For the next four weeks New Zealanders have the opportunity to stand with their fellow Kiwis to push down the price of their electricity bill in what will be the country’s first ever residential bulk electricity tender, dubbed NZ’s Big Winter Switch.
Utilities brokerage firm Saveawatt has partnered with www.Stuff.co.nz to bring together the collective bargaining power of Kiwi households and try to drive down the price of electricity for all those that register online at www.nzswitch.co.nz.
Saveawatt ceo Tim Rudkin says Kiwis can do their bit to bring down electricity prices just by registering their interest on a no-obligations basis.
“It’s as simple as registering online,” he said. “Once registration has closed we go out to retailers and broker New Zealanders the best electricity price we can.
“Early feedback suggests electricity retailers are very keen to do what it takes to win customers,” he says.
“But, only those who have registered will be eligible for the deal. It’s free to register and there’s no obligation to take up the offer once it comes through, although we assume people will want to.”
“The more Kiwi households that register their interest, the better outcome we expect to deliver.”
The Dock Street PR role
Saveawatt’s PR agenc is Dock Street Group, which alerted M+AD to this story.
Collective power
Saveawatt works by inviting electricity providers to tender for business using the collective power of thousands of households to drive a harder bargain. Then they take the best of the rates and offer them out.
“It’s a win-win,” says Rudkin. “Consumers get a better deal while retailers get easy access to new business.”
In the last 15 years electricity prices have risen by around 45% despite deregulation.
“Deregulation created competition aimed at controlling and reducing prices,”Rudkin says. “The problem is that competition brings marketing costs, which have been passed on to households – we can help to navigate the complexity of the electricity industry and try to finally unlock those savings.”
Track record
Saveawatt is an established NZ utilities brokerage & consultancy firm with a track record of delivering major energy savings to around 1500 commercial customers and now aims to extend that service across the residential market.
The collective switch model has already been proven in the UK and Australia with tens of thousands of households signing up to bargain a better deal.
In New Zealand, Stuff members are the first to be offered the opportunity and will be able to sign up through their online account with the click of a button. Those that don’t have an account can easily sign up at www.stuff.co.nz and register for New Zealand’s Big Winter Switch at www.nzswitch.co.nz.
Registration officially opened on Monday ahead of winter when power bills usually rise, and will close 21 May.
- For more info, contact: Jonathan Killick @ Dock Street Group: jkillick@dockstreet.co.nz
- www.stuff.co.nz
- www.nzswitch.co.nz
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