Switching made easier

Media release: Switching made easier

Consumer NZ announced today that, in collaboration with the Electricity Commission, it had significantly enhanced its free Powerswitch website , including introducing gas comparisons and retailer service performance ratings.

The site, which allows people to compare electricity retailers in their area to find the cheapest price, saw a 72 percent growth to 200,000 visitors last year. This year it is up another 26 percent.

Consumer NZ Business Development Manager, Karen McDonald, said the Electricity Commission had provided the funding to enhance the site with new features, including historical pricing, which allowed visitors to view pricing trends for electricity retailers in their area.

"This will allow consumers to see whereabouts in the pricing cycle an electricity retailer is, before they make any decision to switch. It will show over time how aggressive or otherwise an electricity retailer has been with its pricing."

Initially, this feature would be available for the main centres, but by the end of the month it would be available for all areas. Information on gas would be added as Consumer NZ collected the data, she said.

The introduction of gas price comparisons meant people who wanted gas and electricity with the same supplier, could now make easy calculations, McDonald said.

"Consumers will also be able to view and compare retailer service performance ratings (taken from the Consumer NZ annual member survey), plus other incentives, products and services.

"In addition the site links directly through to the selected retailer to make the switch."

Ms McDonald noted that the recently released Discussion Paper on improving electricity market performance recommended encouraging and facilitating consumer switching of energy providers.

"These enhancements are the first step in that process and Consumer NZ has further plans to improve the site so that consumers could benefit from the most competitive deals."

ENDS

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