Power prices is a really annoying subject that keeps coming up in my head - New Zealand has a dozen plus power companies all trying to sell you the same commoditized item - power. Apart from minor differences in sign up and billing, there really is no differentiation (I'm not sure anyone would want differentiated power). Yet power prices go wild across retailers. It really is a mission to try and find out which power company is best. Power companies seem to intentionally obfuscate their pricing, and have different gotchas, discounts, perks, and workarounds to ensure it's really hard for you to compare your power rates against their competitors.
Anyway, I decided to finally put my finance degree to use, and went ahead and got quotes from every power company supplying to Vector in Auckland, and in some cases went as far as contacting their various pricing teams to get information about their rates. I then mapped it all out in excel, factoring their different discounts, levies, day / night rates, and joining offers.
Most power companies allow you to download your power usage in 30 minute intervals, which is great because you can easily map out how your usage will influence day and night usage.
When I was done with my model, the results were truly astonishing - there was up to $1000 in difference between the various pricing plans.
Most power companies allow you to download your power usage in 30 minute intervals, which is great because you can easily map out how your usage will influence day and night usage.
When I was done with my model, the results were truly astonishing - there was up to $1000 in difference between the various pricing plans.
But the ultimate irony? The plans on EVs and bundled offers were generally the worst of the lot!