Hon Max Bradford
Minister for Enterprise and Commerce

Media release
December 1, 1999

Power Reforms Switch Gear

Further proof that the power reforms are delivering greater choice to consumers has been provided by the latest customer switching information, Enterprise and Commerce Minister Max Bradford said today.

Mr Bradford said the figures showed that in November a record number of consumers had exercised the choice provided by the reforms and had switched electricity supplier to get a better deal.

The figures released by MCo confirmed the National-led Government's prediction that retail switching would gain momentum.

“The National Government always said that it would take time for the reforms to kick in.

“Now that retailers have largely sorted out initial teething problems with customer switching, I would expect that the record November number is only the beginning of a sustained upward trend in the number of consumers switching retailer,” Mr Bradford said.

The latest figures show that 11,842 consumers switched retailer in November, equal to almost one quarter of the total number of consumers that have switched retailer since competition began eight months ago.

Mr Bradford said competition in the retail industry was continuing to spread.

“With Meridian Energy effectively now a nation-wide retailer, nearly all New Zealand consumers have a choice of electricity retailer. I would urge people to pick up the phone and see what sort of deal they can get,” Mr Bradford said.

ENDS

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