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.

Electric Kiwi believes that it’s time for the government to step in and address the excess profits these incumbent ‘gentailers’ are extracting from the electricity market.

Record-Breaking Profits Raise Concerns

The ‘big four’ gentailers have seen their profits soar since the onset of Covid-19. Year after year, they have reported record earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, and fair value adjustments (EBITDAF), totaling a whopping $2.61 billion in 2023, compared to $2.28 billion in 2022. To put these numbers in perspective, that’s over $7 million in profits every day, while many Kiwi households struggle to make ends meet.

What’s even more alarming is that these gentailers’ wholesale profits, derived from electricity generation, now surpass their company-wide profits. In 2023, wholesale profits reached a staggering $2.64 billion, exceeding the total company-wide profits. This shift has occurred due to two key factors.

Squeezing Competition through Subsidies

Firstly, the ‘big four’ have leveraged their market power to maintain high prices in the wholesale electricity market. This has allowed them to extract substantial profits from generation activities. Secondly, they have shifted profits from their retail businesses to their wholesale arms, essentially subsidising their retail operations with the excess profits generated from electricity generation.

For instance, Genesis reported a retail profit of $172 million just two years ago, significantly higher than its wholesale profit of $144 million. Fast forward to today, and Genesis’s wholesale profit has ballooned to a record $520 million, while its retail business is operating at an $11 million loss. Sadly, these drops in retail profits have not translated into savings for customers but have instead fueled the wholesale business.

The Impact on Competition and Innovation

The consequences of this profit distribution scheme have been dire for competition and the retail market. Over the past five years, more than 20 small and independent retailers have exited the market. Without healthy competition, consumers can anticipate rising prices and declining service quality. History has shown that innovation and improved service often emerge from new entrants, but the incumbents, whose profits derive from generation, have little incentive to drive meaningful improvements in retail.

A Call for Government Intervention

Electric Kiwi firmly believes that it’s time for the government to take bold action. One approach would involve divesting some of the generation assets from the ‘big four,’ leveraging the government’s 51% ownership stake in Genesis, Mercury, and Meridian. This ownership stake, originally intended to protect New Zealand consumers, has been used more like a stealth tax. It’s time to put it to better use for the benefit of all Kiwis.

Another option is for the gentailers to divest their retail businesses, forcing them to stand on their own without subsidies from their wholesale operations. Similar actions have been taken in the past, resulting in more competitive markets, as seen in the telecommunications sector.

We have lodged a complaint with the Commerce Commission under Section 36 of the Commerce Act. The Government made changes to section 36 of the Commerce Act earlier this year that make it more straightforward to identify a case for misuse of market power. We’re using this new provision because the Electricity Authority has failed to act decisively on any of these problems, but we have some confidence that the Commerce Commission will take the issue seriously.

At Electric Kiwi we are not afraid of competition, and we know a level playing field is exactly what the big four gentailers are desperate to avoid. We will keep fighting this, and in the meantime working on how we make it better for you and for our country. Government intervention, through measures like breaking up the gentailers, is necessary to restore competition, lower prices, and promote innovation in the market. It’s time to prioritise the needs of Kiwi households over corporate profits.

The post Big Four Gentailers Profiting at the Expense of Kiwi Households 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.