Media release

More than 13,000 members rated the performance of their electricity provider in Consumer NZ’s annual survey. Two companies clearly led the field – Powershop and Energy Direct NZ.

Powershop only started up in February but it has achieved the highest rating recorded in five years of Consumer surveys. 92 percent of its customers rated its performance “good” or “very good”.

Powershop is an online shop that lets you buy blocks of electricity from different suppliers. Members found the website easy to use and liked the ability to monitor their electricity usage and control their spending on power.

Energy Direct NZ has rated among the top four companies in previous Consumer surveys. This year it was well clear of the rest with an 82 percent rating. Monthly power bills based on an actual reading were a big plus for its customers.

The overall rating for electricity companies was 65 percent. Trailing the field with ratings below 60 percent were Empower, Genesis Energy and Contact Energy. These companies have performed poorly in previous surveys but a surprise newcomer to the “below-average” group was Meridian Energy. Its rating plunged from 74 percent in 2008 to 62 percent this year. Members complained it was difficult to communicate with this company – and its “smart” meters weren’t so smart.

These days more people are refusing to put up with high prices and poor service. More than 1800 people, 14.3 percent of respondents, had changed suppliers during the previous 12 months, compared with the 6.8 percent in the 2005 survey who said they’d switched.

Gas suppliers

For the first time this year Consumer NZ also asked members to rate the performance of their gas company.

Among suppliers of reticulated gas, Energy Direct NZ led the rankings with 83 percent of its customers rating its performance “good” or “very good”, followed by Nova Energy and Mercury Energy with 75 percent and 74 percent.

Auckland Gas, Contact Energy and Genesis rated below the overall average of 66 percent.

Suppliers of gas in 45 kg cylinders rated well – between 71 percent and 81 percent. Nova Energy led the rankings and the overall average was 77 percent.

• Energy providers - our full report. 
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