NZ solar buy-back rates 2026 (Powerswitch extract)
The current NZ buy-back rate landscape — resolves RT_104, confirms the 23c Octopus Peaker peak ceiling
A Powerswitch (Consumer NZ) extract of every NZ retailer’s solar export rate (c/kWh excl GST) with time-of-use/peak flags, prepared by Perplexity computer on 2026-06-11. Firms the buy-back landscape the model carries via CR_011 and confirms a 23c peak-export ceiling (Octopus Peaker). ⚠ AI-extracted, not yet verified against the live page → data_quality: medium.
Summary
A retailer-by-retailer extract of New Zealand’s solar buy-back (export) rates from the Powerswitch comparison tool (Consumer NZ), prepared by Perplexity computer (Comet) on 2026-06-11. Three tables: the full export-rate list (22 plans), the time-of-use plans with peak/off-peak rates and windows, and a highest/lowest/cluster summary. It is the current primary behind the buy-back rates the model uses via CR_011, and resolves RT_104 (the Powerswitch reference point). All rates are c/kWh excluding GST.
Key claims
- claim: "NZ solar buy-back rate landscape (c/kWh excl GST, Powerswitch 2026-06-11): highest flat rate 18c (Hanergy ≤20kW); highest time-of-use peak rate 23c (Octopus OctopusPeaker, most North Island locations); mainstream flat-rate cluster 11–13c (Genesis, Meridian standard, Pulse, Mercury, Powershop); lowest non-zero rate 8c (Contact selected plans, Electric Kiwi Everyday/GO250); no buy-back from Globug."
source_location: "summary-rate-retailer.csv; export-rates-by-retailer-plan.csv"
- claim: "Time-of-use export plans (peak / off-peak c/kWh excl GST): Octopus OctopusPeaker ≤20kW 23c / 10c (weekdays 7–11am & 5–9pm; 21c / 8c on Northpower/Top Energy networks); Octopus OctopusFlexi ≤10kW 19c / 14c (17c / 12c on Northpower/Top Energy); Electric Kiwi MoveMaster 20c / 10c (weekdays 7–9am & 5–9pm); Ecotricity ecoSolar 21c / 16c. TOU peak windows align with the morning + evening demand peaks."
source_location: "tou-plans-peak-offpeak-window.csv; export-rates-by-retailer-plan.csv"
- claim: "Provenance: values were AI-extracted by Perplexity computer (Comet) on 2026-06-11 from powerswitch.org.nz/solar-rates; rates are c/kWh excluding GST and have NOT been cell-by-cell verified against the live page — treat as medium-confidence until spot-checked."
source_location: "_retrieval.md (sidecar)"Retrieval provenance
- Upstream source: powerswitch.org.nz/solar-rates (Consumer NZ aggregator)
- Prepared by: Perplexity computer (Comet browser agent) on 2026-06-11
- Prompt: “Open powerswitch.org.nz/solar-rates. Extract the full buy-back comparison table: every retailer, its export rate in c/kWh (excl GST), and flag which offer time-of-use / peak export rates (and those peak rates). Give the lowest–highest range and the page’s ‘last updated’ date.”
- Verification: AI-extracted; not yet verified cell-by-cell against upstream —
data_quality: mediumuntil spot-checked. (Convention:wiki/CLAUDE.md→ Retrieval provenance.)
Neobiome Intelligence relevance
Resolves RT_104 and firms the buy-back landscape the model carries via CR_011. The engine’s fit_c_kwh (feed-in tariff) = 17c sits mid-range against this list — the mainstream flat cluster is 11–13c, so 17c is already slightly generous as a flat assumption, while the 23c Octopus Peaker peak rate is the defensible upper bound for export valued at the evening peak. That confirms the model’s peak-export scenario (relevant where wind/hydro generate into the 5–9pm peak and can export then) and advances RT_238 (the Octopus peak-differentiated tariff datapoint). For a self-consumption-led design the asymmetry still holds — export is a minor stream versus avoided retail (per REG_005 / URL_011) — but a community that deliberately exports at peak can value surplus at up to 23c rather than the 17c flat. ⚠ AI-extracted; spot-check the Octopus Peaker 23c and the flat cluster against the live Powerswitch page before using in a published result.
Research targets
Research gaps
- RT_104 (RESOLVED → this page): the Powerswitch buy-back rate landscape is now held with full provenance.
- RT_238 (advanced): Octopus OctopusPeaker peak export rate confirmed at 23c (10c off-peak; 21c/8c on Northpower/Top Energy) — the peak-export datapoint; plan terms/eligibility detail still worth a direct read.
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Referenced by