Electricity and gas costs have climbed so high that many New Zealanders are being left in the cold.
Last year, one in five households struggled to pay their power bills. Here's how you can get cheaper power and help our fight to fix the broken system.
1. Ask, ‘Am I on the best plan?’
New rules mean more power for consumers. Under the Consumer Care Obligations introduced this year, retailers must tell you if they have a cheaper or better plan for you. But only if you ask!
We’ve made it simple to ask your retailer, ‘Am I on the best plan?’ – use our ready-to-use template to ask.
Ask now2. Find a cheaper plan at Powerswitch.org.nz
The power market isn’t working and retailers know it. Yet, too few households switch their electricity provider or plan. Retailers know they can charge as much they want - they’re banking on us staying put.
If more of us regularly compared and swapped providers, retailers would be forced to lift their game and cut their prices.
Our power comparison tool Powerswitch makes it easy to compare and switch. It’s free, independent and takes just a few minutes to use – and it could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Check now
3. Cut costs, not comfort
Our energy hub, produced in partnership with EECA, is packed with practical advice on how to save power.
From adjusting your heating and cooling, to choosing more efficient appliances, those small changes can make a big difference to your energy bills.
How to saveSupport our efforts to fix the broken electricity market
Electricity is an essential service – not a nice to have. Access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity is fundamental to our health and wellbeing, and our ability to function in modern society. But in New Zealand, the cost of power has increased until far too many of us are struggling to stay warm and dry.
We need a fair, competitive market so all New Zealanders can afford to keep the lights on.
Back the voice that backs you
Can you support our mahi with a one-time donation? Your contribution will help:
- fund research and investigations
- raise awareness of consumer issues
- represent consumers with business and government
- advocate for positive consumer change.
Your donation will be managed by Consumer NZ, a registered charity (CC35296). You may be eligible to claim a tax credit for a donation of $5 or more. Learn more about claiming IRD tax credits for donations.
How to fix the system
At Consumer, we see first-hand how the broken energy market affects people and threatens our economy. We use insights from our nationally representative research to push for fairer outcomes for everyone. We represent the consumer voice through our submissions to government and our regular engagement with industry and the regulator.
We've done our homework, and have ideas on how to fix the system.
2. Open up the market
After 25 years of supposed ‘competition’, four large gentailers (retailers that also generate power – you'll know them as Genesis, Mercury, Contact and Meridian) still control 86% of the market, making it difficult for new, lower-cost or innovative retailers to break through, and keeping prices high. The gentailers’ market dominance needs to be dealt with. We need a market where independent retailers can thrive.
3. Invest in generation – not just shareholder dividends
Not enough investment in new infrastructure to generate power creates scarcity and means households pay the price. We’re calling for a fairer share of profits to be reinvested in new generation, so New Zealand households and businesses have an abundant, affordable and reliable energy supply.
How we're fighting for fair power in Aotearoa
We’re standing up for your right to fair power prices and an energy system that puts people before profits.
- Calling for reform: We co-signed an open letter to the prime minister demanding urgent action on supply issues and the deeper structural problems in the sector.
- Helping you save: We’re reminding households to ask their power company, ‘Am I on the best plan?’ Under new rules, retailers must tell you if there’s a cheaper option.
- Saving New Zealanders at least $6M so far this year: We’re saving households money every day through our independent, power comparison switching site Powerswitch.
- Speaking out: We’ve highlighted the issues with New Zealand’s energy system in the media over 100+ times this year – keeping the pressure on.
- Exposing poor performance: Our research into energy hardship is shaping public debate and pushing better government policy.
- Pushing government action: This year alone, we’ve made six detailed submissions to the government, all focused on building a fairer energy system for New Zealanders.
Why the cost of energy matters
More than one-in-ten households told us their homes are not as warm as they would like them to be, because of the cost of energy. Only 30% of people we surveyed think the current system is working well for consumers.
That’s not surprising when our 2025 energy survey also revealed:
- 56% of households are concerned about the cost of energy
- 41% of renters live in homes with dampness or mould problems
- 36% of households think the market is failing them, and many no longer trust their providers
- 7% had to take out loans just to keep the lights on
- 5% had to switch to pre-pay plans
- 2% had their power disconnected because they couldn’t afford to pay their bill.
The cost of electricity isn’t just hitting everyday New Zealanders in the pocket – it’s affecting our health, our homes and our wellbeing.
Why is electricity in New Zealand so expensive?
Twenty-five years ago, sweeping reforms of New Zealand’s electricity sector promised us increased competition and lower prices. We spoke to former prime minister Dame Jenny Shipley, former energy minister
Max Bradford and industry experts to assess what we were promised against what was delivered.