The 40-second answer
To switch power company in New Zealand, compare retailers for your address, sign up with the cheapest that suits you, and let them handle the rest. You will need your address and ICP number (a 15-character code near the top of your bill). The switch is free, completes in 3 to 4 days, and your power is never cut off, only the company billing your meter changes. The one thing to check first: whether you are locked into a fixed-term contract or bundle with an early-exit fee.
Prefer to skip the tool? The rule is simple: an open-term switch costs nothing, and on a fixed term it pays whenever your yearly saving is bigger than the exit fee. See "Switching when you move, or with solar or a fixed term" below.
Key takeaways
- Switching is free and takes 3–4 days. The registry process can stretch to 10 business days at most.
- Your power is never disconnected. Nothing is rewired; only the billing retailer changes in the registry.
- You only deal with the new retailer. They notify the old one; you get a final bill from the old company.
- Have your ICP number ready (15 characters, top of your bill) plus your address and recent usage.
- Only risk: an exit fee on a fixed-term plan or bundle. Open-term plans cost nothing to leave.
Why most people never switch, and why that costs them
New Zealand has one of the easiest electricity-switching systems in the world, yet the majority of households stay put for years. The reasons are almost always fears, not facts: "my power might cut out", "it'll be a hassle", "there's probably a fee", "they're all the same price anyway". Every one of those is wrong. Supply never stops, the new retailer does the admin, switching is free on open-term plans, and prices vary enough that households moving to the best plan available to them typically save $300 to $400 a year.
The real cost of not switching is quiet. Retailers rarely move loyal customers onto their sharpest rate, so a household that signed up five years ago and never looked again is usually sitting on an old, dearer plan while newer customers pay less for identical power. The longer you stay without checking, the more likely you are overpaying, and the fix takes about fifteen minutes.
The switch process, step by step
Here is exactly what happens, and who does what, from your decision to your first bill.
Check your current contract first
This is the only step that can cost you, so do it first. Look for a fixed term or a bundle (broadband or gas) with an early-exit fee. Most NZ plans are open-term with no break fee.
Gather four details
Your address, ICP number (15 characters, near the top of your bill), recent usage in kWh, and bank details. The ICP is optional, most retailers find it from your address.
Compare and choose your plan
Rank retailers for your address by total annual cost in our NZ retailer directory. See our guide to comparing electricity prices for the method.
Sign up with the new retailer
Apply online or by phone. The new retailer notifies your old retailer and updates the national registry. You do not need to call your old company. Many sign-ups offer a credit, so ask.
Wait 3–4 days, then check the first bill
The switch completes with no interruption to supply. You may be asked for a meter reading. Your old retailer sends a final bill; settle it. Then check your new daily charge and unit rate match what you were quoted.
What you need to switch
| What | Where to find it | Essential? |
|---|---|---|
| Supply address | The home you are switching | Yes |
| ICP number (15 characters) | Near the top of your bill, or from your address | Helpful |
| Recent usage (kWh) | Your bill's usage graph or online account | For accurate comparison |
| Bank / payment details | For the new account's direct debit | Yes |
| Move-in date (if moving) | Your tenancy or settlement date | Only if moving |
That is the whole list. No credit check fee, no connection charge on a standard switch, and no need to be home for anyone. New to a property with no power on? That is a connection rather than a switch, and the retailer will arrange it, sometimes with a small connection fee, when you sign up.
Compare before you switch (so you only switch once)
Switching is easy, but switching to the right plan is what saves money. Before you sign, do both halves of a proper comparison: work the numbers on your current plan and a rival so you understand why one is cheaper, then check the whole market for your address so you do not miss a better option a few clicks away.
Compare every NZ retailer for your address in our retailer directory, which lists the Big 4 gentailers and the independents side by side. The method, comparing total annual cost rather than the headline rate, is in our step-by-step comparison guide. Doing this once a year, rather than once a decade, is what keeps your bill down.
Switching when you move, or with solar or a fixed term
- Moving house: set the switch to start on your move-in date. Tell your old retailer your move-out date so they close the old account, this is the one time you do contact them;
- On a fixed-term plan: check the early-termination fee and weigh it against your yearly saving. If the saving is bigger than the fee, switching still pays;
- With rooftop solar: compare on the buy-back rate as well as the import rate, see our best solar buy-back guide;
- With an EV: look at time-of-use and free-hour plans rather than a flat rate, our EV plans guide ranks them.
The Selectra expert's take
Cornelia Zavoianu, energy market analyst
"The fear that stops people is a power cut, and it simply cannot happen on a switch. Nothing physical changes at your home. The registry just records a different retailer against your meter. I have switched households that did not notice the day it happened, which is exactly how it should feel."
"The only place a switch can cost you is a contract you forgot about, a fixed term or a broadband bundle with an exit fee. Spend two minutes on that before you sign anything. And do not treat switching as a one-off: with the low-user daily charge cap rising to $1.80/day and the rule ending on 1 April 2027 (MBIE / Electricity Authority), the cheapest plan for your home will keep moving. Re-checking each year is the habit that actually keeps your bill down."
This suits you if you can spare fifteen minutes and your usage is stable. It becomes a risk when you sign a long fixed term to chase a small saving, or skip the contract check. Switching back is always free, so the worst case is mild, not costly."
Frequently asked questions
Most switches complete in 3 to 4 days once you agree to the new plan, though the registry process can take up to 10 business days in some cases. Your power is never disconnected during the change. If you ask for a future start date (for example, when moving house), the switch is timed to that date instead.
No. You only sign up with your new retailer, and they arrange everything with your old one through the national electricity registry. Your old retailer will send a final bill for power used up to the switch date. The one thing to check yourself first is whether you are on a fixed-term contract or a bundle (broadband or gas) that could carry an early-exit fee.
Your ICP (Installation Control Point) number is the unique 15-character code that identifies your property's connection to the grid. Every metered home has one. You will usually find it near the top of your power bill, often labelled "ICP". If you cannot find it, your lines company can look it up from your address. It is helpful to have it ready, but most retailers can sign you up with just your address.
No, never. Switching changes only which retailer bills your existing meter in the registry. No technician visits, no wires are touched, and there is no break in supply. The electrons reaching your home are identical before and after, the same lines, the same grid, just a different company sending the invoice.
Yes, in most cases. Because sign-ups usually happen online or by phone, retailers generally give you a short cooling-off window (commonly a few business days) to cancel without penalty, and the Electricity Authority's Consumer Care Obligations require retailers to treat customers fairly through the process. Always confirm the exact window in your new retailer's terms. If the switch has already completed, you can simply switch again, it is free.
Switching itself is free. There is no charge from the registry or from your new retailer for changing. The only possible cost is an early-termination fee if you leave a fixed-term plan before it ends, or a bundle penalty. On the common open-term (no fixed term) plans, there is nothing to pay to leave.
