the circulation pump running. You still need to run the circulation pump for at least 4 hours, twice a day to ensure that the water doesn’t stagnate.

“In most situations, 2 x 4 hour filtration cycles is more than enough to keep the spa clean” Daryl Carruthers, owner of Spa Depot, says. “And if you use the spa at the same time most days, you can set the filtration cycles around when you are most likely to use the spa. For example, if you use the spa at 7pm every night, have one of the filtration cycles set to run from 3-7pm that way the spa will be up to the set temperature ready to go at 7pm.”

If you own a spa, our MoveMaster plan is a great choice for you because it rewards our customers for using electricity at off-peak times, including half price rates overnight (11pm-7am). This is a great way to use less power and save cash whenever you want to heat your spa pool. This can also be the time when you run the second 4-hour circulation pump for the day.

The difference between some all-inclusive power rates (where you’re charged the same rates all day) and our half price overnight rates on MoveMaster can be huge. We encourage customers to shift as much energy usage off-peak as possible to reduce their overall bills, but the savings are especially appealing when you specifically look at the cost of running your spa.

The more times you heat up your spa pool overnight, the bigger savings you can get with Movemaster.

Spa pool circulation and heat pump power usage can vary significantly depending on the type and size, as well as the pump’s energy-efficiency, but we think this is a reasonable guide. You can replicate these calcs yourself if you know your spa pump’s annual kWh consumption (it’s simply x kWh multiplied by the rate).

Rethinking the time you heat your spa could also save you a bundle.

How long should you run your spa circulation and heat pump?

Many spa pool manufacturers actually recommend running the heat pump consistently if you use it frequently. The main reason for this is because it’s more energy-efficient to keep the water warm than to heat it up daily. For this reason, we recommend heating the spa during our half-price rates (which is 11pm-7am for our MoveMaster plan) and maintaining the temperature afterwards by keeping the pump on and by using a high quality spa cover when not in use. You’ll be using less energy once the pump’s just maintaining the temperature of the water in the spa pool.

As for the circulation pump, it’s usually recommended to run them every 4 hours, twice a day even if you’re not using it daily to prevent bacteria, algae and insects from breeding in your spa.

The guides above are the most recommended advice from spa pool companies, but we’d still advise you to run these past your spa pool supplier to ensure that these settings apply to your own spa as well.

Master your pool pump with MoveMaster

If you have a spa pool, the cost of heating is likely going to be one of the most costly activities at your home. So, it’s worth limiting the impact it has on your overall power bill as much as possible. One way is by paying a decent rate for the energy consumption and heating the spa at the cheapest times. That’s where we recommend our MoveMaster plan.

MoveMaster is a great plan to choose if you have the luxury of owning a spa pool – the half price overnight rates could give you large savings per year. Who would have thought that ‘luxury’ and ‘savings’ can end up in the same sentence?

Have you got a swimming pool? Learn how to save on swimming pool costs with Movemaster.

For further reading on spa pool energy usage, we suggest the following sites:

Lay-Z Spa

mySpa Sydney

Jacuzzi

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Our MoveMaster plan is awesome because it rewards our customers for using electricity at off-peak times, including half price rates overnight (11pm-7am). This is great for saving cash but also pretty sweet because using power away from the peak period means it’s more likely to be coming from renewable sources. Win-win for the environment AND your budget.

It works out particularly well if you have a pool pump to run. The difference between some all-inclusive power rates and our half price overnight rates on MoveMaster can be huge. We encourage customers to shift as much usage off-peak as possible to reduce their overall bills but the savings are especially appealing when you specifically look at the cost of running the pool pump.

Here’s a quick example to make our point, using our MoveMaster overnight rate compared to a competitive all-day rate you could get somewhere else (we’re using a decent rate here when we could easily show an expensive one to really make the point). These calcs assume your pool pump uses about 2,000kWh of electricity per year.

Pool pump power usage can vary significantly depending on the type and size, as well as the pump’s energy efficiency, how long it’s used every day and if the pool is heated or not, but we think this is a reasonable guide. You can replicate these calcs yourself if you know your pump’s annual kWh consumption (it’s simply x kWh multiplied by the rate).

Rethinking the time you heat your spa could also save you a bundle.

Which pool pump is cheapest to run?

Pool pumps come in all different shapes and sizes, so give it some thought before diving in. Here are the most common types of pump pumps.

• Single speed: Generally the most affordable to buy outright, but the most expensive to run because it only operates one speed.
• Dual speed: This type has two different speeds with varying outputs, meaning lower speeds use less energy but usually take more time to run.
• Multiple/variable speed: This is the latest technology in pool pumps that allow users to adjust and control the speed, making them more affordable to run.

How long should you run your pool pump?

A pool pump will typically need to run for between six and eight hours each day, but this will depend on how long it takes to circulate, clean and filter the water.

Pool pumps might need to run for longer in summer compared to winter, as seasonal factors come into play, like climate and foliage in the pool. Finally, how much activity your pool gets and if you have a pool cover can also affect the time it takes to properly clean.

Master your pool pump with MoveMaster

If you have a swimming pool, your pool pump is almost certainly going to be one of the most energy-draining appliances at your place, very likely the most of all. That’s the price you pay for that lifestyle! So, it’s worth limiting the impact it has on your overall power bill as much as possible, which means paying a decent rate for the consumption and only running the pump at the cheapest times. That’s where our MoveMaster plan shines.

There are lots to love about MoveMaster, but if you have a pool, the half price overnight rates will go down swimmingly.

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