Why thousands are switching power companies

Tauranga electricity consumers are not as active at shopping around as consumers around New Zealand.

Almost 10,000 Tauranga customers changed their power company in the past 13 months - but the city's switching rate is below other major centres.

Figures released by the Electricity Authority show Tauranga customers switched energy providers 9225 times from May 2014 to May 2015.

The biggest changes were for Energy Online, which gained a net 288 customers, and Trustpower, which lost a net 862.

As of May 31, Trustpower had 73 per cent of the market share in Tauranga with 57,928 customers. The next largest is Genesis Energy, which holds 10 per cent of the market - 7729 customers.

Electricity Authority acting chief executive John Rampton said Tauranga electricity consumers have typically not been as active at shopping around as consumers in other parts of New Zealand and their switching rate remained below other major centres.

"I'd definitely encourage all electricity consumers in the Tauranga area to check that they are on the best electricity deal. There is more choice than ever in Tauranga with a total of 16 retailer brands available for consumers to consider."

Graeme Purches, Trustpower's community relations manager, said it was disappointing for the company to lose customers in its own patch, but there was an upside for local customers in that their Tect cheque would be slightly bigger.

"If our net number of customers in Tauranga drops then everyone who is a Trustpower customer gets a slightly bigger Tect cheque."

Mr Purches said in the past few months, Trustpower had been gaining customers who wanted broadband and gas packages, which meant they also got a larger cheque.

There's a lot of people out there realising it's a lot more attractive to be with Trustpower.

Graeme Purches

Genesis Energy and Energy Online public affairs manager Richard Gordon said one of Energy Online's major points of difference was its 20 per cent prompt payment discount. He said it was a simple and easy company to deal with.

Mr Gordon said Genesis had not been active as a brand in Tauranga recently but it still had attractive deals.

A spokesperson for Mighty River Power, which ownsMercury Energy and Globug, said more than 80 per cent of Globug growth was coming from retailers other than MercuryEnergy.

"It's great to see pre-pay electricity becoming a more popular choice for Kiwis who appreciate the flexibility and modern technology of Globug in helping manage their electricity usage and costs."

What do you think? Have you changed power provider? Are you thinking about it?