Consumers and the environment are paying for our broken electricity market

OPINION: In June, the Electricity Authority found that Meridian Energy unnecessarily spilled water from its hydro stations. Flick Electric Co’s chief executive, Steve O’Connor, explains why the EA’s findings don’t go far enough. At the end of last year, we were one of a group of independent retailers to support a complaint (also known as … Read more

Why you’ll no longer get offered a fridge to go back to your old power company

The government has announced a ban on electricity retailers using promotions to lure back customers who’ve changed companies. Flick Electric’s Nikki Cockburn explains why this is a victory for consumers and competition.  Progress on the Electricity Price Review (EPR) might be slow – especially when it comes to putting recommendations into action – but yesterday … Read more

Flick CEO: How the big power companies are forcing prices up

OPINION: Flick Electric CEO Steve O’Connor explains why the independent power retailers are calling out the major gentailers. When we started Flick Electric Co. back in 2014, we had a dream in mind: an Aotearoa backed by a reliable electricity industry, where our most vulnerable communities can afford the cost of power, and where our … Read more

Claims of electricity giants’ ‘rip-off’ as independent retailers face closure

Householders are losing out as ‘unjustified’ wholesale prices cause a wave of power company closures, a group of independent power retailers have told the Electricity Authority.  Four independent electricity retailers have laid a joint complaint with the sector’s market regulator over prices they say are “threatening the very existence of independent competition”. Industry sources said … Read more

The million-member campaign giving power to the people – at a discounted rate

Global consumer campaign One Big Switch has arrived on Kiwi shores, hoping to harness the power of the collective to unlock special group discounted energy offers and drive competition in New Zealand’s electricity industry. Jihee Junn talks to the man spearheading its arrival, Saveawatt CEO Tim Rudkin. Turns out, ovens and stoves aren’t just for … Read more

The Bulletin: New figures paint very different foreign buyer picture

Good morning, and welcome to The Bulletin. In today’s edition: ASB data paints very different foreign buyer picture, fuel tax passes into law, and a battle is brewing on the West Coast over grazing rights on heritage land. ASB has come out with significantly higher rates of houses being bought by foreign owners, in a recently released … Read more