Switching not always best option

CUSTOMER: Ellen Bayliss has been with the same electricity retailer more on than off for the last 20 years. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Rotorua's Ellen Bayliss has resisted attempts to get her to switch power companies, sticking with a retailer she's happy with rather than risking being caught out by "fine print".

Recent data from the Electricity Authority revealed more than 9000 Rotorua households changed power companies in the year to May as increasing competition lured many to switch in search of a better deal.

But Mrs Bayliss saaid she had been with the same electricity retailer for most of the past 20 years.

Her household is currently with Trustpower, having been with Contact Energy many years ago and on prepaid power in some rental properties.

Mrs Bayliss said they had "a fantastic deal" with Trustpower, who had put them on SmoothPay.

On SmoothPay, instead of having a different amount to pay each month, customers pay a fixed amount by direct debit.

"It's all paid before the due date. I get around a 20 per cent discount a month."

She said Trustpower had also just decreased their bill, meaning they now paid $65 a week instead of $100.

Mrs Bayliss said she thought it was too easy for people to get lured in by companies who offered their services over the phone.

"I've had so many calls from other companies to switch. They have the same spiel, but the fine print is never mentioned."

It was often in the fine print that they could change their rate at any time after a certain number of months for example, she said.

Mrs Bayliss said people had to realise they might have to play electricity retailers against each other to get the best deal.