Plans and pricing | Meridian Energy

What electricity plans does Meridian offer?

We offer:

Fixed energy and variable rate plans for business and agribusiness connections.
A range of options for residential connections.
For details on business and agribusiness pricing options click here.
For more on specific Rural Supplier offers click here.
For information on residential pricing options click here.

Are there time-of-use pricing options for businesses?

It depends on your connection type.

Most connections are Non-Half Hourly (NHH) and won’t be billed on the time-of-use unless you have a specific meter tariff, such as Night/Day, which defines your pricing structure. Learn about tariff options on our Meter tariff change page.

Larger connections, called Commercial and Industrial (C&I) or Time of Use (TOU), are billed based on the time-of-use. These require a Corporate Customer Electricity Supply Agreement (CCESA) before Meridian can supply the site, so you should know if this applies to you.

What makes up my electricity rates?

Your electricity rates are made up of different costs:

Generation – The cost to produce the electricity you consume
Transmission and distribution – The cost of building and maintaining the National Grid and the local Networks’ infrastructure that delivers the electricity to you
Metering – Maintaining and reading your electricity meter (unless the site is unmetered)
Retail – Covers our operating costs
Government levies - For operating and regulating the electricity market, where electricity is sold and purchased
GST – 15% of the total GST exclusive amount

Can I change plans later?

Usually, yes, but this depends on your agreement with us.

If you accepted a sign-up incentive (like a credit) when you joined, your offer would’ve specified the period during which Meridian may charge an incentive recovery fee if you cancel. If you are still within this period, an incentive recovery fee may apply to change plans.

If you did not accept a sign-up incentive for the site when signing up to the plan, or the minimum period has expired, then you can change plans at any time. You can contact us about this if unsure.

If you have a Commercial and Industrial (C&I) site, also known as Time of Use (TOU), then you will need to refer to the terms in your Commercial Customer Electricity Supply Agreement (CCESA).

See our terms and conditions for more information.

What happens at the end of my plan term?

We will endeavour to email you with your new rates at least 30 days before they take effect.

We will usually give you an option to move to either fixed or variable rates (depending on availability). The email will clearly state which option will apply by default.

If your site is Commercial and Industrial (C&I), also known as Time of Use (TOU), this will be outlined in your Corporate Customer Electricity Supply Agreement (CCESA). Please reach out to your Energy Partner (account manager) if you have questions.

See our terms and conditions for more information.

Are there any exit fees if I cancel my plan early?

It depends on your agreement.

If you accepted a sign-up incentive (like a credit) when you joined, your offer would’ve specified a period during which Meridian may charge an incentive recovery fee if you cancel. If you are still within this period, an incentive recovery fee may apply to cancel. If this period has expired, we will not charge anything.

If you didn’t accept a sign-up credit or other incentive when signing up, we will not charge anything. You can contact us about this if unsure.

If you have a Commercial and Industrial (C&I) site, also known as Time of Use (TOU), then you will need to refer to the terms in your Commercial Customer Electricity Supply Agreement (CCESA).

See our terms and conditions for more information.

Can I transfer my plan to a new business owner or location?

If the new owner is keeping the same NZBN, they can continue with the current account and plans.

If the NZBN is changing, a new account will need to be set up, and the plans can’t be transferred.

If you’re moving to a new location, your current plan can usually be transferred to the new site, with the same end date. In this instance, the rates applicable under that plan at the new property will apply. These may differ from what you pay at the current site.

If the new site is classified differently (e.g., residential instead of business), the plan likely can’t be transferred, but we’ll apply the closest available equivalent.

If your site is Commercial and Industrial (C&I), also known as Time of Use (TOU), please reach out to your Energy Partner (account manager).

Do I qualify for a low user plan?

If the site is classified as residential by your network and is a main residence (lived in full-time for at least 6 months of the year), then yes, you’re eligible for low user pricing, so long as it is available in your network.

Low user is suitable for households using less than 8,000kWh of electricity per year (9,000kWh in the lower half of the South Island).

Read more about the residential low user option on our Change to standard or low user page.

How can I compare Meridian’s plans with other providers?

You will need to get a quote from the other providers you are considering, and one from us. From there, you will be able to compare the pricing and see what might suit you best.

If you want to compare your current retailer's bill with our rates, send us your latest bill, and we’ll prepare a quote and comparison for you. Visit our business Get a quote page.

For residential sites, you may find Powerswitch.org.nz to be helpful. They offer a free and independent pricing comparison service.