Best EV Power Plans

Before the introduction of road user charges (RUCs) for electric vehicles (EVs), they had very low running costs – just the cost of the electricity to power them.

However, now EV drivers have to pay the same RUCs as diesel vehicle owners – $76 per 1000km plus an admin fee of at least $12.44 per licence – their running costs have increased considerably.

In fact, if you’re paying an average power price, running an EV can be more expensive than driving either a hybrid or plug-in hybrid vehicle:

Based on national average electricity price of 35.4c per kWh and petrol at $2.65 per litre.

However, there are power deals out there that can considerably reduce the cost of powering an EV, in the form of specialised EV power plans and time of use plans that offer cut-price electricity at off-peak times.

→ Related article: Electric Cars vs Petrol Cars: Running Costs and Savings

What is an EV power plan?

An EV power plan is one that’s available only to EV owners. It usually provides a discount on overnight power prices, when most EV owners charge their vehicles.

Although these plans are designed for charging EVs, the cheaper electricity can also be used to do power-hungry tasks such as running dishwashers, washing machines or heating hot water.

What is a time of use power plan

Time of use power plans offer discounted night rates. However, many of the plans also offer discounts throughout the day, outside of peak times.

For example, here are the power-price bands offered by one Kiwi provider:

As you can see, not only do you benefit from the option to charge your EV at a discounted rate, but you can take advantage of cheap power throughout the day and all weekend. This is ideal not just for EV owners, but also for people who work from home, or are up extra early or late and can shift their usage outside of peak times.

EV power plans: things to consider

Before signing up for an EV (or time of use) power plan, you should consider:

• Peak pricing – some providers may charge a higher peak price to make up for their cheaper off-peak rates
• Shifting usage – can you shift your usage to the discounted times and take full advantage of the cheaper rates?
• EV ownership – if you choose an EV power plan (rather than a regular time of use plan) you can be required to provide proof of EV ownership
• Fixed or open term – do you have to sign on for a fixed term and, if so, what break fees apply if you leave early?
• Benefits – are there other benefits or incentives to the power plan?

EV power plans: what’s available?

Genesis

Genesis’ EV plan: 50% off its standard day rates between 9pm and 7am every night. The plan also allows users to pay their home EV plan rates when using ChargeNet’s network of over 400 fast-charging stations across the country.

For more details about Genesis’ EV plan click here.

Powershop

Powershop is a prepaid power provider that sells a variety of electricity packages. If you register your EV with them, you become eligible to purchase its EV Powerpacks, which offer $14 of power for $10.

For more details about Powershop’s EV discount click here.

Mercury

Mercury’s EV discount: 20% off the cost of its variable usage rate between 9pm and 7am every night.

For more details about Mercury’s EV discount click here.

Meridian

Meridian’s EV plan: free EV charging at home for six months, in the form of a $35 monthly credit, plus up to 50% off its standard day rates between 9pm and 7am every night.

For more details about Meridian’s EV plan here.

Time of use power plans: what’s available?

Ecotricity

Ecotricity’s ecoSAVER plan offers off-peak power discounts of up to 56% from 11am-5pm and 9pm-7am weekdays and every weekend.

Electric Kiwi

Electric Kiwi has two plans that offer discounts on off-peak power:

• Kiwi: Cheaper power 9am-5pm and 9pm-7am weekdays and all weekends
• Move Master: Cheaper off-peak rates and half price overnight (11pm-7am)

Plus Electric Kiwi customers also get a free hour of off-peak power every day, at a time of their choice.

Contact

Contact has three plans that offer discounts on off-peak power:

• Good Weekends: free power 9am-5pm every Saturday and Sunday
• Good Nights: free power 9pm-midnight Monday to Friday
• Good Charge: half-price power 9pm-7am every night of the week

Flick

Flick’s off peak plan: reduced price, off-peak power from 11am-5pm and 9pm-7am weekdays and all weekend.

Octopus Energy

Octopus offers off-peak power discounts, plus half-price power at night on two of its plans.

• Off-peak: 11am-5pm & 9pm-11pm weekdays | 7am-11pm on weekends
• Night: 11pm-7am everyday

Compare electricity providers with Canstar Blue

If you have an electric vehicle, or are thinking about getting one, the right power plan is paramount. So if you want to check out the best-rated power companies, just click on the button below.

Compare electricity providers for free with Canstar Blue!

About the author of this page

Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.