A. Yes. In 2017 people switched between retailers over 440,000 times. Electricity is a significant cost for most households and shopping around for the best power supplier to meet your needs makes good sense. Lots of savvy homeowners regularly check the price they pay for their electricity supply to ensure they are on the best deal.
A. There are approximately 50 retail electricity brands to choose from across New Zealand. Wherever you live in New Zealand, you should have between 11 and 34 retail brands to choose from, each with their own pricing and service offers. Check the retailers in your area here.
A. There are around 1.8 million households in New Zealand. The more households that shop around for electricity on a regular basis, the more pressure there is on electricity retailers to ensure their offer is competitive.
A. In all but one case, the rebate will in no way be affected if consumers make the decision to switch electricity retailers as a result of the What's My Number campaign. Any savings made by the consumer will be over and above the annual rebate they are entitled to. The exception is for consumers who are with TrustPower and who live in Tauranga City or Western Bay of Plenty District, who will lose their rebate if they switch away.
A. That depends on where you move to, as many retailers only operate in certain regions. If you are moving within the same town or city, it is highly likely you can stay with the same retailer. Talk to your retailer or check retailers' availability by region by clicking here.
A. No, any pay-as-you-go electricity option (such as GLO BUG, in Auckland) that allows you to pay as much as you want, when you want, is not available on What’s My Number. For information regarding your pre-payment system you will need to contact your retailer direct. However, if you want to move away from a pre-payment system, you can enter your household details on Consumer Powerswitch to determine the best retailer and plan for your needs.
A. If you pay your power bill by Direct Debit and wish to switch retailers, you will need to cancel your Direct Debit by either calling, emailing or writing to the retailer you are leaving and your bank. Note: this should be done after your final bill has been paid, unless you wish to pay your final bill by a different method. If you wish to pay by Direct Debit with your new Retailer a new Direct Debit form will need to be completed.
A. If you are having difficulty with either of these sites, then our programme partner Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you. CAB is an independent community organisation. Click here to find your local CAB.