The Electricity Authority has launched a new power comparison site called Billy, competing with Consumer NZ’s Powerswitch. The site aims to help households understand power costs and compare plans.
Chief executive Sarah Gillies said it followed other steps to improve competition. She said many households face rising bills heading into winter and should check whether their plan offers good value.
The authority previously ran What’s My Number, which merged with Powerswitch in 2019. It funded Powerswitch at about $1.4m a year until ending that support last year.
Billy cost $2.5m to build and will cost about $1.1m a year to run. The authority said it wanted a future‑focused tool built on open‑energy principles. It has also required power companies to simplify bills.
Most retailers will appear on the site. Billy does not receive payments from companies when users switch.
Powerswitch general manager Paul Fuge said running an accurate comparison service was challenging. He said government ownership of major gentailers could raise questions about the impartiality of a government‑run site. He said Consumer NZ remained independent and intended to continue operating Powerswitch.
Source: Susan Edmunds / Radio New Zealand
01/04/26
The Upper Hutt Connection 