How to read a NZ power bill · My Energy Tracker

Retailer bills look different, but most NZ residential invoices share the same building blocks. You do not need every line — only a few figures matter for tracking and comparison.

1. The period

Find the billing period (start and end dates) or “read period”. Trackers work best when you log whole months or consistent cycles. Note whether the bill is actual meter reads or an estimate.

2. How much energy you used

Look for kWh (kilowatt-hours) for the period. Sometimes you’ll see:

Anytime / uncontrolled — standard day/night blended usage
Day / night / controlled — split rates (hot water on controlled is common)

If the bill splits day and night, add the kWh totals if your tracker wants a single usage figure — or enter them separately if the form allows.

3. What you paid

Use the total amount due for that period (including GST unless the form asks for GST-exclusive). Ignore overdue balances from previous months if you can isolate “this period’s charges”.

Useful extras when present:

Daily fixed charge — $/day for being connected
Variable rate — cents per kWh
Prompt payment discount — only count what you actually paid if that’s your habit

4. Export / solar (if you have panels)

If you export power, the bill may show exported kWh and a buy-back or credit. Enter export separately when the tracker asks for production or export — don’t subtract it from usage unless the form says to.

5. What to ignore (for tracking)

Marketing inserts and plan upsells
One-off fees you won’t repeat (unless you want them in that month’s total)
Estimated reads you’ll correct later — update the month when the true read arrives

Enter it in My Energy Tracker

On the tracker, start with period, kWh, and total cost. Add postcode so you can compare with anonymised local averages when enough neighbours contribute.

Enter a bill and compare Back to My Energy Tracker