Power customers give suppliers the flick

MAKE THE SWITCH: Changing companies can be worthwhile.

Close to 4000 people in Wairarapa have switched power companies in the last 13 months, Mercury Energy making the most gains.

Figures released by the Electricity Authority show 4062 customers in the region changed power providers from May 2014 to May 2015.

The authority is urging locals to check all their options rather than settle for their current deal.

Authority acting chief executive John Rampton encouraged more householders to investigate their options.

"There have recently been some new retail brands start up which means customers have more options than ever before. Different retail brands and offers suit different people, so it's important to think about your circumstances. We would encourage Wairarapa customers to shop around as there are definitely good savings around at the moment."

Mercury Energy picked up a net 371 customers between May 2014 and May 2015. Genesis lost the most, a net 787 customers.

Spokeswoman for Mighty River Power (which owns Mercury Energy) Shannon Goldstone believed Mercury was most popular in Wairarapa as it offered rewards for customer loyalty. "We tailor these depending on a customer's needs and preferences. For example, passing on savings for consumers choosing lower-cost billing and payment options or providing competitive fixed-term rates for customers signing up with us for two or three years."

She said the Community Services Glo-Bug scheme was enticing customers too.

The scheme has been running since February and gives heavily discounted rates to Community Services cardholders.

"Glo-Bug has offered some of the lowest prices on the market for ... cardholders. The intent is to lock in discounts that low-income customers might not normally get access to ... We've had some great feedback from budgeting agents and customers around the reduced rates."

Public affairs manager for Genesis Energy and Energy Online Richard Gordon said new retailers on the market offering new deals had increased competition in the market.

"The new entrants to the market are offering new and different prices and different ways of buying electricity. They are attracting our customers, not large numbers, but a few here and there.

"Over the last 13 months overall we have lost customers, but we are starting to lure them back with winter deals and in the last few months the numbers have been stabilising."

Across the country the average number of switches between power companies is close to 27,000. The authority is a Government-funded entity responsible for regulating the electricity market.