27 February 2023
Cody C
By email:
[FYI request #21809 email]
Dear Cody C
Thank you for your request, received on 12 February 2023, for the following information under the
Of icial Information Act 1982 (Act):
“1. How was Consumer awarded funding for their electricity retailer price comparison
service, Powerswitch? i.e. was there a formal tender process. If yes - please provide
further details of the process / tender. If no - please advise how the decision was made to
award to Consumer.
2a. Please provide a copy of the agreement / MoU between EA and Consumer for the
provision of Powerswitch.
2b. How does EA fund Consumer for the Powerswitch service (if this was not provided for
in the agreement)? What is the amount annually?
2c. Despite funding from the EA, MBIE and others, Consumer continues to ask for funding
from electricity retailers which is known as the "retailer success fee scheme". Did the EA
anticipate this, provide for it in their original agreement, prohibit it or went ahead with the
agreement knowing that Consumer may have done this in any case?
3a. Is there a standardised format that electricity retailers must use in order to supply
Consumer with data? Is this data obtained manual y or automatically (i.e.
programatically)?
3b. Does EA retain any copies of the pricing files supplied by electricity retailers to
Consumer? If so, please provide these.”
Consumer NZ was awarded funding in line with the recommendation of the 2019 Electricity Price
Review to merge the Powerswitch website with the Electricity Authority’s own ‘Whatsmynumber’
site. More information about the merge can be found here:
Electricity Authority and Consumer NZ
merge price comparison websites whatsmynumber.org.nz and powerswitch.org.nz — Electricity
Authority (ea.govt.nz)
The Electricity Authority (Authority) is withholding the “agreement / MoU between EA and
Consumer for the provision of Powerswitch” under section 9(2)(b)(i ) of the Act as the making
available of the information would be likely unreasonably to prejudice the commercial position of
the person who supplied or who is the subject of the information and also under section 9(2)(k) to
prevent the disclosure or use of official information for improper gain or improper advantage.
The agreement provides for the Authority to provide annual funding of $1.2m plus GST to
Consumer NZ. The Authority has not requested an exclusive funding arrangement with Consumer
NZ, and has acknowledged that Consumer NZ is free to receive funding from other sources. The
Authority has not prohibited switching or “retailer success” fees.
The Authority understands that there is a standardised format that electricity retailers must use to
supply Consumer with data. The process is not completely automatic, as Consumer NZ usually
expects to update plans within 10 working days, but that new plans wil potentially take longer.
The Authority is withholding copies of the pricing files supplied by electricity retailers to Consumer
NZ under section 9(2)(b)(i ) and under 9(2)(k) of the Act.
I am satisfied, in terms of section 9(1) of the Act, that the need to withhold the information referred
to above is not outweighed by other considerations that render it desirable, in the public interest, to
make the information available.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.
If you wish to discuss this decision with us, please feel free to contact us by emailing
[email address].
Yours sincerely
Peter Kerr
GM Legal, Monitoring and Compliance (Acting)
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