Power companies?

[The Lone Rider]

Right, moving into my new house 2morrow.

For me it seems like a company that has a plan where you have cheap night rates for the hot water cylinder and heaters would be best.

I'm really clueless on what to look at.

What power company do you use and why do you like it?

[Jantar]

To get cheap night rates depends on the type of metering you have. However all the companies that service Christchurch do have a night rate option. I would recommend either Meridian or Contact as being the best ones to deal with, and Trustpower as being the worst.

I will declare a conflict of interest; I work for one of the companies I recommend and purchase my power from the other one.

[Drum]

Go with Meridian mate. Our performance bonus round is coming up.

Much appreciated.

[Karma]

Tell them you're an islander and need an oxygen mask... they'll never cut you off and you'll never have to pay :D

[oldrider]

Tell them you're an islander and need an oxygen mask... they'll never cut you off and you'll never have to pay :D

And you will get a photo opportunity when Helen visits! :yes:

[Beemer]

If they were the cheapest, I'd go for Mercury just because they need all the support they can get! (Oh, and if you die, they give you $10,000 to spend - woo hoo!)

Check out Consumer's power switch site - go to www.consumer.org.nz and there is a link there. We ended up saving $120 a year by switching to another company.

[The Lone Rider]

If they were the cheapest, I'd go for Mercury just because they need all the support they can get! (Oh, and if you die, they give you $10,000 to spend - woo hoo!)

Check out Consumer's power switch site - go to www.consumer.org.nz and there is a link there. We ended up saving $120 a year by switching to another company.


Cool! Says for me that Meridian on Low User Anytime with Night Rate is cheapest for me.

[Highlander]

... I would recommend either Meridian or Contact as being the best ones to deal with, and Trustpower as being the worst.

I will declare a conflict of interest; I work for one of the companies I recommend and purchase my power from the other one.

I've worked for all three in one form or other, and recommend the consumer site listed above. Either that or gas and candles.

[Colapop]

The prices these power companies charge - it leaves you breathless!!

[Highlander]

The prices these power companies charge - it leaves you breathless!!

That's before they turn it off.

[Mully]

Is it bad that I want to change from Mercury because they handed over the $10K cheque??

Not for any other reason.

[ynot slow]

pre pay way to go,no bills to worry about and if u forget to top up it stays on till local outlet opens,also if you run out after 7pm friday you have till monday to top up,can even get emergency top up of $10 which is paid back when you buy more credit,can't fault it for ease,also saves having to make sure house alarm not set when readers come around,and or tieing up the dog.

[Beemer]

pre pay way to go,no bills to worry about and if u forget to top up it stays on till local outlet opens,also if you run out after 7pm friday you have till monday to top up,can even get emergency top up of $10 which is paid back when you buy more credit,can't fault it for ease,also saves having to make sure house alarm not set when readers come around,and or tieing up the dog.

Unfortunately it works out a lot more expensive than post-pay. Best to try and budget (even pay some each week) and get it billed. Our meter box is outside thankfully, I must confess I don't like the idea of anyone being in my house when I am not home!

[shcabbeh]

I can't help you on plans, sorry but I can tell you that Contact has excellent customer service and support. Haven't had a single problem with them, I barely remember they exist but for their monthly bill.

[Beemer]

I can't help you on plans, sorry but I can tell you that Contact has excellent customer service and support. Haven't had a single problem with them, I barely remember they exist but for their monthly bill.


You're bloody lucky then! I used to work for them and the number of complaints we received (and looking at some of the morons I worked with...) was about the same as the other companies - except perhaps Empower, which is a company Contact Energy owns - they had squillions! We had no problems with Meridian, but changed to Genesis as they were cheaper - no problems there so far either. And I've been able to get through if I ring within a minute or two, which is always a bonus.

[chanceyy]

You're bloody lucky then! I used to work for them and the number of complaints we received (and looking at some of the morons I worked with...) was about the same as the other companies - except perhaps Empower, which is a company Contact Energy owns - they had squillions! We had no problems with Meridian, but changed to Genesis as they were cheaper - no problems there so far either. And I've been able to get through if I ring within a minute or two, which is always a bonus.

that was then ... & now complaints are extremley low, over the last 5 yrs I have been with them its one thing that Contact has worked hard on is providing excellent service, & dealing with complaints ... definately lower than when we first took over Empower

still recommend the powerswitch. org site ... but also worth giving all of the companies a call to see what they are offering ...

Contact has some good incentives at present .. its worth shopping around

also depending on the metering currently installed at your property will depend on the plans available

In chch area day/night metering is most popular, any elect you use between 7am - 9pm is on the higher day rate .. any elect used fr 9-7am (& inc your hot water)is on the cheaper night rate .. bearing in mind you have plenty of hot water in the morning but by early evening you might find it considerabley cooler

[shcabbeh]

You're bloody lucky then! I used to work for them and the number of complaints we received (and looking at some of the morons I worked with...) was about the same as the other companies - except perhaps Empower, which is a company Contact Energy owns - they had squillions! We had no problems with Meridian, but changed to Genesis as they were cheaper - no problems there so far either. And I've been able to get through if I ring within a minute or two, which is always a bonus.

Haha, I wonder how many complaints were regarding paying the bill on time though.

If you get the prompt payment discount every time it's pretty sweet. Again, that's just my experience! :D

[The Lone Rider]

So, here's an update.. and more to the point it is a small story about someones fuck up.

I got home today, and found a card attached to the front door. It said the meter reader came but couldnt read it so my next bill will be an estimate only. Then I notice on the card it's been ticked that the gate was locked.. and there were plenty of other options to choose from. How odd, considering I had to mail a spare key to the power company. How even more odd that it was ticked that the gate was locked, as the only gate I have that opens and closes has no lock, and furthermore to put that thing on my door he would have had to have gone through it!

So I ring the power company and ask what the fuck. We talk and eventually she just says to read it myself and tell her what it says. I do and ask if she can give me the cost of my bill now, as I've just moved in here a month ago and want to adjust my budget to suit. She says $300.

Yes.. $300.. for me.. on my own.. in a house...

So anyway there is descrepencies on readings. Apparently when I read the meter to them when I first moved in, i gave them 66159 and 79019. My current read is roughly 66300 and 79800.

How is that a problem you ask? Well first $300 is basically $100 per 1000 units. The difference in those numbers is not 3000 units.

Where the 3000 come from? It came from the reading given to them by the power company who USED to supply this house before I moved in. They gave them 66139 (pretty close to mine) and 77057.... 2000 LESS then what it was the day I moved in. Hmm.. how fucking odd.

So I'm being billed by what Contact energy gave them, not what I gave them as readings

So now I have to fax them a copy of my purchase agreement, and IF they sort it out all I get is a credit. I still have to fork out $300 no matter what!

This of course means I'm out of pocket and can't buy another microphone stand that I was intending to this week, or go see Transformers.. hell.. if I was so inclined I could have gotten a whore for a night. Not that I would but it's nice to know you have options.

This further fucks up my weekly budget for the next 3 months as I put aside X amount every week to cover what I have used in power.

Here I am.. without any beer.

Please fill in this blank with about 400 expletives

_____________________________________

[chanceyy]

So, here's an update.. and more to the point it is a small story about someones fuck up.

I got home today, and found a card attached to the front door. It said the meter reader came but couldnt read it so my next bill will be an estimate only. Then I notice on the card it's been ticked that the gate was locked.. and there were plenty of other options to choose from. How odd, considering I had to mail a spare key to the power company. How even more odd that it was ticked that the gate was locked, as the only gate I have that opens and closes has no lock, and furthermore to put that thing on my door he would have had to have gone through it!

So I ring the power company and ask what the fuck. We talk and eventually she just says to read it myself and tell her what it says. I do and ask if she can give me the cost of my bill now, as I've just moved in here a month ago and want to adjust my budget to suit. She says $300.

Yes.. $300.. for me.. on my own.. in a house...

So anyway there is descrepencies on readings. Apparently when I read the meter to them when I first moved in, i gave them 66159 and 79019. My current read is roughly 66300 and 79800.

How is that a problem you ask? Well first $300 is basically $100 per 1000 units. The difference in those numbers is not 3000 units.

Where the 3000 come from? It came from the reading given to them by the power company who USED to supply this house before I moved in. They gave them 66139 (pretty close to mine) and 77057.... 2000 LESS then what it was the day I moved in. Hmm.. how fucking odd.

So I'm being billed by what Contact energy gave them, not what I gave them as readings

So now I have to fax them a copy of my purchase agreement, and IF they sort it out all I get is a credit. I still have to fork out $300 no matter what!

This of course means I'm out of pocket and can't buy another microphone stand that I was intending to this week, or go see Transformers.. hell.. if I was so inclined I could have gotten a whore for a night. Not that I would but it's nice to know you have options.

This further fucks up my weekly budget for the next 3 months as I put aside X amount every week to cover what I have used in power.

Here I am.. without any beer.

Please fill in this blank with about 400 expletives

_____________________________________

so just to clarify you moved into the property & contact switched it in from another energy co .. you took readings on move in & one of the readings is 2000 less than what it was on the day you took over ?

if this is correct once you prove date you took property over (being a new customer we have no moving history) an incorrect switch read enquiry will be completed between contact & the other co .. You do not have to pay for electricity you do not use .. something we reccomend all customers to do when they move to a new property that we have not supplied .. to protect yourself from issues such as this

you do not need to fork out for your current account and if a credit is applied it will go against your account in the mean time the difference to what the account is & should be can be placed in dispute so that it does not become due or put you under undue hardship ..

if you wish to clarify any info feel free to PM me ..

[The Lone Rider]

I switched FROM contact. They were the people supplying before I moved in
Contact gave a reading 2000 less then what the reading was when I moved in and read over the phone to the company I use. I am being billed for the difference from what Contact gave to the company around I use, and what the meter read today.

I moved in and signed for the company I wanted. I gave them a reading over the phone.

They contacted the the previous company, which is Contact, and Contact gave them a reading that had 2000 less on the meter then what it was when I read the meter the day I activated the power (when I moved in).

[chanceyy]

I switched FROM contact. They were the people supplying before I moved in
Contact gave a reading 2000 less then what the reading was when I moved in and read over the phone to the company I use. I am being billed for the difference from what Contact gave to the company around I use, and what the meter read today.

I moved in and signed for the company I wanted. I gave them a reading over the phone.

They contacted the the previous company, which is Contact, and Contact gave them a reading that had 2000 less on the meter then what it was when I read the meter the day I activated the power (when I moved in).

then ask for a incorrect switch read from your own company .. they will get in touch with us to have the read amended .. they also should not make you pay for electricity that you have not used so if you get no joy ask for a team leader or to make an official complaint

[The Lone Rider]

The woman on the phone said I'd have to pay the bill no matter what and that it will be sent out tommorrow. She said that all that will happen is if it is in fact not the amount they are charging me for.. which it of course ISNT, that I will be given a credit for the difference. I still have to pay the $300.. just a question of if it gets spent on one bill or over several

[chanceyy]

The woman on the phone said I'd have to pay the bill no matter what and that it will be sent out tommorrow. She said that all that will happen is if it is in fact not the amount they are charging me for.. which it of course ISNT, that I will be given a credit for the difference. I still have to pay the $300.. just a question of if it gets spent on one bill or over several

then I recommend you make an official complaint .. if your new company insists that you must pay it get in touch with the electricity commission .. sorry but you should not have to pay for electricity you do not use the fact you have an actual reading when you moved in .. there is a process in correcting switch reads & your company should be getting in touch with us to have it corrected

[The Lone Rider]

Chatted with my mum who has friends in high places.. she is going to talk to a small claims lawyer she knows.

[k14]

Contact has some good incentives at present .. its worth shopping around
If you want to pay a 10% premium and get a free yearly subscription to womans day then go for it. I however, can't see the point. I'm with contact but only cause they have the cheapest prices here.

Although on the customer service front, I do believe contact is very highly regarded compared the other 4 big players (one of which recently had a big tumble in popularity :yes:). Maybe it is worth the 10% extra just to have the piece of mind that when something like this happens you can trust the person on the other end of the line is competent at their job.

Hope you get the problem sorted out.

[chanceyy]

Chatted with my mum who has friends in high places.. she is going to talk to a small claims lawyer she knows.

that will cost you .. however make a formal complaint .. if no joy call electricity commission .. its free .. & the company will want to sort it quickly or else if it goes further costs the company $10,000 until its sorted




Although on the customer service front, I do believe contact is very highly regarded compared the other 4 big players (one of which recently had a big tumble in popularity :yes:). Maybe it is worth the 10% extra just to have the piece of mind that when something like this happens you can trust the person on the other end of the line is competent at their job.

Hope you get the problem sorted out.

yes we do work hard on the customer service front .. the electricity industry is extremely competitive, all companies are within several cents of each other, the powerswitch.org is a very good site to compare all companies in your area, but for most its not about cost , service actually rates more highly than price for majority of customers. Also with new payment options of smoothpay makes managing bills so much more stress free

[The Lone Rider]

that will cost you .. however make a formal complaint .. if no joy call electricity commission .. its free .. & the company will want to sort it quickly or else if it goes further costs the company $10,000 until its sorted

Won't cost me or my mum. One of the few joys of being me :Punk:

[k14]

Chatted with my mum who has friends in high places.. she is going to talk to a small claims lawyer she knows.
And you're trying to achieve what? Take a power company to court?

Which power company is this by the way? Meridian by any chance?

[k14]

yes we do work hard on the customer service front .. the electricity industry is extremely competitive, all companies are within several cents of each other, the powerswitch.org is a very good site to compare all companies in your area, but for most its not about cost , service actually rates more highly than price for majority of customers. Also with new payment options of smoothpay makes managing bills so much more stress free
yeah i'd have to say the ceo was trying very hard and totally convinced with this tact when i was talking to him. I still can't really see the point from a consumers point of view however. For me (and I know a lot of other people, including employees of contact) price will always be the deciding factor. With any other factors a distant last.

[chanceyy]

Won't cost me or my mum. One of the few joys of being me :Punk:

well mate most of the time when lawyers call & try the bullcrap, threatening behaviour etc they are kinda laffed at .. most companies have a set company policy on who can discuss accounts .. since I obviously work for contact & deal with queries like this on a daily basis, & trying to let you know how to deal with it .. but wot do I know . .. good luck to you





Although on the customer service front, I do believe contact is very highly regarded compared the other 4 big players (one of which recently had a big tumble in popularity :yes:). Maybe it is worth the 10% extra just to have the piece of mind that when something like this happens you can trust the person on the other end of the line is competent at their job.

Hope you get the problem sorted out.

yeah I thought so as well .. but research is proving me wrong ... funny that

[The Lone Rider]

Maybe you aren't fully aware of what some lawyers can be used for :D

[chanceyy]

Maybe you aren't fully aware of what some lawyers can be used for :D

totally aware .. dealt with quite a few ..


still your making it harder than it needs to be ..

anyhow good luck to you ..

[The Lone Rider]

Quick update - took TWO WEEKS for them to sort it out and that involved me ringing several times, one time they took so long I hung up and phoned back the next day. So anyway got a phone call yesterday saying they fixed the problem and will send me out a proper bill

Today I get the "proper" bill and it's even more then the last one! They added the bogus bill onto what I really used for the month between the first bill and now!

Ring them in the morning to make sure it's not the proper one they said they were going to send me.

Swear words come to mind :D

[The Lone Rider]

Got another bill today lol.

This one appears to be correct.