EV Power Plans: The Best Power Plans for Electric Vehicles

While a high sticker price has long been a barrier to widespread EV adoption, and the Clean Car Discount has aimed to help remedy this, the fuel savings EVs offer has never been in question.

No matter how much power you suck up charging your EV in the driveway. Or how often you pay to use a public fast-charge station, you’re likely to spend less than you would on good old 91.

And as a result, it’s the driving factor as to why many ditch the pump for the plug.

In fact, looking at this year’s most popular EVs, and based on a national average electricity price of 33c per kWh, the average cost per 100km can be seen below:

Compare this to the average cost of last year’s three most popular petrol models (based on a price of $2.9 per litre):

As you can see, the difference can be stark. Especially when you consider:

• a) the given electricity price (33c per kWh) doesn’t take into account the discounts you can get through EV power plans
• b) petrol is now moving well beyond $3 a litre in many places, so the above quotes are, if anything, generous to petrol vehicles

What is an EV power plan?

An EV power plan is a power plan that is available only to EV owners and provides a discount on your variable electricity rate during night hours.

For example, you may be paying 34c per kWh, but from 9pm – 7am every night your electricity provider gives you 50% off your variable rate. As most EV owners charge their electric vehicles at night, after work/before bed, this is the perfect time to take advantage of cheaper electricity and charge up.

Even though these plans are designed for charging an EV, and are only available to EV owners, you can take advantage of the discounted night rates in other ways. For example, turning on the dishwasher, doing a load of laundry, showering, and running the heat pump.

Time of Use power plans

Although not specifically for EV owners, Time of Use power plans are becoming increasingly popular, and are equally as good (if not better) for an EV owner. Similar to EV power plans, these plans offer a discounted night rate. However, many of these plans also offer discounts throughout the day, outside of peak times.

For example, Octopus Energy structures its power plans in a way that offers three rates for power:

• Peak: 7am-11am & 5pm-9pm, you pay your standard per kWh rate for electricity
• Off-peak: 11am-5pm, 9pm-11pm & 7am-11pm on weekends, you receive a discounted rate
• Night: 11pm-7am, you pay half-price

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 makes it ideal not just for EV owners but for people who work from home, or are up extra early/late, and therefore 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 may want to consider some of the following:

• Smart meter – a smart meter will likely be required to cater for the tariff structure. If you don’t have a smart meter installed at your property, power providers may install one
• Peak pricing – some providers may charge a higher peak price to make up for the 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 choosing an EV power plan (as opposed to a regular Time of Use plan) you will need to provide proof of ownership, and the plan will only be for as long as you maintain the car ownership
• Fixed or open term – do you have to sign on for a fixed term and, if so, what break fees apply should you leave early?
• Benefits – are there other benefits or incentives?

EV power plans: what’s available?

Below we have listed some of the EV power plans currently available, followed by a list of current* Time of Use plans that may also be suitable for EV owners.

Mercury**

Mercury’s EV Fuel Package is available for residential customers, providing 20% off electricity usage between 9pm and 7am every night (standard plan rates apply outside of these hours).

You or a member of your household will need to either own or have a long-term lease for a plug-in vehicle. The offer, which can also apply for a bach, runs for two years from the date of sign-up.

Further information on Mercury’s EV Fuel Package can be found here.

**Note that this package is available for customers who signed up prior to June 9 2023. This offer is no longer available to sign up for.

Meridian Energy

Meridian Energy’s Electric Car Plan is available for residential customers who own a plug-in EV. The day/night plan is structured so that customers pay different rates for power during the day and at night (between 9pm and 7am). Rates during the day will be higher, but rates at night will be significantly lower.

If you sign up to to Meridian’s EV plan, you’ll get fixed rates for two years and a free AC cable or $200 credit. Meanwhile, if you’re not keen on a day/night power plan, you can get in touch with Meridian to discuss your options.

You can check out Meridian’s Electric Car Plan here.

Genesis Energy

Genesis Energy’s EV plan offers residential customers who own an eligible plug-in EV registered to their property cheaper power rates at night (between 9pm and 7am).

Under the plan, which runs for a 12-month fixed term, Genesis Energy’s night electricity rates are 50% lower than its day rates.

If you sign up, your energy prices are fixed for 12 months. However, you’re also locked into that contract for 12 months. If you decide to break the contract, you may be charged a $150 early termination fee.

Find out more about Genesis’ Energy EV plan here.

Time of Use power plans

Below we have listed power providers that offer a Time of Use power plan. As mentioned above, while not exclusively for EV users, they can provide the same benefits. And for some users, will provide many more benefits that make them a better option than many of the dedicated EV power plans.

Flick Electric Co.

Flick Electric Co is a proudly independent power company based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Founded in 2014 by six Wellingtonians, the company says they’re built on the bones of fairness, honesty and transparency.

Their off-peak plan gives you discounted rates during off peak times. You can use the Flick app to keep track of your off-peak times.

Find out more about Flick’s Off Peak power plan here.

Peak times: 7am-11am, 5pm-9pm
Off-peak times: 11am-5pm (excluding Christchurch*), 9pm-7am & all day weekends.

*The off-peak hours for Christchurch are 9pm-7am and all weekend.

Octopus Energy

A new face in power here in New Zealand, Octopus energy are storming onto the market with great rates. Notably, if you’re a low user, which most Kiwis are, you’ll pay no fixed daily rate whatsoever. In a market where several providers have just doubled their low user daily rates to 66c a day, that could provide a massive saving.

Do note, however, that you may find your peak rates with Octopus are a bit higher. So you’ll need to use plenty of off-peak and night power to compensate.

Peak times: 7am-11am, 5pm-9pm

Off-peak: 11am-5pm, 9pm-11pm & 7am-11pm on weekends

Night: 11pm-7am everyday

→Related article: Octopus Energy: A New Deal in NZ Electricity

Powershop

Powershop power works a little differently from other power companies. Its online shop sells power packs, where you can buy a range of special discounted packs of power. Powershop’s Get Shifty rates offers you discounted rates during off-peak hours. These times differ depending on your area and network. You can see more info around off-peak hours here.

Electric Kiwi

Electric Kiwi’s MoveMaster plan offers discounted rates during off-peak times, and half-price rates overnight. Notably, Electric Kiwi’s morning peak rates are just 7am-9am. Whereas all other providers charge peak rates until 11am. So if you’re around the house mid-late morning, you can get a great deal.

Throw in the fact that all Electric Kiwi plans come with an hour of free off-peak power, and there’s plenty of savings to be had!

It’s also the winner of Canstar Blue’s latest award for Most Satisifed Customers | Electricity Providers.

You can find out more about Electric Kiwi’s Movemaster plan here.

Peak times: 7am-9am, 5pm-9pm
Off-peak shoulder times: 9am-5pm, 9pm-11pm
Half price night times: 11pm-7am

Ecotricity

Ecotricity sets itself apart as New Zealand’s only provider of 100% Renewable and carboNZero Certified electricity.

It offers four plans, with two discounted off-peak options. Off-peak rates are up to 40% cheaper than peak rates.

The Eco saver plan gives you a fixed energy price for 12 months and is ideal for EV owners. Find out more here.

Peak times: 7am-11am, 5pm-9pm
Off-peak times: 9pm-7am, 11am-5pm

Contact

Contact Energy’s Good Night’s Plan is not a peak/off-peak plan in the traditional sense. But it does offer the opportunity to shift your usage and save, with three hours every night of free power (9pm-midnight). Note that outside of the free hours there is just a single variable rate, so you don’t get the benefit of off-peak rates during the day, or all through the night.

There plan does not have a fixed term and there are no break fees. More information can be found here.

*Information correct as of August 2023.

Compare electricity providers with Canstar Blue

If you have an Electric vehicle, or are thinking about getting one, the right power plan is paramount. But finding the right provider can be a real challenge. Less than half of Kiwis believe they are getting a good deal on their power, yet only 12% of us have actually changed our electricity provider in the last 12-months.

Compare electricity providers for free with Canstar Blue!

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.