Toast Electric kWh Electricity Rates & Energy Plans

Contact Reviews

Toast ElectricDomestic offer Solar BuyBack

Contract Length: no fixed term

Additional Services Included

Offer condition
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Solar BuyBack
  • No fixed‑term contract is advertised; to stop supply you must give Toast at least 48 hours’ notice; switching to/from Toast follows industry rules.
  • Payment method: direct debit is the current standard method; other methods may be available by arrangement.
  • Solar BuyBack applies to electricity exported through an approved import/export smart meter; export credit is paid per kWh as published in the pricing plan.
  • Day/Night plan hours: Night 9 pm–7 am; Day 7 am–9 pm.
  • Rates include GST and are shown as valid from 1 April 2025; pricing varies by network area and by Low‑User vs Standard‑User status.
  • Toast may amend fees/charges with at least 30 days’ prior notice; individual written notice is provided where applicable (e.g., increases over 5%).
  • Customer responsibilities include providing safe, unobstructed access to meters and supply equipment and notifying Toast of material usage changes; medically dependent customers receive protections consistent with the Consumer Care Guidelines.
  • Additional service fees (e.g., tariff change, reconnection, metering work, site visits) may apply per Toast’s published fee schedule.

Who Gets the Most from This Plan?

Solar BuyBack is best suited to households or small businesses that regularly export surplus solar generation, as exported units are credited at a flat 11 c/kWh (incl. GST). Users whose daytime generation materially exceeds daytime consumption will see the most benefit from export credits.  Customers with time‑shifting ability can pair Solar BuyBack with Toast’s Day/Night rates: running major loads at night (9 pm–7 am) reduces import costs while daytime solar covers usage and generates exports. This combination can suit EV owners who charge overnight, small families on Low‑User plans who are frugal during the day, and larger electric households (Standard‑User) with solar arrays sized to exceed midday demand.

Promotions & Discounts of Solar BuyBack Offer
savings
  • 💰 <p>Toast Electric does not advertise time-limited discounts, sign‑up credits, or “free hours” promotions for Solar BuyBack
  • 💰 Their FAQs state they avoid bundles and giveaways in favour of transparent, consistent pricing
  • 💰 For solar customers, the key ongoing benefit is an export credit: Solar BuyBack pays 11 c/kWh (including GST) for electricity exported to the grid via an approved import/export meter.&nbsp; Eligibility is straightforward: you need a suitable import/export smart meter, as Solar BuyBack applies to electricity exported “through your meter to the grid.” Rates are published inclusive of GST, with pricing pages indicating current tariffs are “valid from 1 April 2025.” No additional customer-category specific promotions (e.g., for seniors or students) are listed for Solar BuyBack at this time.&nbsp;</p>

How Your Plan Pricing Can Change?

<p>Toast sets charges according to its pricing plans and notes that fees and charges may change from time to time If prices are set to increase, customers receive at least 30 days’ prior notice by email or text; where an increase to a fee/service charge or the total invoiced electricity price exceeds 5% (and is likely to materially affect the customer), a separate individual written notice is provided Flexible pricing plans are excluded from that specific notice rule Beyond bill notices, Toast’s terms permit amendments to the agreement (including payment options, fees or charges) with 30 days’ prior notice, delivered via the website, newsletter, or direct communication Toast also states it aims to keep pricing fair and reflective of the cost of supply; daily charges include pass‑through fixed charges from local lines companies and meter providers, so updates can reflect movements in these underlying network or metering costs.&nbsp;</p>

Toast ElectricDomestic offer Electricity

Contract Length: no fixed term

Your Energy Plan Tariff Explained

  • Tariff type: Variable and Time‑of‑Use (Day/Night). Charges comprise a fixed daily charge plus per‑kWh energy rates. Day/Night has Night from 9 pm–7 am and Day from 7 am–9 pm, every day. No free‑power periods are advertised. All prices include GST and are valid from 1 April 2025.
  • Wellington (Wellington Electricity area) — Low user: daily $1.2075; Uncontrolled $0.3022/kWh; Controlled $0.2766/kWh; Composite $0.2914/kWh; Day $0.3565/kWh; Night $0.1783/kWh; Night Boost $0.2394/kWh. Standard user: daily $1.9806; Uncontrolled $0.2670/kWh; Controlled $0.2412/kWh; Composite $0.2562/kWh; Day $0.3151/kWh; Night $0.1576/kWh; Night Boost $0.2260/kWh. 
  • Kāpiti & Horowhenua (Electra area) — Low user: daily $1.2075; Uncontrolled $0.3692/kWh; Controlled $0.3013/kWh; Composite $0.3692/kWh; Day $0.4461/kWh; Night $0.2230/kWh; Night Boost $0.2930/kWh. Standard user: daily $2.3716; Uncontrolled $0.3160/kWh; Controlled $0.2482/kWh; Composite $0.3160/kWh; Day $0.3835/kWh; Night $0.1918/kWh; Night Boost $0.2482/kWh. 
  • Wairarapa (Powerco area) — Low user: daily $1.2075; Uncontrolled $0.4025/kWh; Controlled $0.3370/kWh; Composite $0.4025/kWh; Day $0.4859/kWh; Night $0.2429/kWh; Night Boost $0.2013/kWh. Standard user: daily $2.1850; Uncontrolled $0.3578/kWh; Controlled $0.2928/kWh; Composite $0.3578/kWh; Day $0.4334/kWh; Night $0.2167/kWh; Night Boost $0.2013/kWh. 
  • Canterbury (Christchurch & Central Canterbury – Orion) — Low user: daily $1.2075; Uncontrolled $0.2981/kWh; Controlled $0.2921/kWh; Composite $0.2921/kWh; Day $0.3605/kWh; Night $0.1803/kWh; Night Boost $0.2116/kWh. Standard user: daily $1.7035; Uncontrolled $0.2779/kWh; Controlled $0.2719/kWh; Composite $0.2719/kWh; Day $0.3369/kWh; Night $0.1684/kWh; Night Boost $0.2100/kWh.
  • Solar buy‑back: exported energy credited at $0.1100/kWh (where applicable). 
  • For Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Central North Island, Eastland, Taranaki, Whanganui, Marlborough, Westland, Otago, and Southland, rates are not listed by Toast; please contact the provider directly to confirm availability and pricing. 

Additional Services Included

  • <p>Solar Buy‑Back: Optional export credit for households with solar; exports are credited at 11.0 c/kWh (GST incl.).
  • No separate enrolment fee is stated.
  • SmoothPay (budgeted payments): Optional payment method that evens out annual electricity costs into regular weekly/fortnightly/monthly direct‑debit instalments; terms are provided alongside general T&amp;Cs.
  • No additional charges are specified for using SmoothPay.&nbsp; Home Energy Check and advice: All Toast customers can access a free home energy check and practical advice from Sustainability Trust advisors to improve comfort and reduce costs; Energy Wellbeing customers may also receive free or subsidised items and upgrades based on need.
  • Outage support is available 24/7 via Toast’s outage line.&nbsp;</p>.
Offer condition
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Electricity
  • Service areas: homes and small businesses in Wellington, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Kāpiti, Horowhenua, Wairarapa, Christchurch and mid‑Canterbury (supply contingent on meter setup).
  • Plan structure: daily fixed charge plus per‑kWh variable rates; optional Day/Night pricing with Night 9 pm–7 am and Day 7 am–9 pm.
  • Payment: direct debit is the standard method; SmoothPay budget payments available for residential customers. Credit checks may be performed. 
  • Contract and switching: open‑term supply; to stop supply, provide at least 48 hours’ notice; provide 3 business days’ notice when moving to allow a final read.
  • Price changes: Toast may amend fees/charges with at least 30 days’ prior notice; material impacts or increases over 5% will be personally notified in writing. 
  • Solar: optional buy‑back available for exported energy at 11.0 c/kWh (GST incl.).
  • Care standards: medically dependent consumers should notify Toast and maintain backup arrangements; Toast follows the Electricity Authority’s Consumer Care Guidelines. 
  • Access and safety: customers must provide safe, unobstructed access for meter reads/maintenance; lines companies may conduct planned outages with at least four business days’ notice.
  • Support and complaints: 24/7 outage assistance is available; unresolved complaints can be escalated to Utilities Disputes (free and independent). 
  • Disconnections: Toast states it will not disconnect power without consulting the customer first (non‑emergency faults should be reported to the lines company or Toast). 

Who Gets the Most from This Plan?

Small families and light‑to‑moderate users align with Toast’s Low‑User tariffs (defined as under 8,000 kWh/year in the North Island and 9,000 kWh/year in the South Island). Larger all‑electric homes (3+ occupants) and heavy users fit the Standard‑User tariffs (above those thresholds). Toast also supplies small businesses within its networked service areas, offering the same transparent structure of daily charges plus per‑kWh rates. EV owners and night‑shiftable households benefit from the Day/Night option, which applies lower Night rates from 9 pm–7 am and is recommended when at least 30% of usage can be shifted overnight. Solar households can participate in Toast’s solar buy‑back (11.0 c/kWh for exports), helping offset consumption with generation credits.&nbsp;

Promotions & Discounts of Electricity Offer
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  • 💰 <p>Toast Electric’s core discount is delivered through its Energy Wellbeing programme for households experiencing energy hardship
  • 💰 Eligible customers (referred by approved community agencies and within Toast’s service areas) are guaranteed a lower overall electricity cost than they were paying their previous retailer
  • 💰 If Toast’s standard tariffs would otherwise be higher, a percentage discount is applied to bring the total bill below the prior provider’s cost, and this specific discount remains in place for up to 24 months
  • 💰 Entry is capacity‑limited and requires referral; it is designed to reduce financial stress while maintaining warm, healthy homes.&nbsp; The programme also applies a Winter Energy Discount each year, reducing power bills for all electricity used in June, July, and August by a fixed percentage notified annually; if an Energy Wellbeing discount already applies, the winter discount replaces it during these months and the standard discount resumes from September
  • 💰 Outside the Energy Wellbeing programme, Toast’s public tariff offers do not advertise sign‑up credits or time‑limited freebies; available value levers are structural (e.g., a Day/Night option and a published solar buy‑back rate of 11.0 c/kWh).&nbsp;</p>

How Your Plan Pricing Can Change?

<p>Toast may amend its agreement, including fees and charges, by giving at least 30 days’ prior notice via its website, customer newsletter, letter, or email; where a change materially impacts a customer or increases fees/charges by more than 5%, Toast will also communicate the change to the customer personally in writing as soon as possible The daily charge incorporates fixed costs from local lines companies and metering providers, which can drive price revisions over time In addition, the terms recognise extraordinary circumstances (e.g., extreme electricity shortages or extreme pricing events) as force‑majeure conditions that can affect supply and costs.</p>

Frequently Asked Questions about Electricity Rates

❓What’s the difference between fixed, variable, and spot pricing?

  • Fixed rate: Your price per kWh stays the same for your contract term.
  • Variable rate plans: Prices can change when the provider adjusts its rates, often in line with wholesale energy costs.
  • Time-of-use plans: You pay different rates depending on when you use power (cheaper overnight, higher during peaks).
  • Spot pricing: Your rate fluctuates with real-time wholesale prices. This can mean savings during off-peak times but higher costs during spikes.

❓What is a “fixed charge” and why do I pay it every day?

The daily fixed charge helps cover network maintenance and connection costs. You pay it even if you don’t use any electricity that day a bit like a line-rental fee for staying connected to the grid.

NZ also has low-fixed-charge plans for households that use less than 8,000 kWh per year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island). These plans charge a smaller daily fee but a slightly higher unit rate.

❓Why do different regions have different electricity prices?

Each part of NZ has its own distribution network, and the cost of maintaining it varies. For example:

  • Remote or rural lines cost more per customer to maintain than city networks.
  • Some networks (like Wellington or Auckland) have more underground cabling pricier to upgrade but less storm-prone.

That’s why someone in Dunedin might pay different rates from someone in Hamilton, even with the same provider, being Toast Electric or other.

❓How to Tell if You’re Getting a Good Electricity Deal?

When comparing electricity plans, look beyond just the headline price. Here’s what to review carefully:

  • Unit rate (¢/kWh): This is the price you pay for each unit of electricity used — the lower, the better.
  • Daily charge: A fixed cost added each day, regardless of usage. Compare these across providers.
  • Time-of-use plans: You pay different rates depending on when you use power (cheaper overnight, higher during peaks).
  • Contract term and exit fees: Check how long you’re locked in and what it costs to leave early.
  • Discounts or bundle offers: Some plans include perks for paying on time or combining electricity and gas.
  • Service reliability and app tools: Consider the provider’s reputation for customer support and whether they offer helpful online or mobile account management.