Plains Power
pricing explained.

Learn about the different pricing options we offer and how these will best suit your farm, business, or home.

Being a local company, owned and operated in Ashburton, means we are fair and consistent with our pricing, no ‘buying business’ or ‘ripping off’ long term loyal customers. When you talk to us, we’ll explain what your power bill means, in easy-to-understand language, so you know what you’re paying for.

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Our pricing types.

Choose from the pricing types below and get exactly what you pay for.

Fixed

A fixed price for power, meaning you pay one rate for every unit of power you use.

• Suited to residential or lower users of power
• You’re not locked into a contract
• Rates are reviewed annually

Time of use

(TOU) You are charged in four hourly blocks, which varies between time periods, weekends, and months.

• Suited to larger users of power e.g. irrigation pumps, dairy sheds, commercial users
• You are committed to an agreed contracted period
• We actively seek to forward book rates so you’re not exposed to the market when your contract expires
• Rates are offered direct from the generator and we charge a fixed rate per unit, offering transparency on what you’re paying us for
• Line losses are passed through

Spot

Spot pricing is the ‘true’ cost of power, which is very volatile. It is crucial this offering is well understood, and we provide detailed data to support our explanation.

• Suited to consumers of energy who can ‘ride out’ the volatility
• You pay the ‘Spot’ price of electricity, which is charged in half hourly periods
• We charge a fixed rate per unit, offering transparency on what you’re paying us for
• Line losses are passed through

What makes up your power bill.

Network

The delivery charges from
the local Network Authority.
Variables: Location, customer type; these charges change from area to area and between customer type.

Levies and Taxes

The Electricity Authority levy.
Variables: Stays the same for all connections, charges based on volume.

Electricity

The actual electricity consumed.
Variables: Volume/connection
type and location.

Metering

The actual cost charges from Metering Equipment Providers.
Variables: MEP type and connection.

Line losses

Electricity lost between the Networks grid exit point (GXP) and your meter. This cost is visible with TOU & Spot pricing but built into a Fixed Rate product.

*GST is 15% of the pre-GST cost and therefore 13% of the GST-inclusive amount.

www.ea.govt.nz/consumers/my-electricity-bill

Source: Electricity Authority

Additional benefits.

We keep our pricing consistent between customer types
We are transparent with the presentation of charges, making this clearer to explain and ensuring you can see you are getting a fair deal.
We offer the best price up front, no confusing prompt payment discounts or ripping off long term loyal customers.
We provide accurate quotes, based on your actual consumption, no ‘guesstimates’ on what you ‘might’ use to try and make us look good.

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Want to know more?

We don’t have pricing available on our website, it’s not because we’ve got something to hide, it’s because pricing is specific to a customer and we are humans, not robots.

Getting a comparison is easy, simply provide us with a recent power bill and we’ll let you know how we compare. To get a quote or request a copy of our rates, please email Emma, Gin and Nicola at service@plainspower.co.nz or give us a call on 0800 75 25 75.

Emma, Gin or Nicola will work with you directly and ensure you are being offered the most suitable deal.

Consumer Care Policy

Here at Plains Power, we understand that electricity is essential to all customers, and we will work with you to ensure we can help you with any challenges you may be facing paying your power bill, understanding how your power bill works and support with wider power related enquiries.

Plains Power has a Consumer Care policy that is designed to meet the Electricity Authority Consumer Care Obligations.

You can find a copy of the policy here: Plains Power - Consumer Care Policy.

Our Consumer Care policy is designed to ensure that:

We will work with you in a respectful, collaborative and constructive manner;
We will communicate with you in a manner which is understandable, timely, clear and accessible;
We will assist customers to understand the most suitable pricing plan for their circumstances;
If you request information about consumption, we will provide this information and work with you to help you determine which pricing plans suits you best;
We will work with you if you are experiencing payment difficulties to resolve those payment difficulties as far as possible;
We will work to continually improve our processes and experiences, reflecting on any issues that have arisen and learn from these.

Visit Consumer Care Obligations | Electricity Authority for more information

For Utilities Disputes visit: UDL » Utilities Disputes
Email: info@utilitiesdisputes.co.nz
Phone: 0800 22 33 40
Fax: 0800 22 33 47
Post: PO Box 5875, Wellington 6140 Freepost 192682

If you are having difficulties with paying your power bill or want to know how you can be more efficient with your energy use in your household we have provided some agencies and services below.