Cancellation service N°1 in New Zealand
Contract number:
To the attention of:
Cancellation Department – Contact Energy
P O Box 10 742
Wellington
Subject: Contract Cancellation – Certified Email Notification
Dear Sir or Madam,
I hereby notify you of my decision to terminate contract number relating to the Contact Energy service. This notification constitutes a firm, clear and unequivocal intention to cancel the contract, effective at the earliest possible date or in accordance with the applicable contractual notice period.
I kindly request that you take all necessary measures to:
– cease all billing from the effective date of cancellation;
– confirm in writing the proper receipt of this request;
– and, where applicable, send me the final statement or balance confirmation.
This cancellation is sent to you by certified email. The sending, timestamping and integrity of the content are established, making it equivalent proof meeting the requirements of electronic evidence. You therefore have all the necessary elements to process this cancellation properly, in accordance with the applicable principles regarding written notification and contractual freedom.
In accordance with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and data protection regulations, I also request that you:
– delete all my personal data not necessary for your legal or accounting obligations;
– close any associated personal account;
– and confirm to me the effective deletion of data in accordance with applicable rights regarding privacy protection.
I retain a complete copy of this notification as well as proof of sending.
Yours sincerely,
14/01/2026
How to Cancel Contact Energy: Step-by-Step Guide
What is Contact Energy
Contact Energy is a large New Zealand energy generator and retailer that sells residential electricity, gas, broadband and mobile services and offers time-of-use electricity plans designed around smart meters. The retailer markets a range of open-term plans such as a Basic plan (no fixed term, no break fees) and a family of "Good" time-of-use plans that provide free or discounted energy at selected off-peak windows. These product choices matter financially because plan structure (fixed charge + variable kWh rates and free/off-peak windows) determines the likely savings or extra cost when you move or cancel.
From a customer-operations perspective, Contact uses smart-meter-enabled tariffs (Good Charge, Good Nights etc.) that require active interval data for the free or half-price windows to apply; meter communication, region and user category affect the variable rates that are quoted at account level. In terms of value, households that can shift consumption into the free/half-price windows capture most upside; those who cannot may pay more than expected.
Customer experience and cancellation feedback
What users report
Real customer reviews and forum discussions show a mixed picture: many users praise the Good Plans when their usage profile fits the free windows, while a substantial subset reports frustration with billing clarity, app reliability and responsiveness from customer service. One reviewer wrote that Contact delivered “absolutely awful- the worst customer service ever,” reflecting the stronger negative sentiment visible on review sites.
Community threads and independent comparison pages point to specific experiences that affect cancellations: overlap charges after switching broadband or ISP services, delays in final billing where meter reads are estimated, and inconsistent application of promotional credits. Several discussions note that smart-meter communication issues can trigger automatic plan moves or estimated bills, which then complicate final-account reconciliation.
Recurring issues and practical takeaways
In financial terms, frequent complaints translate into three practical risks: unexpected final bills, delayed refunds or credits, and perceived poor value when promotional adjustments are missed. Pricing and eligibility variations by address mean that customers often discover differences only at quote or after a move.
Practical takeaways drawn from user reports: verify whether smart-meter interval data is active for your address; expect address-specific rates and daily charges; and watch for missing promotional credits on the first bills after plan changes. These factors will drive the net financial outcome of any cancellation or switch.
How cancellations typically affect your account with Contact Energy
From a financial perspective, cancellations with Contact Energy primarily trigger three account events: a final meter read or estimation, a final bill that reconciles charges and credits up to the closure date, and any refund or remaining balance processing. Expect the final bill to include usage up to the meter read and to still include daily fixed charges up to the closure point if applicable.
Contact advertises no fixed-term penalties on several open-term plans; the Basic plan explicitly states "no fixed term, no break fees." That means exit fees are not generally a component on those plans, though network or distributor charges outside the retailer’s control could appear on a final invoice. Check any plan-specific terms shown at sign-up to confirm.
Cooling-off and consumer rights vary by how and where the contract was formed and by applicable consumer protection rules. Cooling-off treatment is not uniform across jurisdictions or product types; if you signed under a particular sales method, local consumer protections or the plan terms will determine any short statutory cancellation window. Treat potential cooling-off rights as time-bound financial options rather than guaranteed refunds.
Financial implications to forecast before you cancel Contact Energy
Considering that most Contact plans separate a daily fixed charge and a variable usage rate, the key financial items to forecast are: final usage charge, outstanding or future promotional credits, and the timing of any refund. For households with credits, refunds can reduce net cost; for those with outstanding balances, the final amount will need settling.
From a risk-management view: estimate the likely final bill based on your recent monthly usage pattern and the plan’s free or half-price windows. If your pattern was concentrated during peak hours, switching or cancelling without an alternative plan that matches usage can increase annual costs. National advice for consumers indicates many households can save A$200+ a year by switching to a better deal; use that as a benchmark when comparing outcomes.
Documentation checklist
- Account reference: your Contact Energy account number or any identifiable reference shown on bills.
- Recent bills: the last 2-3 bills showing meter reads, daily charges and any promotional credits.
- Meter read history: smart meter interval summaries or last visible meter read to estimate final consumption.
- Promotional evidence: screenshots or copies of any sign-up credits, discounts or bundles affecting the account.
- Payment records: proof of recent payments, direct debit authorisations or credit card statements showing debits/credits.
- Correspondence log: dates and short notes of any exchanges relevant to billing adjustments or disputes (no content that instructs how to communicate).
Table: comparison of Contact Energy plans (features, not specific AU price)
| Plan | Contract term | Exit fees | Core discount or feature | Eligibility notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic plan | No fixed term | No break fees | Simple variable pricing; transparent billing | Good for renters or short stays; standard metering applies |
| Good Charge | No fixed term | No exit fees | Half-price variable usage 9pm-7am nightly | Requires communicating smart meter; address-specific rates |
| Good Nights | No fixed term | No exit fees | Free usage 9pm-midnight Mon-Fri (usage cap/fair use) | Requires smart meter; ineligible with distributed generation |
Table: likely bill and refund timelines (typical ranges)
| Item | Typical timing | Financial impact |
|---|---|---|
| Final meter read processing | Days to a few weeks depending on meter comms | Determines final usage portion of final bill |
| Issuing final bill | Within 1-4 weeks after final read | Shows final balance or credit to be refunded |
| Refund of credit | A few days to several weeks after final bill | Reduces net lifetime cost; timing affects cashflow |
| Disputed charges resolution | 2-8 weeks typical for formal reviews | May delay refund or alter final payable amount |
Common pitfalls and how they affect your finances
- Estimated reads: If a final bill is based on an estimated meter read, corrections later can change the final charge and delay refunds.
- Missed promotional credits: Failure to apply sign-up or bundle credits can inflate early bills; reclaiming them requires documentation and time.
- Overlap billing: Moving or switching services can lead to overlapping bills from two providers; overlapping charges increase short-term outflows until settled.
- Smart meter comms: Loss of interval data can move you off time-of-use discounts and change per-kWh costs, affecting expected savings.
How disputes, chargebacks and escalations usually play out
From a financial-advisor perspective, disputes typically revolve around the final bill composition, unapplied credits, and meter-read accuracy. Expect formal investigations to require billing history and meter data. Time is a key cost: while disputes are resolved you may see temporary cashflow effects if refunds are delayed.
If the account balance is disputed, the resolution may alter final payable amounts; keep records that support your claim and note the financial effect of any provisional payments you choose to make. Where applicable, independent complaint bodies can moderate outcomes but the process adds calendar time.
Address
- Address: P O Box 10 742, Wellington, New Zealand
What to expect immediately after cancellation
Expect a final billing cycle to reconcile usage to the effective closure date and to include any outstanding daily charges; the size and timing of a refund or final payment depend on whether you had a credit or debit balance at closure. For time-of-use plans, expect the bill to reflect the applicable free/discount windows up to the closure and any adjustments if interval data was missing.
If Contact has removed certain fees such as disconnection/reconnection fees for hardship cases, that policy can reduce abrupt financial shocks for affected customers; however, other distributor or third-party charges may still apply and appear on final invoices.
Practical next steps to protect your finances after cancel contact energy
Act as if you will need to reconcile the final bill and to verify any promotional credits: collate your documentation, confirm your recent usage profile and prepare an estimate of what a reasonable final bill would be based on prior months. Use the documentation checklist above to speed up any reconciliation or dispute.
From a budgeting perspective, model two outcomes: one where you receive a small refund and one where you owe a final charge. That way you avoid cashflow surprises. Consider reallocating predicted savings from moving plans into an emergency buffer until the final account is settled.
If you expect a refund, track the expected payment timeline from the final bill and prepare to follow up with documented references if the timeframe extends beyond the typical ranges shown above. Keep a running log of dates and amounts so you can escalate accurately if required.
Alternatives and value comparison
In terms of value, Contact’s Good Plans often compete on the basis of time-of-use rewards rather than headline per-kWh discounts. Households that can consistently shift load to the free or half-price windows tend to get the best outcomes. If your household cannot shift load, compare total annual cost (daily charge + expected kWh consumption) across alternatives rather than focusing on a single free/discount period.
Consider the full economic trade-off: management overhead (tracking off-peak usage), meter dependence, and the risk of promotional credits not being applied. When those frictions are counted, a seemingly cheaper plan can be more expensive in net present value terms if you need to invest time or accept billing risk. Use the recent consumer-savings findings as a guide to potential upside from switching suppliers or plans.
What to do after cancelling contact energy
After cancellation, reconcile the final bill against your documentation and projected usage, monitor for any subsequent adjustments, and keep clear records of all account statements and correspondence that relate to the closed account. Treat any provisional payments or holds as temporary cashflow events until the final account is settled.
Finally, use the experience to inform future plan selection: quantify whether you gained from time-of-use features, whether promotional credits were worth the administrative cost, and whether a flat-rate plan would have reduced billing risk. That calculation - projected annual savings vs administrative friction - should drive your next decision on how to budget for energy costs.