Blog

So, you’re thinking about installing solar or you’ve already taken the plunge, or maybe you’re looking to increase your system size - what’s going to give you the best bang for buck?

It’s been a wild few weeks around the country, with storms causing power outages in many regions. It’s a good reminder to check your emergency kit and make sure you’re prepared in case the lights go out.

You don’t need to be an electrician to understand how much electricity your appliances are using.

Astronauts, actors, mathematicians, physicists, and, most importantly, Octopus customers - a mind-blowing 3,000 people in total - gathered to discuss the future of energy at this year's Wired Energy Tech Summit.

New Zealand stands on the cusp of a revolutionary energy shift: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology. Imagine your EV not just as a mode of transport, but as a mobile power bank, capable of feeding electricity back into the grid. This isn't science fiction; it's V2G, and it holds immense potential to transform New Zealand's energy landscape.

The way we use electricity is evolving. We’re used to thinking of power simply flowing one way from massive central power plants to our homes and businesses, but distributed energy could reshape our energy landscape. Thanks to smarter technology and renewable resources, we have more control over how and when we use power.

OctoShift is an online tool we designed to help customers understand and manage their energy consumption during different time-of-use (TOU) periods.

The way we generate and consume electricity is undergoing a revolutionary change. Gone could be the days when power simply flowed one way from massive central power plants to our homes and businesses.

Project Mercury aims to create a common language for smart energy devices to work together seamlessly. Think Bluetooth, but for energy.

From the 1st of April this year network and transmission costs will be increasing. At the end of last year the Commerce Commission approved increases of transmission and networks costs (that’s the cost of the infrastructure that transports electricity around the country).

This week, we’re excited to feature a guest post from Jarrod Steel, owner of Steel Electrical in Auckland. After coming across Jarrod’s latest blog post, we were impressed by his excellent summary of our OctopusPeaker plan and its suitability for various customer needs. We thought it was only fair that we share it with you too.

First launched in the United Kingdom as a response to the energy crisis, the concept is simple. Saving Sessions gives you a discount on your bill for reducing your electricity usage during peak times when there is tight supply. Not only does this reduce costs for you, but it also helps us reduce stress on our electricity grid.

Recently we launched Saving Sessions for winter, where we pay YOU to use less. You can earn $2 for every kWh of electricity you reduce during a Saving Session event. The more electricity you reduce, the more you earn.

We have a chat to Felicity and Roger about why they decided to install solar panels and make more conscious choices about how they are using electricity.

Harnessing the sun’s energy isn’t new, but there is a lot of new equipment for turning sunshine into electricity, and new terminology. Sometimes you just can’t avoid these technical terms, so here’s Octopus Energy’s handy glossary to guide you through solar, electric vehicle, and energy jargon from AC to ZEV.

Beware! This feature is for data nerds only. Every half hour your electricity meter records how much power you’re using. This allows us to display your usage each day, week, or month in the Octopus Energy App, and to calculate your bill. 

Nearly 40% of our customer base have solar installed on their roof, giving Octopus Energy one of the highest proportions of solar customers in New Zealand.

In 2023, one in four new cars were battery-electric or plug-in hybrids, so this summer holiday thousands of Kiwis will be making their first electric road trip. Here are our top tips for travelling long distances in an EV.

Hot summers bring on the hum of air conditioning, laundry loads of bathing suits and beach towels, cold beer fridges, ice-making freezers, party lights, and sound systems working overtime. All of which use electricity. Being prepared for summer highs can reduce your energy consumption, and keep monthly bills low.

Have you ever wondered about the carbon impact of your electricity usage? Our new Carbon Tracker is here to help!

When the world’s biggest fund management company say they’re going to invest 2 billion dollars in New Zealand’s transition to clean energy it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows and questions. So, here’s a few answers

They haven't been around for quite as long as electric radiators or hot water bottles, and they’re a lot less interesting to stare at than a fireplace, but a heat pump will make your home even cosier for a fraction of the cost.

Kinloch Wilderness Retreat is located in one of the most beautiful landscapes in New Zealand, at the top of Lake Wakatipu looking up into the Routeburn Valley and the confluence of the Dart and Rees rivers.

Combat winter chills with these top tips to beat your power bill into submission and keep cosy

When you’re prepared, winter commuting on your e-bike can be just as much fun as summer, and it’s easy on your wallet, and the planet.

Solar panels are popping up on roofs all over the country, is it time you considered solar?

We’ve been figuring out how to turn your electric hot water cylinder into a smart device that can save you hundreds of dollars.

There's never been a better time or a more compelling reason to use less power. It's cheaper and it's a sure fire way to combat global heating. Here are 10 ways to shrink your power bill and your carbon footprint in 2023

People Have the Power is a content series bringing you people from around New Zealand who are focussed on living a more sustainable lifestyle, be that through the home, work or travel.

People Have the Power is a content series bringing you people from around New Zealand who are focussed on living a more sustainable lifestyle, be that through the home, work or travel.

It’s getting harder to make ends meet so if you’re having difficulty paying your electricity bill, or think you will, please call.  If you genuinely don’t have enough money, we can help.

We're a few months into our journey and we're already making energy affordable and easy-as for thousands of Kiwis. We wanted to introduce you to some of the team.

Charging your electric vehicle while out and about just got easier.

Every billing period, which is typically one month, we send you a power bill and debit your bank account for the amount. Your bill is emailed to you and comes in two parts: an email summary, and a statement with an invoice, attached as a pdf.

We're a few months into our journey and we're already making energy affordable and easy-as for thousands of Kiwis. We wanted to introduce you to some of the team.

There aren’t many things to do around the house without electricity. A cup of tea, a text message, a spot of vacuuming, help with homework or just chillin’ with your favourite streaming service, all use tiny amounts of electricity. Baking a cake uses a bit more.

As we move towards 100% renewable energy, how do we keep up with the demand of greater electrification and shift away from expensive peaks? Demand response technology.

Our Chief Customer Officer, Margaret Cooney, reflects on the August 9, 2021 outage and the importance of automated demand response to ensure future energy security and affordability for all consumers.

A few months into our journey as New Zealand's newest power player, we're already making energy affordable and easy-as for thousands of Kiwis. We wanted to introduce you to some of the team.

Standard electricity rates make you pay the same amount for electricity whether you use it in the morning, afternoon or evening. All Octopus Energy customers get cheaper off-peak and half-price night rates. Using electricity at off-peak times is better for your wallet and using less power at peak times is better for the planet.

Welcome to Octopus Energy. We’re proudly serving 3 million customers (and growing) across our retail businesses in the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, Japan and the USA and we’re delighted to add New Zealand to the list.