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5 plans live in our comparator

Contact Energy kWh electricity rates and energy plans

Compare every Contact electricity plan currently on the market: tariff structure, contract length, exit fees, renewable share, solar buy-back and what each plan suits best. Data refreshed daily from the Selectra Energy-Core API.

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Contact Energy is one of the licensed electricity retailers operating in New Zealand, regulated by the Electricity Authority. On this page you will find every Contact plan currently published in our comparator, with the tariff structure, fees, conditions and target audience for each one. Use it to understand what Contact actually charges before you call them or sign up online.

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Contact plans in detail

Every Contact Energy plan, decoded card by card.

Contract length, exit fees, tariff structure, who each plan suits best — straight from Contact's published terms, with zero marketing spin.

Plans listed

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Contact Energy logo
Contact domestic plan

Basic plan

Contract length

no fixed term

Exit fees

no break fees

Bond / deposit

$150 residential bond (where applicable)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Standard variable electricity pricing with no fixed term. You pay a fixed daily charge plus variable per‑kWh energy charges. There are no free‑power windows on the Basic plan (those are on Contact’s Good Plans).
  • How charges are calculated: A fixed daily fee applies each day your connection is active, plus usage charges per kWh. Your meter configuration (e.g., Anytime, Controlled, or Day/Night) determines whether you have single or multiple unit rates. Some properties also have a separately metered controlled circuit for hot water.
  • Price per kWh and daily fees: Contact quotes address‑ and meter‑specific prices at sign‑up. As a general guide only, online estimates for residential variable plans show unit rates around $0.26–$0.32/kWh and fixed daily charges around $1.72–$2.93/day, varying by region, user category, and meter setup. Your exact Basic plan rates will be confirmed in your quote.
  • Taxes/levies: Bills include GST and applicable industry levies (e.g., the Electricity Authority levy). Any third‑party network or metering pass‑throughs may affect pricing.
  • Eligibility/metering: Basic does not require a specific smart‑meter time‑of‑use setup; availability and rates depend on your existing meter and local network. If you want time‑based free or discounted power, a compatible smart meter is typically required on Good Plans.
  • Regional pricing notes (Contact for current rates):
  • Northland: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Auckland: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Waikato: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Bay of Plenty: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Central North Island: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Eastland: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Taranaki: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Whanganui: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Wellington: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Marlborough: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Westland: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Canterbury: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Otago: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.
  • Southland: Please contact Contact Energy directly for your current Basic plan unit rate(s) and daily charge for your address.

Who this plan suits best

Basic is best for customers who value simplicity and flexibility over time‑based rewards: renters or households who may move within the next year, small families with steady all‑day usage patterns, or anyone who prefers open‑term plans without break fees. Because pricing is variable and not tied to specific off‑peak windows, it suits users who don’t want to shift usage to nights or weekends to maximise savings. It’s less optimised for EV owners or larger households who can reliably shift significant load into late evenings or weekends—those customers may find greater value on Contact’s Good plans with free or discounted off‑peak periods (subject to smart‑meter eligibility). Solar users who primarily self‑consume may find Basic acceptable as a straightforward plan; export‑heavy solar households might prioritise plans with higher buy‑back rates.

Additional services included

Optional add‑ons commonly available with the Basic plan include: (1) Broadband bundling on an open term, advertised from $50–$55 per month when bundled with energy; extra broadband savings may apply when you also bundle natural gas. A limited‑time $300 broadband joining credit applies when using the CONTACT300 promo code (see discount terms). (2) Contact Mobile plans (e.g., Medium 20 GB at $45/month and Large 75 GB at $60/month, with additional Group members on the same plan at $25/month). Eligible mobile plans can trigger a $25/month energy bill credit for 12 months when linked to the same electricity account. (3) Flexible payment options such as Contact PrePay (eligibility applies; minimum $30 initial top‑up; not available on all plans) and other billing options listed under Contact’s billing and payments terms. (4) Distributed generation (solar) support, including installation of an import/export meter where required; a metering change that needs a site visit typically incurs a $200 fee; buy‑back is available on eligible plans with rates confirmed by Contact at sign‑up. (5) Contact’s mobile and broadband services, app access, and customer tools are billed with your energy where bundled, giving a single bill for convenience. Availability, pricing, and eligibility for each add‑on depend on your address, network, meter setup, and plan; bundle offers and credits are time‑limited and may change. If a specific service price is not listed above or at sign‑up for your address, Contact will confirm it during the quoting process.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Open‑term residential electricity plan with no fixed term and no break fees.
  • Designed as a simple pricing option; no time‑of‑use free power periods (those apply to Contact’s Good plans).
  • Prices (daily charge and per‑kWh rates) are quoted specifically for your address, local network, and meter configuration and can change with at least 30 days’ notice.
  • If both electricity and natural gas are supplied by Contact at the same premises, both may be placed on the Basic plan under its special terms; the plan is not available for LPG supply.
  • Plan terms must be read with Contact’s current General Terms and Conditions and Residential Plan Special Terms; if information used to set your pricing (e.g., meter configuration or user category) is incorrect, Contact may adjust your pricing plan.
  • Service fees (e.g., metering changes) and pass‑throughs from networks, metering providers, or regulators may apply; GST and industry levies are charged on your bill.
  • Limited‑time bundle promotions (e.g., broadband or mobile credits) can be added subject to their own eligibility and are not available with all other offers.
  • Moving house typically ends the plan at the old property; pricing and eligibility will be re‑assessed at your new address.

Promotions and discounts

Contact’s Basic plan is often eligible for the same bundle promotions offered across its residential electricity plans. As at 4 September 2025, customers who add Contact broadband using promo code CONTACT300 receive a total of $300 in energy credits, applied as four monthly credits of $75 (incl. GST) within 30 days of successful connection to both electricity and broadband. The offer is limited to one per electricity account, available to new or existing residential customers on standard payment plans, and cannot be combined with other broadband, mobile, or energy offers. If broadband or the electricity account is cancelled before all credits are applied, any remaining credits are forfeited. The offer is for a limited time and may be changed or withdrawn without notice. A separate mobile bundle promotion gives new or existing residential electricity customers a $25 (incl. GST) monthly credit on their energy bill for 12 months (total $300) when they add an eligible Contact Mobile plan (Small 5 GB, Medium 20 GB, or Large 75 GB) using the same name, account number, and email as their electricity account, and activate the SIM within 30 days. One credit per electricity connection; customers must keep both electricity and mobile active for the 12‑month period. The offer cannot be combined with other mobile or energy offers and may be varied or withdrawn at any time.

How Contact can change this plan's price

Contact may change its fees and charges (including electricity unit rates and daily charges) at any time, provided it gives at least 30 days’ notice. Notice can be given by one or more of the following: direct contact (e.g., phone or other voice communication), a notice on Contact’s website, or an advertisement in your local daily newspaper. If fees or charges are increasing, Contact will give its reasons for the increase. If prices change partway through a billing cycle, Contact may average usage over the period and apply the applicable rates for the relevant days. Contact may also adjust a pricing plan if information used to set it (e.g., meter configuration or user category) was incorrect or needs amending. In practice, adjustments may reflect changes in underlying cost components such as local network charges, metering costs, wholesale energy costs, government/industry levies and taxes, or regulatory changes.

Contact Energy logo
Contact domestic plan

Good Weekends

Contract length

no fixed term

Bond / deposit

$150 (residential, where applicable)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Time‑of‑Use with a defined free period. Electricity usage is free from 9am–5pm every Saturday and Sunday. Outside the free hours, usage is charged at the plan’s variable per‑kWh rate; a fixed daily charge applies every day.
  • How charges are calculated: during the free period, electricity usage (kWh) is charged at $0.00/kWh. Outside the free period, usage is billed at your address‑specific variable rate plus a daily fixed charge; non‑electricity services (e.g., gas, broadband) are always charged separately. Fair‑use applies to the free period.
  • Example pricing observed online for a standard user listing: variable usage $0.2841/kWh and daily charge $3.2787/day. Actual rates vary by meter set‑up and network region; check your quote for current pricing.
  • Plan term and eligibility: open term (no fixed term). Requires an eligible, actively communicating smart meter capable of half‑hourly reads.
  • Regional pricing details: rates vary by network region and address. For Northland, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Auckland, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Waikato, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Bay of Plenty, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Central North Island, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Eastland, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Taranaki, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Whanganui, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Wellington, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Marlborough, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Westland, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Canterbury, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Otago, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP. For Southland, please contact Contact for current per‑kWh and daily charges for your ICP.
  • What’s included/excluded in the free period: electricity usage only; the daily fixed charge and any non‑electricity charges continue to apply.

Who this plan suits best

Good Weekends is best for households that can shift a meaningful share of their high‑load activities (laundry, dishwashing, cooking, space/water heating, EV charging) into daytime hours on Saturdays and Sundays. Small families and larger households with busy weekend routines can maximise savings by batching chores in the 9am–5pm window. It can also suit small businesses that operate on weekends (e.g., cafés, salons, retail) and EV owners who can schedule the bulk of charging to weekend daytimes. Customers with usage concentrated on weekdays, or with limited ability to shift load to weekends, will see less benefit. Solar households are eligible, but if you already generate a lot of weekend daytime energy for self‑consumption, the incremental value of “free” daytime weekend power may be lower.

Additional services included

Optional bundle add‑ons are available with a Contact electricity account. Broadband can be added on open term with bundle pricing (advertised from the mid‑$50s per month when bundled with electricity, with an additional discount when gas is also bundled) and a limited‑time $300 energy credit for new broadband sign‑ups using the specified promo code. Broadband requires active electricity supply with Contact and may incur modem and postage charges. Contact Mobile offers endless mobile plans; when you join and link your electricity account (and activate your SIM within 30 days), you receive a $25 monthly energy bill credit for 12 months. Plan fees are charged separately and credits stop if either service is cancelled. Natural gas can be taken with electricity at the same premises (bundling can improve broadband pricing), while Rockgas LPG supply is not available under residential “Good” plans. Contact also supports distributed generation (solar export) under separate DG terms, paying a published buy‑back rate for exported electricity; availability and rates depend on plan and may change—check compatibility if you have or plan to install solar.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Eligibility: an actively communicating electricity smart meter is required to join and remain on Good Weekends.
  • Free period: electricity usage is free from 9am–5pm every Saturday and Sunday; the daily fixed charge and all non‑electricity charges continue to apply.
  • Fair‑use: average usage above 150 kWh per week during the free period is deemed excessive. Contact may ask you to reduce usage, move you to another plan without a free period, and/or charge excess usage at standard rates.
  • Meter data: if Contact cannot receive half‑hourly smart‑meter data persistently or for 3+ consecutive days, it may estimate usage and may move you to a different plan to invoice accurately (you’ll be notified).
  • Plan changes: you can switch between Good Weekends and another Good Plan once per billing period (additional switches at Contact’s discretion).
  • Safe use: customers must use electricity safely and avoid overloading that could cause unsafe voltage fluctuations; persistent overloading may result in plan changes and/or charges to restore safe supply.
  • Term and availability: open‑term plan (no fixed term). All services at the same premises must be on the same residential plan; moving address ends the plan and eligibility is reassessed at the new address.
  • What the free period excludes: non‑electricity charges (e.g., gas, broadband) and the daily fixed charge are not free during the weekend free hours.

Promotions and discounts

Good Weekends includes free electricity usage from 9am–5pm every Saturday and Sunday, year‑round, on an open‑term plan. The free period covers electricity usage only; daily charges and any non‑electricity charges still apply. Eligibility requires an actively communicating smart meter and fair‑use applies. As at 3 November 2025, Contact is advertising two stackable, limited‑time bundle offers alongside Good Weekends: (1) add Contact broadband to your electricity and receive a $300 energy credit when you use the specified promo code during sign‑up (credit typically applied in installments; electricity with Contact is required), and (2) join Contact Mobile on an eligible endless plan, link your electricity account, activate your SIM within 30 days, and receive $25 off your energy bill each month for 12 months (credit stops if mobile or energy account is cancelled). Both offers are subject to Contact’s promotional terms and may change or end.

How Contact can change this plan's price

Contact’s current general terms allow it to change plan fees and charges at any time, provided it gives at least 30 days’ notice using one or more channels (for example, email, letter, invoice message, SMS, website notice, or other reasonable means). If a price increase is more than 5% (or a fee change is material), Contact states it will notify you individually and provide reasons for the change. For open‑term plans like Good Weekends, standard pricing is not fixed and may be updated with the above notice. Separately, Contact’s residential plan special terms set out specific adjustment circumstances for fixed‑term legacy plans (no longer offered to new customers), including pass‑through of government or regulatory taxes/levies and corrections when the original pricing inputs were wrong or change (for example, a network price category or metering set‑up correction). If pricing changes part‑way through a billing cycle, Contact may pro‑rate or average usage to apply old and new rates correctly.

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Contact domestic plan

Good Nights

Contract length

no fixed term

Bond / deposit

$150 minimum (where applicable)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Time‑of‑Use with a defined free period. Electricity used from 9pm–midnight, Monday–Friday, is charged at $0.00/kWh for the usage component during that window; the plan’s daily fixed charge continues to apply and gas charges (if any) are excluded.
  • Outside the free window, usage is billed at the plan’s standard variable per‑kWh rate plus a daily fixed charge. Actual cents/kWh and daily charges vary by address, network region, meter configuration and user type (standard vs low‑user). Contact provides address‑specific rates during sign‑up; if you cannot obtain a quote, please contact the provider directly.
  • Eligibility and metering: requires an eligible, actively communicating smart meter sending 30‑minute interval data. Contact may estimate usage if data is missing and correct later; if a meter fails to communicate for 3 or more continuous days, Contact may move you to another plan (they will notify you). A credit check may be required. Not available to customers with distributed generation and/or solar systems.
  • Fair use: free‑period usage must be reasonable; as guidance, average free‑period consumption above 200kWh/week is not considered fair use and Contact may get in touch.
  • Grandfathering: customers on Good Nights prior to 5 December 2024 retain free nights every night; switching plans, moving house or leaving and returning moves you to the current Monday–Friday version.
  • Daily fees and per‑kWh rates by region: rates are address‑specific and may change. If you cannot confirm your rate for your region below, please contact Contact directly to confirm current pricing: Northland – contact provider to confirm current cents/kWh and daily charge; Auckland – contact provider; Waikato – contact provider; Bay of Plenty – contact provider; Central North Island – contact provider; Eastland – contact provider; Taranaki – contact provider; Whanganui – contact provider; Wellington – contact provider; Marlborough – contact provider; Westland – contact provider; Canterbury – contact provider; Otago – contact provider; Southland – contact provider.
  • How charges are calculated: your invoice will show usage split between free hours (charged at $0.00/kWh for electricity usage) and chargeable hours at your address‑specific per‑kWh rate, plus the applicable daily fixed charge for each day supplied.

Who this plan suits best

Good Nights suits households that can shift a meaningful portion of usage into late evenings on weekdays—think dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, device and small appliance charging, space heating pre‑heat, and hot‑water recovery just after 9pm. Small families and larger households with timers on major appliances, or “night‑owl” routines, can maximise bill reductions by consistently moving high‑load tasks into the 9pm–midnight window. EV owners seeking substantial overnight charging may find greater value on Contact’s Good Charge (half‑price power 9pm–7am nightly) for multi‑hour charging, while Good Nights can still suit light EV top‑ups if a 3‑hour weekday window is sufficient. The plan is residential‑only; it is not targeted at small businesses. Solar/distributed‑generation customers are ineligible for Good Nights.

Additional services included

• Broadband bundle (optional): residential electricity customers can add Contact broadband; headline pricing starts from $55/month when bundled with energy (plan and technology dependent). A limited‑time promo offers a $300 energy credit when adding broadband with promo code CONTACT300, applied as $75 (incl. GST) per month for four months; one credit per electricity account; standard broadband eligibility and terms apply. • Mobile bundle credit (optional): add an eligible Contact Mobile plan (Small/Medium/Large) and receive a recurring $25 (incl. GST) monthly credit on your electricity bill for 12 months (total $300), provided both services remain active; one credit per electricity connection; eligibility and exclusions (e.g., PrePay) apply. Mobile plan charges are separate. • EV public charging partner offer (optional): Contact residential customers on eligible plans can join the bp charge offer: free subscription (worth $10/month), 10% discount at all times, and up to 70% discount when sessions start 7–9am or 4–6pm at bp charge points; separate bp charge terms and eligibility apply. • Usage tracking (included): the Contact app/My Account provides near‑real‑time usage and cost insights to help shift consumption into the free window at no additional cost.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Free electricity applies to usage from 9pm–midnight, Monday–Friday; daily fixed charges still apply and gas charges are excluded.
  • Residential customers only; an eligible, actively communicating smart meter is required.
  • Not available to customers with distributed generation and/or solar systems.
  • Fair use applies; average free‑period usage above 200kWh per week is not considered fair use and Contact may contact you.
  • Contact may estimate usage if meter data is missing and correct invoices later; if your smart meter fails to communicate for 3+ continuous days, Contact may move you to another plan (they will notify you).
  • Subject to satisfactory credit check and plan eligibility.
  • Existing customers must be on an open‑term energy plan and switch to Good Nights to receive the free period; switching may end rewards from previous plans.
  • Customers on Good Nights prior to 5 December 2024 remain on free nights every day; switching plans, moving house, or leaving and returning moves you to the Monday–Friday version.
  • Rates and daily charges vary by address, meter configuration and user type; Contact provides address‑specific pricing during sign‑up.
  • Limited‑time bundle offers (e.g., broadband credit, mobile energy credit) have separate terms, eligibility and durations; they can change or be withdrawn.

Promotions and discounts

Good Nights provides a core electricity discount of free usage between 9pm and midnight on Monday to Friday. The free period applies to electricity usage only; daily fixed charges still apply. Eligibility includes being a residential customer with an eligible, actively communicating smart meter; a fair use policy applies, and Contact may review usage if average free‑period consumption exceeds 200kWh per week. Good Nights is not available to customers with distributed generation and/or solar systems. Customers who joined the original Good Nights before 5 December 2024 remain grandfathered on free nights every day; if they switch plans, move house or leave and return, they move to the current Monday–Friday version. Limited‑time bundle promotions available to Good Nights customers include: a broadband energy credit of $300 when adding Contact broadband with promo code CONTACT300 (credited as $75 incl. GST per month for four months; one per electricity account; not available with certain other offers; eligibility and standard broadband terms apply), and a recurring $25 (incl. GST) monthly credit on the energy bill for 12 months when adding an eligible Contact Mobile plan (Small/Medium/Large), provided both energy and mobile services remain active; one credit per connection; not available to PrePay and certain prior promotional customers. In addition, Contact residential customers on eligible plans can join the bp charge partnership for EV public charging: free bp charge subscription (valued at $10/month), 10% discount at all times, and up to 70% discount when sessions start 7–9am or 4–6pm; separate bp charge terms and eligibility apply.

How Contact can change this plan's price

Contact may change its terms, fees and charges at any time, with at least 30 days’ notice provided via one or more channels such as letter or email, invoice messages, SMS, website notice, or similar communications. Contact will write to customers individually (by letter or email) when increasing a charge or fee if the increase exceeds 5% and is reasonably likely to have a material effect, or when making material changes to terms that may detrimentally affect customers; reasons for the increase will be provided. Individual notice is not required where changes are requested by the customer, are fee decreases, are minor/do not affect the customer, or relate to non‑regular service fees (e.g., connection/disconnection) adjustments. Energy charges “may change from time to time.” Contact may also pass through changes from third parties that affect pricing, including network operator charges, metering owner fees, and regulatory agency charges, and will add applicable GST, levies and taxes. If fees or charges change mid‑billing‑cycle, Contact may pro‑rate by averaging usage over the period and applying the different rates accordingly.

Contact Energy logo
Contact domestic plan

Good Charge

Contract length

no fixed term

Exit fees

no exit fees

Bond / deposit

$150 residential bond (minimum, where applicable)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Time‑of‑Use. Good Charge applies half‑price variable electricity usage between 9pm–7am every night and standard day variable rates outside those hours. There is a daily fixed charge that applies every day.
  • How charges are calculated: you pay a daily fixed charge (varies by region/meter category) plus variable usage rates. Usage consumed during 9pm–7am is billed at 50% of the plan’s day variable rate. Outside 9pm–7am, standard day variable rates apply. The Electricity Authority levy and GST are payable on all consumption; the half‑price period does not discount daily charges or non‑electricity services.
  • Eligibility and metering: requires an actively communicating smart meter so half‑hour usage can be measured. If your meter stops communicating for 3+ consecutive days, Contact may move you to another plan (you’ll be notified). You may switch between Good Plans once per billing period.
  • Contract: open term (no fixed‑term lock‑in). Standard user vs. low‑user categories are available where applicable; prices differ by network/region and meter set‑up.
  • Indicative daily fees and per‑kWh prices vary by region and network. Confirmed rates are provided during sign‑up after an address/ICP check. If you need current pricing for your area, please contact Contact directly.
  • Northland: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Auckland: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Waikato: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Bay of Plenty: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Central North Island: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Eastland: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Taranaki: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Whanganui: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Wellington: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Marlborough: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Westland: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Canterbury: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Otago: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.
  • Southland: Contact for current day/night rates and daily charge.

Who this plan suits best

Good Charge is best suited to households that can shift a meaningful share of their consumption overnight, such as EV owners who charge at home, families running hot‑water heating, laundry and dishwashing on timers, or night‑shift workers who heat/cool their homes at night. The plan’s half‑price window (9pm–7am) offers consistent savings every night, rather than limited free hours. Because it’s open‑term and available across low‑user and standard‑user categories (depending on region), it can work for both small families and larger households that can automate or schedule appliances. It is less beneficial for customers whose demand is concentrated in daytime/early‑evening peaks and who cannot shift load. Businesses generally require business plans; Good Charge is a residential plan.

Additional services included

Optional add‑ons available to Good Charge customers include: Broadband bundles (residential electricity required). Bundle pricing typically starts from around the mid‑$50s per month for wireless options, with fibre tiers also available (Fast Fibre and Max Fibre). A limited‑time broadband promo may add a $300 energy credit (applied over four months) when you join using the specified code; standard broadband terms apply (BYO or rented modem options; broadband not available with PrePay). Mobile: You can add a Contact Mobile pay‑monthly plan and receive a recurring $25 energy credit each month for 12 months (total $300) on your electricity account, provided both electricity and eligible mobile services remain active during the promotional period. One offer per electricity connection; offer terms apply. EV public charging: Eligible residential electricity customers can activate a bp charge benefit with a free monthly subscription and time‑based charging discounts (including a higher discount when a session is started during specified morning/afternoon windows). Natural gas and LPG supply are also available from Contact/Rockgas as optional services; pricing depends on location and meter set‑up. Flexible billing options such as SmoothPay (equal‑payment smoothing) and weekly/fortnightly billing are available at no additional charge; PrePay is available for electricity (but not alongside broadband).

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Eligibility: residential customers with an actively communicating electricity smart meter. If your meter fails to communicate actual data for 3+ consecutive days, Contact may move you to another plan (you will be notified).
  • Discount window: half‑price applies to variable electricity usage between 9pm and 7am every night, compared with the plan’s day variable rate.
  • What’s not discounted: the daily fixed charge, and any non‑electricity charges (e.g., gas, broadband) are not reduced during the half‑price window; GST and the Electricity Authority levy still apply.
  • Contract/flexibility: open‑term plan (no fixed‑term lock‑in). You can switch between Good Plans once per billing period; additional switches may be approved at Contact’s discretion.
  • Estimations: if actual half‑hour meter data is temporarily unavailable, Contact may estimate usage and correct it when actual data becomes available.
  • Pricing varies by region/network, user category (low vs. standard) and meter configuration. Confirm current rates for your address during sign‑up or by contacting Contact directly.
  • Promotional stackability: separate limited‑time bill credits may be available when you add eligible broadband or mobile services to the same residential electricity account; each has specific eligibility and duration requirements.

Promotions and discounts

Good Charge’s core discount is half‑price electricity on variable usage from 9pm to 7am every night. The discount applies only to the variable usage component; daily fixed charges and any non‑electricity charges (for example, broadband or gas) still apply. Eligibility requires an actively communicating smart meter, and the plan is open‑term so you can switch plans once per billing period if needed. Stackable bill incentives currently offered by Contact that can be used alongside Good Charge include: an energy credit of up to $300 when you add Contact broadband using the code CONTACT300 (applied as four monthly $75 credits, one per month, to your electricity account; not available with PrePay or other broadband/mobile/energy offers); and a recurring $25 monthly energy credit for 12 months (total $300) when you add an eligible Contact Mobile pay‑monthly plan to the same residential electricity account (Small/Medium/Large mobile plans; one offer per electricity connection; you must keep both services active during the 12‑month period). Both promotions are limited‑time and subject to Contact’s offer terms. For EV drivers, Contact also provides a bp charge partner benefit for eligible residential energy customers: a free bp charge subscription (saving $10/month), 10% off public charging at all times, and 70% off sessions started during the 7–9am and 4–6pm windows. This on‑the‑road discount is separate from your home tariff and can be combined with Good Charge if you meet Contact’s eligibility criteria.

How Contact can change this plan's price

Contact may change plan fees and charges (including variable and daily rates) on open‑term plans like Good Charge by giving you at least 30 days’ notice. Notice may be provided by letter or email, SMS or other electronic message, a statement in a customer newsletter, a notice on the website, local newspaper advertising, or by contacting you directly. If prices increase, Contact states it will provide reasons for the change. In addition, Contact may adjust pricing to reflect changes in taxes, levies and regulatory charges (for example, the Electricity Authority levy or other government‑imposed charges). Pricing can also be adjusted if the information used to set your pricing proves incorrect or changes (for example, a change to your network price category or metering set‑up). Where prices change part‑way through a billing cycle, Contact may pro‑rate or average your usage over the period to apply the different rates.

Contact Energy logo
Contact domestic plan

PrePay

Contract length

no fixed term

Bond / deposit

no bond required

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Variable, anytime single‑rate electricity. Contact PrePay is a payment method layered on eligible residential electricity plans; it is not available on Time‑of‑Use contracts, so there are no free or discounted time windows under PrePay.
  • How you pay: You purchase electricity in advance. A minimum first top‑up of $30 applies, and when you receive a low‑balance alert you must top up so your balance is at least $30 in credit to avoid disconnection. Top‑ups by card incur a card processing fee. No joining fee or bond applies, and PrePay disconnection/reconnection fees are removed (except for initial reconnection of a vacant, disconnected property). Daily fixed charges continue to accrue if you are disconnected.
  • How charges are calculated: You pay a fixed daily charge plus a per‑kWh anytime usage rate. Specific cents/kWh and daily‑charge amounts depend on your property’s meter, user category and local network. PrePay has the same price as the equivalent post‑pay plan where available; there is no price uplift for using PrePay.
  • Eligibility and metering: PrePay requires an actively communicating smart meter, a mobile number for text alerts, and an email address. It is unavailable with SmoothPay, ControlPay or PrePower, on unmetered or jointly/collectively invoiced contracts, for customers with distributed generation, or where Contact also supplies gas and/or broadband at the same property. Medically dependent customers are strongly advised to use post‑pay to avoid self‑disconnection risk.
  • Regional pricing: Rates vary by address and network and are not publicly listed. For Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island, Eastland, Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, please contact Contact directly or use the address checker to confirm your current daily charge and per‑kWh rate.

Who this plan suits best

PrePay suits households that want tight control over spending and to avoid bill shock by paying in advance and tracking usage in the app or My Account. It is a good fit for renters or small to medium families who prefer no fixed term, no bond, and simple anytime pricing without shifting usage to time windows. It is not designed for customers who could benefit most from Time‑of‑Use rewards (e.g., EV owners seeking discounted night charging, or households able to concentrate usage into free periods), for homes with solar or other distributed generation, or for customers bundling broadband or gas with Contact at the same property. Medically dependent customers are strongly advised to choose post‑pay to avoid self‑disconnection risk.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Residential electricity only; subject to a satisfactory credit check.
  • Requires an eligible, actively communicating smart meter; PrePay is unavailable on Time‑of‑Use contracts.
  • Not available with SmoothPay, ControlPay or PrePower; not available on unmetered or jointly/collectively invoiced contracts.
  • Not available to customers with distributed generation, or to customers who also receive Contact gas and/or broadband at the same property.
  • Minimum first top‑up of $30; when a low‑balance alert is received you must top up so your balance is at least $30 in credit to avoid disconnection.
  • No joining fee or bond; card processing fees apply to card payments for top‑ups.
  • PrePay disconnection and reconnection fees are removed (except for the initial reconnection of a vacant property that has been disconnected); daily fixed charges continue to apply while disconnected.
  • Disconnections generally occur Tuesday–Friday (excluding public holidays). Reconnection requires your balance to be in credit to the advised amount and a call to Contact during call‑centre hours; an adult (18+) must be present for physical reconnections.
  • Because this is a prepayment service, regular bills are not issued; balances and usage can be checked via the Contact app or My Account. Usage and balances may include estimated data that is later corrected when actual meter data is received.
  • If you leave PrePay or switch retailer, available credit is refundable; other refunds are at Contact’s discretion.

Promotions and discounts

As at 3 November 2025, Contact does not advertise any PrePay-specific electricity discounts or time-limited sign-up incentives. PrePay uses the same energy rates as the equivalent post-pay plan (where PrePay is available), with no joining fee or bond, and Contact has removed disconnection and reconnection fees for PrePay (except for the initial reconnection of a vacant property that has been disconnected). Card processing fees apply to top-ups made by card. PrePay customers are not eligible for Contact’s Good Plans (e.g., free nights or weekends) because PrePay is not available on Time‑of‑Use contracts. PrePay is also ineligible for bundle promotions that require Contact services at the same property, such as broadband credits, and for Contact’s recurring $25/month mobile energy‑bill credit offer. In addition, the bp charge public‑EV‑charging discount (free subscription, 10% anytime and 70% ‘boost’ windows) is not available to PrePay accounts. If any new PrePay‑specific promotions are introduced, Contact indicates eligibility and terms will be set out in the relevant offer conditions.

How Contact can change this plan's price

Contact’s general terms allow it to change its fees and charges (including electricity prices) at any time, provided customers are given at least 30 days’ notice. Notice may be given by direct contact (e.g., phone) and/or public channels such as a notice on the website or a local daily newspaper. If prices change partway through a billing or usage period, Contact may apportion usage across the old and new rates. Price changes typically reflect movements in underlying cost drivers such as local network (distribution) and transmission charges, industry levies and taxes (including GST), metering and other third‑party costs, or broader electricity market conditions. Contact may also adjust the pricing plan if information relied on to set it (for example, metering configuration or user category) was incorrect or needs to be amended. PrePay has no fixed‑price term; the same notice rules for price changes apply.

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Frequently asked questions

The Selectra expert answers your questions about electricity rates

  • Fixed rate: your unit price stays the same for the duration of the contract.
  • Variable rate: the retailer can adjust the unit rate at any time, with at least 30 days' notice. Prices broadly follow wholesale electricity costs.
  • Time-of-use: the unit price changes by period of the day — cheaper overnight and during off-peak hours, more expensive at peak times (typically 7-9am and 5-9pm).
  • Spot pricing: the unit price tracks the half-hourly wholesale market. Households with flexible usage can save when prices are low, but they are exposed to spikes during cold snaps or supply shortages.

The daily fixed charge covers the cost of staying connected to the grid: network maintenance, the lines from the street to your meter and the metering equipment itself. It is billed for every day you hold an active connection, regardless of how many kWh you use.

Households using less than 8,000 kWh per year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island) may qualify for a low-fixed-charge tariff: a smaller daily fee paired with a slightly higher unit rate. This option is being phased out by April 2027, but it is still available today and is usually a good fit for small homes and singles.

Each part of New Zealand is served by its own local lines company (Vector in Auckland, Wellington Electricity, Powerco, Aurora, Orion and more). Each lines company sets its own delivery charges based on the cost of maintaining its network — and those costs vary widely:

  • Rural and low-density networks (East Coast, West Coast, parts of Otago) cost more per customer to maintain than dense urban ones.
  • Networks with significant underground cabling (central Auckland, Wellington CBD) are more expensive to upgrade but suffer fewer storm outages.
  • South Island networks pass through hydro-rich generation regions, which can lower the wholesale component on some plans.

For these reasons, a customer in Dunedin can pay a different rate from a customer in Hamilton on the same Contact Energy plan.

Comparing electricity plans is not just about the headline rate. Before signing, check:

  • Unit rate (¢ / kWh): what you pay for each unit of electricity. Lower is better.
  • Daily charge (¢ / day): a fixed cost added every day, regardless of usage.
  • Discounts: prompt-payment, direct-debit and online-billing discounts can knock 1-3% off the total.
  • Contract term and exit fees: open-term plans are usually free to leave. Fixed-term plans may charge a break fee.
  • Plan extras: free-power hours, EV night rates, solar buy-back, broadband bundle discounts.

Always cross-check your offer against several retailers using your real ICP and a 12-month consumption history before signing — the headline rate alone never tells the full story.

Under the standard terms used by most New Zealand retailers, variable rates and daily charges can be adjusted at any time, with at least 30 days' written notice to the customer. Notice is usually sent by email, on the bill, or via the customer portal. This 30-day minimum is industry practice rather than a hard statutory rule, so always check the price-change clause printed on the plan terms.

Fixed-term plans are different: the unit rate and daily charge are locked in for the duration of the contract (typically 12, 24 or 36 months). If you do not switch or renegotiate at the end of the term, you are usually moved onto the retailer's standard variable rate.