Understanding Your Lodestone Easy Plan Bill

One of the great things about being part of Lodestone is that your electricity bill works a little differently from a traditional power bill.

If you’ve recently received your EASY Plan statement and are wondering what all the numbers mean, here’s a simple guide to help.

Your Solar Allocation

When you join an EASY Plan, you’re virtually allocated a share of a Lodestone solar farm.

On the front page you’ll see:

Annual Allocation

This is the amount of solar energy allocated to you for the year.

For example:

10,000 kWh per year

This allocation is spread evenly throughout the year.

Daily Allocation

Your annual allocation is converted into a daily amount.

For example:

30 kWh per day

This daily allocation is then split into:

  • Evening Hours (6pm–9pm)
  • All Other Hours

Your Fixed Daily Plan Charge

The Easy Plan is simple.

Instead of paying variable electricity rates for your solar allocation, you pay a fixed daily amount.

For example:

$9.00 per day

This charge remains the same regardless of weather conditions or how much electricity the solar farm generates on a particular day.

At the end of the billing period, your daily charges are added together to create your monthly invoice amount.

For example:

$9.00 × 30 days = $270.00

What Is My Carry Over Balance?

One of the most important features of the Easy Plan is your Carry Over Balance.

This tracks how your allocated solar energy compares with your actual electricity usage.

Think of it as a running solar “bank account.”

 

If You Use Less Than Your Allocation

When your household uses less electricity than your allocated solar energy:

  • The unused allocation becomes a credit.
  • The credit rolls forward.
  • Your Carry Over Balance increases.

This means you can save surplus allocation for future periods.

 

If You Use More Than Your Allocation

When your household uses more electricity than your allocated amount:

  • Some of your accumulated balance is used.
  • Your Carry Over Balance decreases.

This helps smooth out seasonal differences in electricity use.

Usage Charts

At the bottom of your statement you’ll find summary charts showing:

Last 12 Months Usage

A comparison of your recent bills and electricity use.

Usage to Date

How much of your annual allocation you’ve used so far.

These charts help you track how your household is performing against your Easy Plan allocation throughout the year.

 

The Key Thing to Remember

Your Easy Plan bill has two separate parts:

  1. Your Monthly Easy Plan Charge

The fixed daily amount you pay for your solar allocation.

  1. Your Carry Over Balance

The running record of how your electricity usage compares to your allocated solar energy.

The Carry Over Balance helps ensure that if you don’t use all of your allocation in one period, the benefit isn’t lost, it carries forward for future use.

This is one of the ways Lodestone helps customers get long-term value from their share of New Zealand solar generation.