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Octopus Energy kWh electricity rates and energy plans

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

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Octopus plans in detail

Every Octopus Energy plan, decoded card by card.

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

Plans listed

5

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Covers

All NZ

North & South Island

Octopus Energy logo
Octopus domestic plan

OctopusFlexi

Contract length

no fixed term

Solar buy-back

17c per kWh

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Time‑of‑Use (variable). Usage is charged per kWh in distinct periods (Peak, Off‑peak, Night), plus a daily fixed charge. Exact period timings and rates depend on your network and metering setup, shown when you request a quote or in your account.
  • How charges are calculated: a daily fixed charge (lines/network, metering, EA levy and retailer component, plus GST) and variable energy charges per kWh by time period. Night rate typically applies from 11pm–7am.
  • Solar export (buy‑back): for systems up to 10kW, OctopusFlexi credits exports at 17c/kWh (credited to your account).
  • Contract features: no fixed term or break fees; plan changes generally allowed once per 12 months.
  • Smart meter requirement: a compatible smart meter is required for Time‑of‑Use billing.
  • Regional rate guide (confirm directly if not shown at quote): Northland — contact Octopus Energy for current per‑kWh and daily rates; 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.

Who this plan suits best

OctopusFlexi suits households that can shift some usage into cheaper periods, thanks to Time‑of‑Use pricing with a typical Night window of 11pm–7am. That makes it a practical fit for small families or larger households willing to run hot‑water boosting, laundry, dishwashers or space‑heating top‑ups later at night to reduce overall costs. The no‑lock‑in structure also appeals to customers who value flexibility over fixed‑term contracts. EV owners benefit from scheduling most charging after 11pm to align with the Night rate; Octopus’ smart‑tariff tools and trials further support overnight charging optimisation. Solar users with systems up to 10 kW can monetise surplus energy via the 17c/kWh buy‑back on OctopusFlexi; those with batteries focused on exporting into the evening peak may wish to compare Octopus’ other plans optimized for export timing. 

Additional services included

Hot Water Control service: optional add‑on that shifts cylinder heating times; it does not change your energy rates and no separate fee is stated (effect on total bill depends on usage). You can adjust control levels anytime; requires a compatible smart meter. Included at no extra charge. Intelligent Octopus for EV (beta): optional smart‑charging trial that manages home EV charging. Participants receive a non‑refundable $10 account credit per complete month while the EV remains integrated, provided all charging at the supply address is managed by the service (credit value may change with one month’s notice). Optional; effectively offers a monthly credit rather than a fee. Intelligent Octopus for Home Battery (beta): optional optimisation that schedules charge/discharge (prioritising night charging and 5–9pm discharge); you can pause or stop control. No separate fee stated. Optional. Add‑to‑Bill EV public charging: optional service to access third‑party EV charging networks (e.g., via RFID/app) with session costs (energy/time/connection/parking) passed through and added to your monthly home energy bill; GST applies and terms changes are notified with at least 14 days’ notice. Optional; prices vary by charging network. Solar buy‑back: integrated into OctopusFlexi for systems ≤10 kW; exports are credited to your account at the plan’s buy‑back rate (17c/kWh on OctopusFlexi) and can be paid out to a bank account up to once per year on request. Included with eligible setups; not a paid add‑on.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • No fixed‑term contract or break fees; you can leave anytime.
  • Time‑of‑Use metering with distinct Peak/Off‑peak/Night rates; a compatible smart meter is required.
  • Night period typically runs 11pm–7am (exact periods shown at sign‑up and in your account).
  • Plan changes generally permitted once per 12 months unless otherwise agreed.
  • Monthly billing; an active payment method (direct debit or credit card) must be linked to your account.
  • Availability in most major centres where Octopus supplies and a smart meter is installed.
  • Rates depend on your local network and metering configuration and include lines/network charges, metering, Electricity Authority levy, retailer component, and GST.
  • Solar buy‑back available for systems up to 10 kW on OctopusFlexi; exports are credited to your account and can be paid out annually on request; larger systems require prior approval and may receive different rates.

Promotions and discounts

Refer a friend: both the referrer and the new customer receive an account credit (currently advertised as $50 each, total $100). The friend must be a new residential customer at a supply address Octopus can serve, pass any required credit checks, not have been an Octopus customer in the previous 12 months, and must not receive other promotional credits when joining. Credits are applied after the friend pays their first bill; they are not cash‑redeemable and may be varied or withdrawn.  Saving Sessions: optional demand‑response events where residential customers who opt in can earn $2 per kWh of electricity reduction during a called session (typically 1 hour, usually in weekday peak windows). Rewards are credited to the account; participation is event‑by‑event. Shift to Win (Orion network only): prize‑draw style demand‑response events running 12 May–30 September 2025. Eligible customers (smart meter, at least 30 days as a customer with 30 days’ actual reads, connected to the Orion network) who shift usage or increase net export during an event go in the draw to win 1 of 5 x $50 credits per event. Entries are optional per event and winners are notified by email.  Solar export credit on OctopusFlexi: OctopusFlexi includes a buy‑back for exports from qualifying systems (≤10 kW) at 17c per kWh; credits apply to the account and can be paid out annually on request. Larger systems need prior approval and may receive different rates. 

How Octopus can change this plan's price

OctopusFlexi is a variable Time‑of‑Use plan. For customers who joined under the 12 December 2023–16 December 2024 terms (v1.2), Octopus could update OctopusFlexi rates with 30 days’ written notice by email. From 17 December 2024, the current customer terms link your pricing to the plan you choose and your network/meter configuration, and direct you to the website/app for the current rates. Those terms do not state a fixed notice period for price changes, but Octopus states it will give at least 30 days’ email notice where possible for changes to the customer Agreement. Drivers for price adjustments include underlying cost components on your bill: local distribution/lines charges, metering, and the Electricity Authority levy (all subject to change), plus GST; wholesale market conditions may also affect variable plan pricing. Octopus explains that bills include these pass‑through elements alongside the retailer component. 

Octopus Energy logo
Octopus domestic plan

OctopusPeaker

Contract length

no fixed term

Exit fees

$0 (no exit/break fees)

Solar buy-back

23c per kWh (peak), 10c per kWh (off-peak), 5c per kWh (night)

Bond / deposit

Up to two months’ estimated electricity supply (if you fail a credit check)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Time‑of‑Use (TOU). Electricity import is billed at three periods with distinct prices: Peak (7 am–11 am, 5 pm–9 pm, weekdays), Off‑Peak (11 am–5 pm, 9 pm–11 pm, weekdays and 7 am–11 pm weekends), and Night (11 pm–7 am, every day). OctopusPeaker also provides enhanced solar/export buy‑back rates by time‑of‑use.
  • How charges are calculated: you pay a daily fixed charge plus variable energy charges per kWh for import in each period (Peak, Off‑Peak, Night). With Half‑Price Nights on OctopusPeaker, the variable energy charge during the Night period is discounted by 50% relative to the plan’s standard variable rate. A daily fixed charge applies and varies by your local network; if you have distributed generation, import/export metering is required (a metering service fee may apply).
  • Solar/export buy‑back on OctopusPeaker (national): Peak export buy‑back 23 c/kWh (7 am–11 am, 5 pm–9 pm, weekdays); Off‑Peak export 10 c/kWh (11 am–5 pm, 9 pm–11 pm, weekdays; 7 am–11 pm weekends); Night export 5 c/kWh (11 pm–7 am daily). Designed for homes with a battery and/or systems over 10 kW to shift usage out of Peak and export during Peak.
  • Regional import prices: per‑kWh and daily‑charge rates vary by network area and meter configuration. If you are in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island, Eastland, Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago, or Southland, please contact Octopus Energy directly (or use the address‑based “Get Rates/OctoShift” tools) to confirm your exact daily charge and per‑kWh import prices for Peak/Off‑Peak/Night.
  • Eligibility and metering: a communicating smart meter is required for supply and TOU billing. For export credits, an import/export meter and distributed‑generation setup are needed. If your meter/network configuration changes (e.g., adding solar/battery), your pricing plan may change accordingly.

Who this plan suits best

OctopusPeaker is best suited to solar households that have a home battery (or a V2G‑capable EV) and can export during weekday Peak periods. These customers can maximise the elevated Peak export buy‑back while shifting their own consumption to Off‑Peak or Night hours to reduce import costs. It also suits EV owners and larger households who can schedule heavy loads overnight to benefit from Half‑Price Nights, and small businesses with flexible loads and behind‑the‑meter storage that can time‑shift usage away from Peak. By contrast, homes with solar but no battery that cannot routinely export at Peak, or customers who cannot shift demand away from Peak, are less likely to see the full benefit of this plan compared with a standard TOU plan.

Additional services included

• Intelligent Octopus (optional): App‑based smart charging for compatible EVs and chargers that automatically schedules charging in cheaper hours; provides a $10 monthly account credit when all home charging is managed for a full calendar month. No subscription fee; requires a smart meter, Octopus account, and compatible device. • Add‑to‑Bill for public EV charging (optional): Consolidates participating public charging sessions (e.g., ChargeNet/OpenLoop) onto your monthly electricity bill for easier budgeting. No additional subscription fee from Octopus; you pay the normal charging network session costs, with standard billing and GST. • Hot Water Control (optional): Uses eligible advanced smart meters to pause cylinder heating during expensive Peak periods; marketed savings up to about $150 per year depending on usage and chosen control level. No lock‑in; you can adjust control levels and opt out at any time. • Seasonal engagement programmes (optional): Programmes such as Saving Sessions (winter peak‑shaving events that pay credits for measured reductions) may be offered during specific periods. Participation is free, requires opt‑in and a communicating smart meter. If the offer includes no additional services beyond the above for your location or meter type, then null.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Supply requires a communicating smart meter; TOU billing and programme participation depend on reliable half‑hourly data.
  • Plan is designed for systems with a home battery and/or generation capacity over 10 kW; import/export metering is required to receive export buy‑back credits.
  • Export buy‑back rates: Peak 23 c/kWh (7 am–11 am, 5 pm–9 pm weekdays); Off‑Peak 10 c/kWh (11 am–5 pm, 9 pm–11 pm weekdays; 7 am–11 pm weekends); Night 5 c/kWh (11 pm–7 am daily). Weekend imports are Off‑Peak or Night only (no weekend Peak import charge).
  • A daily fixed charge applies and varies by network; import per‑kWh rates vary by network and meter setup. Address‑based quote tools are used to confirm exact rates.
  • No fixed‑term lock‑in and no exit fees on standard residential plans; you may change plan type once per 12 months (or by agreement) if the plan is not working for you.
  • If your metering or network configuration changes (e.g., adding solar/battery), Octopus may move you to a more suitable plan and rates based on the new configuration.
  • Areas supplied: available across most major networks in New Zealand but not in embedded networks; supply availability must be confirmed by address.
  • General customer terms apply, including monthly billing, direct debit/card payment collection shortly after invoicing, and standard fee schedules for metering/field services.

Promotions and discounts

OctopusPeaker includes built-in Time‑of‑Use discounts that reduce the per‑kWh energy charge during Off‑Peak and Night periods. In particular, Half‑Price Nights applies to eligible OctopusPeaker customers, halving Night‑rate electricity costs (typically from 11 pm to 7 am) when a smart meter is present. The discount is a standing plan feature rather than a time‑limited offer and is applied automatically to measured Night consumption; usage outside Night hours is billed at the plan’s Off‑Peak or Peak rates. Eligible OctopusPeaker customers can also opt into Intelligent Octopus for EVs or supported smart chargers to receive a recurring $10 monthly account credit when all home charging is managed by the service for a full calendar month. Participation requires a smart meter, the Octopus app, and a compatible EV or charger; credits are applied the following month and can be ended or varied per programme terms. In addition, Octopus runs a Refer‑a‑Friend promotion that grants a $50 account credit to both the referrer and the new residential customer once the new customer switches their main home to Octopus, passes any credit checks, and pays their first monthly bill; eligibility restrictions include that the friend must not have been an Octopus customer within the prior 12 months and cannot have received other joining credits. Seasonal engagement programmes (such as winter Saving Sessions that pay bill credits for measured demand reductions during announced peaks) and occasional network‑partner draws may be offered during specific periods and require opt‑in and a communicating smart meter. Availability and rewards may vary by time of year and region; customers on OctopusPeaker can participate when active and eligible.

How Octopus can change this plan's price

Octopus Energy NZ states that current plan rates and charges are published online and are based on your local network and metering configuration. Prices can change to reflect cost drivers such as wholesale electricity conditions, distribution and transmission (network) fee updates, metering costs, taxes/levies, or regulatory changes. If your metering or network configuration changes (for example, when you add solar or a battery), your applicable plan and rates may also change. When Octopus updates its customer terms, it aims to provide at least 30 days’ written notice by email where possible; if changes must occur more quickly due to compliance or emergencies, it will give as much notice as practicable. For pricing changes driven by network adjustments or similar cost shifts, Octopus communicates updates in advance of the effective date and applies the new rates from that date on your monthly billing cycle. Customers may switch plan types once per year (or with agreement) or switch retailers at any time with notice, with no exit fees on standard residential plans.

Octopus Energy logo
Octopus domestic plan

Working on Sunshine

Contract length

no fixed term

Exit fees

no exit fees

Solar buy-back

23c per kWh (Peak), 10c per kWh (Off-peak), 5c per kWh (Night)

Bond / deposit

Bond may be required if you fail a credit check; up to two months’ estimated supply

Who this plan suits best

Working on Sunshine best suits households that can shift a meaningful portion of usage into weekday late‑morning/afternoon (11 am–5 pm), evenings before 11 pm, and especially weekends (7 am–11 pm off‑peak all day). That often includes work‑from‑home users, small families and larger households willing to run laundry, dishwashers, cooking, pool pumps, or hot‑water heating outside weekday peaks. The plan’s TOU structure rewards flexibility rather than constant overnight consumption. It is particularly attractive for EV owners who can charge during weekend daytime or late‑evening windows, and for solar users with home batteries who can export into weekday peaks to capture higher WOS export buy‑back rates (23c/kWh peak, 10c/kWh off‑peak, 5c/kWh night). Customers wanting contract flexibility (no long fixed term and the ability to change plan once per 12 months) and those interested in stacking Octopus incentives (e.g., Saving Sessions and Intelligent Octopus credits) may see the greatest value. Small businesses operating mainly in daytime off‑peak or weekends may also benefit if their site and metering are eligible; otherwise Octopus’ business plans should be considered.

Additional services included

Optional services that pair well with Working on Sunshine include: Intelligent Octopus for EVs and compatible smart chargers (free to join; provides a $10 monthly account credit while Octopus manages charging into cheaper periods; requires the Octopus app, a compatible car/charger, and a smart meter); Add‑to‑Bill public EV charging (integrates ChargeNet and OpenLoop sessions onto your Octopus electricity bill at no extra Octopus fee; you pay each operator’s standard charging rates; optional opt‑in); and Saving Sessions demand response (optional, seasonal; pays $2 per kWh for reductions during notified peak‑stress events; requires a communicating smart meter and opt‑in). Additional optional optimisation includes Hot Water Control using eligible smart meters (no joining fee; you choose a control level to pause cylinder heating during expensive periods; Octopus indicates potential savings up to $150 per year, depending on usage). Standard account tools like the Octopus mobile app and web dashboard are included at no extra cost for all customers to track usage and costs.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Residential time‑of‑use electricity plan with weekday Peak/Off‑peak/Night bands and weekend Off‑peak all day (7 am–11 pm); Night 11 pm–7 am daily.
  • Designed to leverage low daytime off‑peak network charges on networks such as Vector, Unison (Unet), Counties Energy, and Marlborough Lines; availability and rates depend on your specific ICP and metering.
  • Smart‑meter eligibility is generally required for TOU billing and for participation in export buy‑back and demand‑response programmes; check your address to confirm.
  • Solar export buy‑back rates on WOS: 23c/kWh (Peak export), 10c/kWh (Off‑peak export), 5c/kWh (Night export); ideal for homes with batteries and/or generation capacity over 10 kW.
  • Plan changes: customers can request one plan change per 12‑month period if the plan isn’t working for them; standard customer terms apply.
  • Billing includes a daily fixed charge and per‑kWh import rates by time band; actual import prices and daily charges vary by network and may change if network/transmission charges are updated.
  • No long fixed term is advertised; you can stay as long as you like, subject to standard terms and any notice requirements for switching plans or retailers.
  • Promotions and incentives (e.g., Refer‑a‑Friend credits, Saving Sessions, Intelligent Octopus credits) are optional and may have separate eligibility and participation conditions.

Promotions and discounts

Octopus Energy’s Working on Sunshine (WOS) sits within Octopus’ time‑of‑use portfolio, so eligible Octopus electricity customers on WOS can access Octopus‑wide promotions that reduce bills. The key ongoing offer is Refer‑a‑Friend: when a new residential customer joins via a personal referral link and pays their first bill, both the referrer and the new customer receive a $50 account credit. Typical eligibility conditions include being a new residential customer (not with Octopus in the previous 12 months), passing any credit checks, and not combining with other join credits; credits are applied after the first bill and are not redeemable for cash. Customers can also opt into Saving Sessions, a demand‑response programme that pays $2 per kWh for verifiable reductions during notified high‑demand events (generally weekday peak hours). Participation is optional and requires a communicating smart meter; notifications are sent ahead of each event and rewards are calculated from meter data. For EV owners or compatible smart‑charger users, Intelligent Octopus offers an ongoing $10 monthly bill credit for participating devices while Octopus manages charging to lower‑cost periods; joining is free but requires an Octopus account, the mobile app, and a compatible vehicle/charger. These incentives stack with WOS but are separate from its import price structure.

How Octopus can change this plan's price

Octopus states in its customer terms for New Zealand that it may update its Agreement and plan‑specific terms from time to time; where possible, it will give at least 30 days’ written notice by email of changes. If urgent changes are required (for example, due to law, regulation, or emergencies), Octopus will provide as much notice as reasonably practicable. Prices for any plan, including Working on Sunshine, reflect your network and metering configuration and may change when underlying pass‑through components (for example, local lines/distribution and transmission charges) are updated or when plan structures are revised. In practice, distribution and transmission pricing resets (commonly effective around 1 April following regulatory determinations) and other cost shifts can lead to updated retail tariffs. Octopus communicates such changes in advance to existing customers, explaining the drivers and effective dates. If a change is not to a customer’s advantage, customers can generally switch plans with Octopus (subject to the one‑change‑per‑12‑months rule) or move to another retailer in line with the standard terms.

Octopus Energy logo
Octopus business plan

Shape Shifters

Exit fees

$100 plus 5% of the cost of your expected usage for the remainder of the term

Bond / deposit

May be required to provide a bond or maintain a credit equivalent to two months’ worth of supply (subject to credit check)

Who this plan suits best

Shape Shifters is best for small to medium businesses that naturally use most electricity outside weekday peaks or can move energy‑heavy tasks into the Off‑peak windows (11 am–5 pm and 9 pm–7 am) and weekends. Sites with cooling/heating, commercial kitchens, laundries, or process loads that can be scheduled away from morning/evening peaks tend to benefit most. It also suits premises with EV charging or batteries that can shift charging into Off‑peak hours for lower rates, and businesses whose consumption is higher in summer than winter (when Shape Shifters’ seasonal pricing is typically at its lowest). Solar and battery owners can complement this plan by consuming and/or exporting strategically to align with seasonal pricing.

Additional services included

Intelligent Octopus (optional): smart EV/home‑battery charging and optimisation integrated with your account. It’s optional, carries no subscription fee from Octopus, and has historically included a recurring monthly account credit when active; network‑specific incentives may be offered from time to time. Availability and eligibility depend on supported vehicles/chargers and a compatible smart meter. Add‑to‑Bill for EV public charging (optional): where available, third‑party public charging session costs can be added to your Octopus bill. There’s no separate Octopus subscription fee; you pay the charging provider’s published prices and any applicable taxes via your energy bill. If your account is overdue or cancelled, access can be suspended. If your organisation requires hot‑water or load‑control trials or other pilots, Octopus occasionally runs opt‑in beta programmes. These are optional, may not change your tariff, and can be withdrawn or updated at any time. If no additional services are offered at the time you join Shape Shifters or if your region isn’t supported, consider this field not applicable.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Eligibility: business electricity customers with a functioning half‑hourly smart meter; Octopus can confirm and arrange installation if required.
  • Plan structure: Time‑of‑Use with seasonal rates—Peak 7 am–11 am & 5 pm–9 pm weekdays; Off‑peak 11 am–5 pm & 9 pm–7 am weekdays; all weekend Off‑peak.
  • Seasonal windows: October–March (summer) and April–September (winter); rates differ between seasons.
  • Regional variation: daily charges and c/kWh rates depend on your network region and metering setup; confirm current prices with Octopus before switching.
  • Solar/battery: export buy‑back and any seasonal export rates depend on the plan and network; export requires suitable metering and setup.
  • Billing & payment: monthly billing with GST; payment collected by your saved method shortly after invoicing; standard fees (e.g., metering changes) may apply per Octopus’ published schedule.
  • Plan changes & updates: you may generally change plan with Octopus subject to the provider’s change‑frequency rules; Octopus will notify you of material price or terms changes.
  • Demand‑response: participation in promotions like Saving Sessions or network trials is optional and not required for Shape Shifters.

Promotions and discounts

Octopus Energy New Zealand runs opt‑in demand‑response incentives that can apply while you’re on Shape Shifters. Saving Sessions pays a bill credit for verified reductions during announced peak‑time events; participants are notified ahead of each session, must have a communicating smart meter, and rewards are calculated against your recent usage baseline. Events are called when demand is unusually high and typically last about an hour; participation is voluntary and there’s no penalty if you skip an event. Shift to Win is an occasional prize‑draw promotion (run in partnership with specific networks when active) where customers who shift usage or export during a notified window go into a draw to win power credits. It requires opt‑in, a smart meter for measurement, and eligibility is limited to the network area when the trial is running. Event frequency, prize value, and timing are announced in advance by Octopus and may vary by trial. Octopus also offers a refer‑a‑friend bill‑credit programme that provides a joining credit to a new customer and a credit to the referrer once the first bill is paid. This promotion is intended for residential accounts and isn’t generally targeted to business accounts using Shape Shifters. Availability and amounts for any promotion can change; check your account dashboard or Octopus communications for current details and eligibility.

How Octopus can change this plan's price

Octopus sets Shape Shifters’ prices by network region, metering setup, and season, and may update charges when underlying costs change. Standard customer terms state that when you are on the default flexible pricing (e.g., OctopusFlexi), unit rates can be varied with at least 30 days’ written notice by email. For time‑of‑use plans like Shape Shifters, Octopus notifies customers of price changes via email and updates the displayed rates in your account; changes may coincide with annual network and metering charge resets or with plan updates. Valid adjustment factors include pass‑through changes from your local lines company and metering provider (often effective around 1 April each year), industry levies or regulatory changes, tax (GST) changes, and shifts in wholesale electricity costs or hedging. If you request a change to your metering or network configuration (for example, enabling export for solar), your applicable plan and rates may also change. Octopus’ general terms allow updating the agreement terms with notice; if a faster change is required to comply with law or an urgent industry directive, Octopus will give as much notice as practicable.

Octopus Energy logo
Octopus domestic plan

Zero Bills

Contract length

5 years

Exit fees

no exit fees

Solar buy-back

0c per kWh (no separate export payment under Zero Bills)

Bond / deposit

Bond up to two months’ estimated electricity cost (if you fail a credit check)

How the tariff works

  • Tariff type: Fixed commitment on usage charges for 5 years. Within your personalised Fair Usage Allowance, you pay $0 for electricity usage. Any usage above the allowance is charged at the OctopusFlexi import unit rate, with no fixed daily charge on that excess.
  • How it works: Octopus sizes and remotely optimises an on-site solar PV and home battery system so your typical annual consumption remains within the allowance. A typical Zero Bills home is described as "low to moderate" usage (about under 8,000 kWh/year, import plus self-consumption) with around 9–10 kW of PV and a 9–13.5 kWh battery. You must keep the system online and maintained, and allow Octopus to control the battery for optimisation.
  • Charges calculation: Within the allowance, usage is free. If you exceed your allowance in a year, the excess is billed at the prevailing OctopusFlexi import unit rate for your area; there is no daily fixed charge on that excess. Exports are incorporated into Zero Bills (there is no separate export payment while on this offer).
  • Daily fees: $0 daily fee applies to Zero Bills usage; for any usage above the allowance, Octopus states excess is charged at the OctopusFlexi import unit rate with no fixed charge.
  • Time-of-use periods: Behind the scenes Octopus uses time-of-use optimisation of your battery and solar, but as a customer you do not pay differing per-kWh prices within your allowance. Only excess kWh above the allowance are charged at the OctopusFlexi import rate for your network area.
  • Price per kWh: Zero Bills usage within your allowance is $0/kWh. For usage above the allowance, OctopusFlexi import rates vary by region and network. To confirm your property’s current per-kWh rate for excess usage, contact Octopus directly.
  • Regional specifics: For Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island, Eastland, Taranaki, Whanganui, Wellington, Marlborough, Westland, Canterbury, Otago and Southland, OctopusFlexi import rates (used only if you exceed your allowance) depend on network and metering setup and may change. If a region’s exact rate is not displayed for your ICP, please contact the provider directly.
  • Eligibility notes: A communicating smart meter (import/export), continuous home internet for device connectivity, and allowing Octopus to optimise battery settings are required. The solar-and-battery hardware is purchased by the homeowner.

Who this plan suits best

Zero Bills suits homeowners able to install and maintain a solar PV and home battery system, who have low-to-moderate annual consumption (about under 8,000 kWh/year) and value bill certainty. It is a strong fit for small families or larger households with efficient homes whose usage patterns are stable across the year, and who are comfortable letting Octopus optimise their battery to stay within the allowance. It’s also well aligned to solar users and battery owners who want a simple, predictable outcome (no usage bills within the allowance rather than chasing export buy-backs). EV owners can participate, but high EV charging volumes may push total consumption beyond the allowance unless smart-charged and/or offset through larger PV/battery sizing. Customers seeking separate export payments, renters, or very high-usage homes with large discretionary loads may find a standard time-of-use plan more suitable.

Additional services included

Optional services available to Zero Bills customers include: (1) Intelligent Octopus smart charging for EVs/home batteries, which creates automated charging schedules to favour cheaper periods and currently provides a monthly rebate while you are enrolled and actively managed (rebate level and eligibility can vary by trial/region); (2) Saving Sessions, an optional winter demand-response programme that credits $2 per kWh reduced versus your baseline during notified events; (3) Add-to-Bill for public EV charging, which lets you link ChargeNet and OpenLoop accounts so public charging costs appear on your monthly power bill with no Octopus markup (you pay the charge point operator’s advertised rates); and (4) Access to an installer directory for solar, batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps. Pricing: Saving Sessions pays per kWh reduced during events; Add-to-Bill passes through the networks’ own tariffs; Intelligent Octopus offers a monthly rebate rather than a fee. Availability and incentives can vary by network and over time.

Plan conditions at a glance

  • Zero Bills provides 5 years of $0 usage charges within a personalised Fair Usage Allowance sized to your historic or expected consumption.
  • A typical Zero Bills setup is under 8,000 kWh/year (import plus self-consumption) with around 9–10 kW of solar and a 9–13.5 kWh battery; actual sizing depends on your usage, local network costs, and expected solar generation.
  • You must purchase and maintain the solar-and-battery system; keep the equipment online; and allow Octopus to remotely optimise (control) the battery for best outcomes.
  • A communicating import/export smart meter and continuous home internet connection are required for monitoring, optimisation and settlement.
  • Exports are bundled into Zero Bills; there is no separate export payment while on the offer.
  • If you exceed your allowance, the excess is billed at the OctopusFlexi import unit rate applicable to your area, with no fixed daily charge on that excess.
  • Adding large loads (e.g., EVs or hot tubs) can increase usage and lead to charges above the allowance unless managed; notify Octopus if you plan to add significant new devices.
  • If required conditions (equipment operation/maintenance, connectivity, metering) are not met, Octopus may move you to a different plan (typically OctopusFlexi) until issues are resolved.

Promotions and discounts

Zero Bills guarantees no electricity usage charges for five years, provided your annual consumption stays within a personalised Fair Usage Allowance sized to your home’s historical (or expected) use and supported by an Octopus-optimised solar-and-battery setup. If you exceed your allowance, only the excess is charged at the OctopusFlexi import unit rate and there is no fixed daily charge applied to that excess. Exports are bundled into Zero Bills, so you are not paid a separate export credit while on this offer. Hardware costs (solar and battery) are paid by the homeowner. Active Octopus-wide incentives that can apply alongside Zero Bills include: Saving Sessions (optional, winter demand-response events that credit customers $2 per kWh of reduced usage versus baseline; requires an eligible smart meter and opt-in; events are typically announced ahead of time and last about an hour, most often on weekday peaks) and Refer a Friend ($50 bill credit for the referrer and $50 for the new customer once the first bill is paid; residential customers only, cannot combine with other joining credits, and not available to customers who left within the last 12 months). Region-specific trials or draws (such as periodic “Shift to Win” events run with local networks) may also offer bill credits when you shift or reduce use during notified windows; availability and timing vary by region and season.

How Octopus can change this plan's price

Zero Bills is a five-year fixed offer for usage within your personalised allowance; Octopus states that within this fixed-term structure, you pay $0 for usage inside the allowance for the full five years provided you continue to meet eligibility and equipment requirements. If you exceed your allowance, any overage is billed at the OctopusFlexi import unit rate applicable to your network area; those OctopusFlexi rates are variable and may be updated by Octopus from time to time. For contract changes generally, Octopus’s customer terms indicate they will give at least 30 days’ written notice by email where possible when updating terms, or as much notice as reasonably practicable if changes are needed sooner (for example to comply with law or regulation). Drivers that can influence pricing outside the fixed Zero Bills allowance include movements in wholesale electricity costs, changes to distribution/network charges or industry levies, and regulatory settings (for example, changes to the regulated fixed-charge framework). If changes are not to your advantage on a variable/TOU plan, Octopus’s policy is to give reasonable advance notice so you can consider alternatives.

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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 Octopus 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.