What's My Number is a campaign developed to provide consumers with information about the ability to switch power companies, the ease of switching, and the potential savings that can be made on their power bills.
The campaign includes this website, which allows consumers to see how much they may be able to save on their power bills by switching retailers. A simple calculator, provided by Consumer Powerswitch, helps consumers assess their potential savings. Users can then click through to the Consumer Powerswitch website to allow them to see details of the different offers available and decide whether to switch.
The point of the campaign is to add to the competitive pressure in the electricity market. The more consumers actively shopping around for the best deal, the more competitive retailers need to be.
The Electricity Authority is working in partnership with Consumer New Zealand to deliver the campaign.
If you need any assistance, our programme partner Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you.
CAB in New Zealand is an independent community organisation that provides a free and confidential service to help all people access and navigate through information when they have an issue or problem and need to find out what their rights and options are.
Click here to find your local CAB
The What’s My Number (WMN) information campaign was the central programme of the Consumer Switching Fund (CSF) a $5m per year fund, which ran from 1 November 2010 to 30 April 2014.
In March 2014 the Authority decided to continue the WMN campaign because it supports the Authority’s function promoting to consumers the benefits of comparing and switching electricity retailers.
The purpose of WMN is to deliver effective information that will help consumers to more actively participate in the electricity market. It does this by increasing consumer awareness of the choices available to them, and by providing information so they are better able choose between energy suppliers and products.
WMN is part of a wider programme of work the Authority is carrying out to promote competition for the long-term benefit of consumers. The focus of the programme is on promoting retail competition by increasing consumers’ willingness to switch retailers.
The Authority hopes to provide consumers with information that will allow them to choose between suppliers and products. This will increase the ability, and desire, of consumers to seek the price and services that best meet their requirements.
The 'counter' on the website details the number of times the website calculator has been used and the sum of all calculations made. This may be different from the actual savings achieved as a result of switching. This is a dynamic number and will change over the life of the website. The 'counter' includes all calculations from the calculator, including if a user enters details into the calculator on more than one occasion.
The Electricity Authority encourages consumers to regularly check their potential savings number.
To see our "What's My Number" TV advertisement, click here.
Utilities Disputes Limited (formerly The Office of the Electricity and Gas Complaints Commissioner, or EGCC) provides a free and independent complaint resolution service for electricity and gas complaints. Most complaints that come to Utilities Disputes are resolved between the parties.
Utilities Disputes uses a wide range of dispute resolution techniques, including mediation and conciliation, in resolving complaints.
Common issues include billing, customer service, meters, and disconnections. The Commissioner can also consider complaints about actions of staff or contractors, as well as access to and use of land on which there is electricity or gas equipment.