Masterton call centre jobs tipped

BOOMING: The Masterton call centre of Powershop is expected to grow by up to 30 new jobs as the transtasman market expands for the online electricity retailer. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Up to 30 more jobs have been tipped for the Powershop call centre in Masterton, says chief executive Ari Sargent.

Prospective call centre workers in Wairarapa "should brush up on their Aussie-speak" as the online electricity retailer boosts its customer base in Australia, where it officially launched at the end of last year, he said.

Mr Sargent said residents in Victoria were embracing the Wellington and Melbourne-based Meridian Energy company, which employs 50 workers in Masterton after opening with 14 operators in 2009 at the Departmental Buildings in the town.

He said the firm had just reached 10,000 customers in Victoria and further transtasman growth was anticipated that would force the expansion of the Masterton call centre by 25 to 30 more jobs over the next 12 months.

"Households and businesses across the ditch are completely fed up with being harassed by energy companies over-promising and under-delivering," Mr Sargent said.

"Victoria has more retailers than any other state in Australia, but despite the greater competition they all make higher profit margins

"I'd like to yarn to the drongo that came up with that pearler. People just want to deal with a fair dinkum straight-shooting retailer that offers better prices and greater control."

Mr Sargent said there were fundamental differences in communicating with Australian customers of Powershop.

"While there are many similarities between the two neighbours, the call centre crew has found our Aussie customers sense of humour a little different. While they love a bit of playful banter, they tend to be more conservative.

"We've had to tone down our advertising a little, but we have exported our irreverent attitude and we're not afraid to tell Australians exactly what we think of their big monopolistic power companies," he said.

Pronouncing Aboriginal place names was a challenge and the team have had to brush up on their Aussie slang, he said.