How to easily switch power companies

Powerswitch helps thousands of people every year find a power deal that will save them money.

If you’re worried about what happens if you switch, here are the most important things to remember:

  • Hitting ‘Switch’ doesn’t automatically change your power company. You’ll be contacted by the one you’ve chosen to make sure you still want to switch. If you’ve changed your mind, that’s OK! 

  • You won’t be disconnected. Your new power company will do the work behind the scenes to become your new provider. You’re only likely to know it’s happened when your next power bill arrives from the new company.  

  • You don’t have to switch right away or even at all. Some people use the results to negotiate a better price from their current power company.  

  • We’re here to help. If you need help using the website or understanding your results, contact the Powerswitch team.  

More helpful things to know about switching

Switching can help you save money. It also helps other New Zealanders because it encourages power companies to be more competitive.  

It only takes a few minutes to check what savings you might be able to make. 

And checking with Powerswitch might confirm your existing plan is the perfect plan for you. That’s always good to know!   

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Understanding how much you could save

Powerswitch prices are estimated savings based on the usage details you supply from your current power bills. You will get the most accurate idea of how much you could save by providing information from a recent power bill. We can help you understand what information you need to plug in if you contact us. 

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Not all power prices are the same   

There are dozens of power companies in New Zealand, and power prices are changing all the time. There can be as much as $500 difference a year between the cheapest and most expensive power companies.   

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Big isn’t always best 

The big companies you’ve likely heard of definitely aren’t the only companies you should consider. Some of the smaller power companies in New Zealand are doing a good job of keeping their customers happy, according to Consumer NZ’s latest power company satisfaction survey.  

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Bundled plans: Convenience might be costing you

A bundled plan is when you have one provider for multiple services. For example, your power supplier might also be your internet or mobile phone company. There are a lot of power companies in New Zealand that now offer this option, and we know they’re popular.  

However, we think you’re better off splitting providers so you can find the best deal for each service. Getting one bill might be convenient but they stop you from being able to take advantage of cheap deals when they come up.  

Check out our guide to what to think about if you’re considering a bundled plan.

Contract

Switching power companies when you’re on a contract 

If you’ve signed up to be on a contract for a certain length of time you might need to pay a fee to your current power company if you want to switch. You would need to find out what the fee is and weigh up that cost against the potential savings to decide if it’s worth switching.

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How to find your latest power bill or plan

Retailers will usually send your bill by email or post. You might also be able to find it by signing into the power company’s website or by downloading the app.  

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How often to check in with Powerswitch 

We think it pays to check at least once a year that you’re still on the cheapest power plan. Most companies update their pricing in April and October, so you could make it something you do around these times each year.  

Graphic of a price increase

What to do if your new power company puts up the price after you switch 

Switch again! As long as you’re not locked into a contract, you can switch companies any time.  

How much could you save?

With the market always changing, it pays to check often for the best deals. We compare thousands of electricity and gas plans for free. Do a quick check to see how much you could be saving.

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