SolarZero’s Time of Use (ToU) pricing is a simple pricing model that charges you different rates for any energy that is imported or exported depending on whether it is a peak, shoulder or off-peak pricing period. 

Your battery is optimised around the clock to make the most of the best energy rates, so you can continue to enjoy powering your home with lower energy costs. 

·       Peak times for power are between 7-9am and 5-9pm Monday to Friday

·       Off-peak periods are between midnight to 7am

·       Shoulder times are between 9am-5pm, and 9pm-midnight Monday to Friday, and 7am-midnight on the weekends

You don’t need to worry about all of these different periods too much, as our team of energy experts are optimising your battery behind-the-scenes to ensure you’re making the most out of these rates at the best times.

Below are the rates and time periods. These will be reflected on your monthly power bill from Ecotricity: 

Weekdays

Weekends

The new energy rate is based on:

•  energy wholesale pricing 

• the solar, battery and grid usage profiles of SolarZero’s customers (import, export, lines charges and solar generation or consumption)

• solar subscription costs 

Additionally, we collaborate closely with Ecotricity to assess the current market landscape and make informed decisions regarding pricing. Our goal throughout this process is to deliver value to SolarZero’s customers in a financially sustainable manner.

The expected average import rate is 12.2c/kWh and Export is 14.7c/kWh across the year, so compares well with other retailer rates. This compares to the average of 16.7c/kWh for other NZ retailers.

SolarZero’s rates remain competitive. We collaborate closely with Ecotricity to assess the current market landscape and make informed decisions regarding pricing.  

Over the last few years grid energy prices in New Zealand have risen significantly. As a result, SZ Servicing Limited has had to reassess the subsidised rates offered to SolarZero’s customers. To continue providing competitive rates in partnership with Ecotricity, we need to adjust SolarZero’s pricing to align with rising market prices. We remain committed to delivering value and competitive rates to SolarZero’s customers.

Moving from a flat rate to multiple tariffs allows us to better align energy prices with the actual cost of supplying electricity at different times of the day, and provides customers with increased options to control their power charges.

In part yes, since the commencement of the liquidation of SolarZero, we have been reviewing the costs of running the business to ensure it can continue to deliver your service. 

We found the overall costs of your service were not being fully recovered. These included a subsidy for the cost of power from the grid and recent increases in wholesale energy rates that were not reflected in your energy charges. 

The terms of your agreement with SolarZero say that the price of grid electricity depends on SolarZero having an appropriate agreement with an electricity retailer (in this case, Ecotricity), and changes to the subsidised energy rate provided through Ecotricity are required.  

We estimate average power users power bills could increase by approximately $30 per month, while for low power users the difference could be as low as $5 and for a small number of very high-power users the increase could be more than $100.

Importantly, the monthly SolarZero Solar Energy Fee remains set for the duration of your contract, but the energy rates with our grid partners are changing. 

Most customers will continue to save, and for any that don’t, SolarZero’s savings guarantee under your Energy Services Agreement is still in place.   

The SolarZero savings guarantee says that as long as you meet your contract obligations and fair usage guidelines, you will save on your total energy costs compared to what you would have paid with your previous provider.

There are a few steps we take to calculate your savings. First, we take your solar subscription and add it together with your Ecotricity bill. Then, we compare this total with what you would have paid with your previous provider. 

We calculate this using the power bill you provided when you first joined us and how much energy you use in the year.  

Next, we apply a 5% reduction in energy use because we give you better visibility across your energy usage, and you can monitor your energy consumption through the MySolarZero dashboard. 

Lastly, we apply an increase to your previous retailer's electricity rates for every year you have been with us to reflect average market price rises – the percentage for this can vary but is based on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment figures published through the Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices (QSDEP). 

Please refer to your email for information on the date the new energy rates will take effect for you.

You can access monitoring of your system by logging in to the MySolarZero dashboard or by accessing the SolarZero App. Monitoring will show you how your home is being powered – from the solar system, from the grid or from stored energy in the battery – and at what times.  

Try to schedule as much usage during off-peak times as possible. Some common household equipment that you can schedule to run during off peak are:

• Hot water heating (make sure you allow SolarZero to run this for you to maximise efficiency) 

• EV chargers

• Washing machines and dryers 

• Dishwashers

The energy price increase will not result in any changes to the services provided to you. You can continue to expect the same reliable solar and battery solution and customer support. 

No. You can expect the same billing procedures from your grid energy provider. Your monthly energy bill from our grid partners will reflect the new energy rate, but there will be no changes to the billing or payment methods.

Absolutely, your Energy Service Agreement enables you to change grid energy companies.  However, changing provider will impact the savings guarantee.

SZ Servicing Limited (on behalf of SolarZero Contract Servicer Limited or SolarZero Residential Contract Servicer Limited (as applicable)) is responsible for communicating changes that affect your energy service, including pricing adjustments, because these competitive rates are secured exclusively for SolarZero customers. While the grid energy rate changes are implemented and billed by Ecotricity as SolarZero’s electricity retailer partner, SZ Servicing Limited serves as your primary point of contact for all matters related to your solar subscription.

The energy price adjustment is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability and quality of your service. While we work to avoid price changes, the energy market is dynamic and subject to various factors that may influence pricing over time. 

While we cannot guarantee this will be the only price change, we remain committed to being transparent about any changes and providing advance notice to SolarZero’s customers, while assisting you to power your home at a lower cost than via your previous provider.