Easy way to check out the best power deal

Media release for 14 November 2001

Easy way to check out the best power deal

People wanting to see if they can save money on their power bills can now do it quickly and easily with the free Consumer PowerSwitch service.

The enhanced PowerSwitch is an independent service produced by Consumers' Institute in association with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and Citizens Advice Bureaux.

PowerSwitch works out which power company and pricing plan is cheapest according to the consumer’s location and power usage. To use the service, you go to the website (www.powerswitch.org.nz), answer a few simple questions, and up pops the power company and plan offering the best deal. To get the most from the service it helps to have at least one recent power bill handy.

Other features of the service include an explanation of the main pricing plans, tips for saving electricity, answers to commonly asked questions, contact details of the different companies and a comparison of the quality of their customer supply contracts.

Consumers' Institute chief executive David Russell says customer resistance will send the clearest message to power companies about price rises. “If you don’t like price hikes, vote with your feet” says Mr Russell. “Switch companies if you can. It’s easy if you use Consumer PowerSwitch, and the more it happens, the more power companies will be forced to offer competitive deals”.

There are three ways to use Consumer PowerSwitch:

On the internet: visit Consumer PowerSwitch at www.powerswitch.org.nz

By phone: ring your local Citizens Advice Bureau,
or call 0800 FOR CAB (800 367 222)

In person: call in at your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau and they will access the service for you.

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