The most expensive appliances to run in NZ homes
A handful of appliances dominate every bill. Ranked: spa pools, EV charging, hot water and dryers - with real 2026 monthly costs and what to do about each.
- 02Decision
Insulation or a heat pump: where to spend $1,000 first
A heat pump only saves money compared to whatever was heating before. Insulation reduces the heat you need, full stop. Most NZ homes should fix the building shell first.
4 May 2026 · 6 min readWinterRead → - 03Diagnostic
My power bill suddenly doubled. What changed?
Almost every sudden NZ bill jump traces to one of six things: heating switching on, a cylinder fault, a longer billing cycle, a tariff change, a dripping hot tap, or a heater left on.
2 May 2026 · 6 min readWinterRead → - 04Reference
EV home charging cost in NZ (2026 figures)
A typical 250 km/week commute adds $35-65 to your monthly bill. Charging on a Day/Night plan overnight cuts that by a third.
30 April 2026 · 6 min readRead → - 05Comparison
Heat pump dryer vs vented dryer: NZ running cost
A heat pump dryer uses about a third the electricity per cycle. A family of four saves around $200 per winter, and stops dumping water into their laundry walls.
28 April 2026 · 6 min readWinterRead → - 06Field Note
Damp NZ homes in winter: dehumidifier or heat pump?
Both cost about the same per month to run. The right one depends on whether you want to be warm and dry, or just dry.
26 April 2026 · 5 min readWinterRead → - 07Reference
Are Day/Night power plans worth it in NZ?
They suit households with a ripple-controlled cylinder, an EV, or anyone who can shift dishwashing and laundry to overnight. Typical savings $10-25/month.
24 April 2026 · 6 min readRead → - 08Comparison
Heat pump vs wood burner: which is cheaper in NZ?
A modern heat pump is now slightly cheaper per kWh of heat than wood, except where you have free firewood. The other tradeoffs matter more than the cost.
22 April 2026 · 7 min readWinterRead → - 09Field Note
How warm should you set your heat pump in NZ winter?
EECA recommends 20-21C max. Each extra degree adds about 10% to running cost. A practical settings guide with real cost numbers.
20 April 2026 · 5 min readWinterRead → - 10Field Note
How much does a heat pump cost to run in NZ?
The honest answer depends on COP, region, and how many hours a day you run it. Here are the 2026 numbers.
15 April 2026 · 6 min readRead → - 11Notable
Is your heated towel rail costing you $200 a year?
It is 80 watts. It is on 24/7. Nobody told you what that adds up to. (More than you think.)
15 April 2026 · 3 min readRead → - 12Reference
Average power bill in New Zealand 2026, by region
MBIE-published regional prices, average household usage, and why Southland pays more than Wellington.
15 April 2026 · 5 min readRead →
How long would rooftop solar take to pay itself back at your place?