New Zealand has around 20 electricity retailers, all supplying power through the same national grid and local lines networks. What differs between them is the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the daily charge, plan structure, contract terms, extra services and customer service. This page sets out the facts each retailer publishes; it doesn’t rank them, because the cheapest plan depends on your address and how much power you use.
How to Compare Prices for Your Address
Retailers price electricity by address, because each region has a different lines company whose charges are passed through to your bill. Unit rates and daily charges also depend on the plan, your meter and how much power you use. That’s why this page doesn’t list per-kWh rates or daily charges: a single figure for a retailer wouldn’t match what most households would pay.
- Powerswitch, run by Consumer NZ, compares plans from 15 energy providers: you enter your address or upload a recent power bill. Powerswitch says its users save around $450 a year on average.
- Billy (billy.govt.nz): Globug’s website describes it as a free and independent energy price comparison website.
Have a recent bill to hand: your annual usage in kWh, and whether you have a smart meter or a controlled (night) hot water rate, change which plan costs least.
Retailers Compared
Listed alphabetically. “Also sells” and “feature” come from each retailer’s own website, checked 14 October 2026.
| Retailer | Generates its own electricity | Also sells | A feature named on its website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact Energy | Yes: geothermal, hydro and gas | Gas, broadband, mobile | “Free power, 9am to 5pm every weekend” offer |
| Ecotricity | No (retailer) | Not checked (site blocks automated reading) | Sells electricity it describes as 100% renewable |
| Electric Kiwi | No (independent retailer) | Broadband, mobile | Free Hour of Power every day; cheaper off-peak power; no contracts |
| Genesis Energy | Yes: including gas, coal and hydro | Piped gas, bottled gas, broadband, EV products | Power Shout hours to save on electricity |
| Globug | No (prepay brand) | Prepay electricity only | Top up from $10; new joins currently paused |
| Mercury | Yes: hydro and geothermal | Gas, broadband, mobile | Rewards points toward free power days or bill credit |
| Meridian Energy | Yes: “100% renewable sources: wind, water and sun” | EV charging | An EV power plan |
| Nova Energy | No (retailer, owned by Todd Corporation) | Natural gas, broadband, mobile | Power, gas, broadband and mobile from one retailer |
Sources: Contact, Electric Kiwi, Genesis, Globug, Mercury, Meridian and Nova home pages, checked 14 October 2026. Offers change often; check each retailer’s site for current terms.
Retailer Details
Contact Energy
A gentailer (it generates and retails electricity), with geothermal and hydro stations and gas-fired peaking plants. Sells electricity, gas, broadband and mobile, and advertises a credit on your power bill when you add a Contact mobile plan. Contact Energy review
Ecotricity
A retailer that sells electricity it describes as 100% renewable and supports conservation projects. How its renewable certification works is covered in the Ecotricity review.
Electric Kiwi
An independent retailer that doesn’t own generation. Its Hour of Power gives customers one free off-peak hour of electricity each day, and it has no contracts. It also sells broadband and mobile, with a bundle offer for customers who take power with broadband or mobile. Electric Kiwi review
Genesis Energy
A gentailer whose generation includes gas and coal as well as hydro. Sells piped gas and bottled gas (LPG) as well as electricity and broadband, and its app lets customers book Power Shout hours to save on electricity. Genesis Energy review
Globug
Prepay electricity: you top up credit (from $10) and use it down, with no bills. As at 14 October 2026, Globug’s website says it is temporarily pausing joins and new applications, and refers people to Mercury. Globug review
Mercury
A gentailer with hydro and geothermal generation. Sells electricity, gas, broadband and mobile, and runs a rewards programme. Mercury review
Meridian Energy
A gentailer that says all the energy it generates comes from renewable sources (wind, water and sun). Offers an EV power plan and runs a public EV charging network. Meridian took over Flick Electric’s customers in 2025. Meridian Energy review
Nova Energy
A retailer owned by Todd Corporation, selling electricity, natural gas, broadband and mobile. Nova Energy review
Plan Types
Retailers offer open-term (variable) plans, fixed-term plans that hold rates for a set period, prepay, and plans with cheaper or free power at set times. How fixed and open plans differ, including break fees, is covered in fixed vs open power plans.
Why the Cheapest Retailer Differs by Address
- Lines charges vary by region. Each region has its own lines company (Vector in Auckland, Wellington Electricity, Orion in Christchurch and so on), and its charges are passed through to your bill.
- Usage changes the answer. Plans with a lower unit rate and a higher daily charge cost less for high-usage homes; plans with a lower daily charge cost less for low-usage homes.
- Meter and hot water setup matter. Whether you have a smart meter or a controlled hot water rate affects which plans you can get and what they cost.
Switching retailer is usually done by signing up with the new one, which arranges the changeover: see how to switch power companies.