Rates will go up by an average of 5.5 per cent in 22 regions. Photo / Thinkstock
New Zealanders have been urged to shop around as power prices at the country's largest electricity company rise by up to 14 per cent.
Contact Energy has about 443,000 residential and business electricity customers, many of whom have been told their power will be dearer from April 1.
Rates will
go up by an average of 5.5 per cent in 22 regions including Auckland, the North Shore, Northland, Counties, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Businesses in the Far North will be stung by a 14 per cent increase, with households facing an 11.8 per cent rise.
Contact spokesman Jeremy Seed said 85 per cent of that increase was due to grid operator Transpower and the local lines company Top Energy increasing costs to retailers.
