Offers Contact

As of 2025, Contact Energy holds an average customer rating of 3.4 out of 5 based on 4 platforms. Customers reviewing Contact Energy often share feedback about pricing, customer service, and their experiences with billing or contract management. Together with our expert Selectra analysis, we’ve summarised the key pros and cons to help you make an informed decision when switching your energy provider.

Pros and Cons of Contact Energy

Selectra has developed extensive insight and expertise in New Zealand’s energy market, drawing on years of experience analysing electricity and gas providers around the world. Our in-depth guides explore everything Kiwis need to know about energy in Aotearoa from electricity rates and provider comparisons to account management tips, connection details, and real customer reviews.

Selectra’s Opinion on Contact Energy

Contact is a large generator-retailer with broad coverage and a mix of geothermal, hydro and thermal generation. For households this usually means solid reliability and a wide range of plan options, plus experience handling large customer bases. On the downside, bigger incumbents sometimes have less flexible, less personalised customer service than small specialised retailers and prices can be average rather than the cheapest on the market. 

Online Reviews of Contact Energy

Choosing an electricity provider is more than finding the cheapest rate; it’s about reliability, service quality, and how a company treats its customers. New Zealand consumers benefit from a competitive market, but that also means there’s a lot to compare.

What to look for:

• Billing transparency: Look for comments about accurate billing and clear communication of rates and fees.
• Customer service quality: Positive feedback about responsiveness, helpfulness, and issue resolution is a good indicator of service standards.
• Pricing and plan flexibility: Reviewers may mention hidden costs, fixed vs. variable rates, or how easy it is to switch plans.
• Reliability and outage response: Reviews that discuss outage handling or network reliability show how the provider performs under pressure.
• Green energy options: Some customers value renewable energy sources — look for mentions of sustainability or eco-friendly plans.
• Ease of switching or cancelling: Check if users report smooth transitions when signing up or leaving a contract.
• Online account tools and app usability: Many NZ providers offer apps for tracking usage and payments; reviews often reveal whether these tools actually work well.
• Overall satisfaction vs. expectations: Consider whether reviewers’ experiences align with what the provider promises in marketing materials.

What Do Customers Say About Contact Energy on Trustpilot?

Customer review platforms such as Trustpilot give a genuine view of how people feel about their energy provider. They highlight real experiences shared by customers, offering a useful snapshot of overall satisfaction.

Reviews can reveal honest feedback about customer service, billing accuracy, reliability, and how well a company resolves complaints.

By comparing ratings across platforms, consumers can get a clearer and more balanced understanding of Contact Energy’s reputation and whether it aligns with what the company promises.

What Do Customers Say About Contact Energy on Google Maps?

Customers often share their experiences with Contact Energy on Google Maps, providing insights into both the service and the facilities at their locations.

Many reviewers comment on the convenience and accessibility of Contact Energy’s branches, including ease of finding parking, opening hours, and helpfulness of staff.

Feedback also frequently touches on customer service, billing inquiries, and the clarity of information provided at the locations. While most customers report positive experiences, some note areas for improvement, such as wait times or service efficiency. Overall, Google Maps reviews give a snapshot of what people can expect when visiting Contact Energy in person.

What Do Customers Say About Contact Energy on Google Play?

The Google Play Store is where Android users download and review Contact Energy’s mobile app. These reviews give insight into how customers rate the app’s design, ease of use, and reliability when managing their energy accounts.

Users often comment on app performance, login experience, and how well it supports everyday tasks like checking usage or paying bills. While most reviews highlight convenience, some mention bugs or connection issues. Overall, Google Play reviews reflect real user experiences with Contact Energy’s app.

What Do Customers Say About Contact Energy on the App Store?

Apple’s App Store hosts reviews from iPhone and iPad users who manage their energy accounts through Contact Energy’s mobile app. These reviews offer valuable feedback on the app’s interface, speed, and reliability.

Customers often discuss how easy it is to log in, track energy usage, and make payments. Positive reviews mention smooth navigation and intuitive design, while negative ones may note occasional glitches or performance issues. Overall, App Store feedback helps illustrate how Contact Energy’s app performs for iOS users.

What to look for when reading App Reviews:

• Overall rating trends: A single negative review doesn’t tell the full story so look at the overall rating and the proportion of 4–5 star reviews compared to 1–2 stars.
• Recent feedback: Apps evolve quickly. Focus on reviews from the past few months to see how well developers are maintaining and updating the app.
• Performance and stability: Users often mention bugs, crashes, or slow performance — these can be red flags for everyday usability.
• Feature satisfaction: Pay attention to how people describe the core functions (e.g., search, payments, notifications). This tells you if the app does what it promises.

Switching to Contact Energy — what to expect?

With many electricity providers operating across New Zealand, switching to Contact Energy is a simple process that can help you find a better deal or improve your service experience. Whether you’re after lower rates, renewable options, or better customer support, the steps are straightforward.

Before you switch — practical checklist

• ICP number: confirm the 15-digit ICP on your bill.
• Recent meter reading: take a photo or write down the numbers on the day you switch to ensure an accurate final bill from your existing retailer.
• Compare whole-of-bill costs: check daily charges, unit rates (¢/kWh), conditional discounts, GST and fixed fees — headline rates rarely tell the full story.
• Contract type: fixed-term vs open/variable — fixed terms can be cheaper but often include exit fees; read the small print for auto-renewals.
• Meter compatibility: confirm whether the plan needs a communicating smart meter (time-of-use tariffs, some prepaid options and export metering often do).
• Concessions and special billing: if you receive concessions or have special arrangements, check how they transfer or whether you must reapply with the new retailer.

Credit checks, deposits and prepay options — what you need to know

Retailers manage credit risk in different ways depending on the plan. The typical approaches you will encounter are:

• Credit checks: some plans or services may require a credit check. If a credit check is part of the signup the retailer must notify you and explain the outcome and options (decline, request deposit, or offer prepay as an alternative).
• Security deposits / bonds: a deposit can be requested for higher risk customers. Deposit terms (amount, holding period, refund conditions) must be in the contract — always ask for these details up front.
• Prepay / pay-ahead: prepay plans let you top up credit before you consume. They typically avoid credit checks and bonds because you pay in advance, but check top-up fees, minimum top-up amounts and the rules for automatic disconnection and reconnection.
• Medical and safety protections: if someone in your household is medically dependent on electricity tell the retailer during signup — this changes how disconnection is handled and can trigger additional safeguards.

Fixed-term contracts and exit fees

Fixed-term plans may include early termination charges. Exit fees differ by provider and plan: some use a pre-defined flat fee; others calculate a compensation amount based on remaining benefit. If you expect to move home or want flexibility, prefer open plans or confirm the cooling-off and exit rules before committing.

Warranties & installed equipment (solar panels, inverters, batteries, meters)

• Seller/installer warranties: panel, inverter and battery warranties are separate from your retail contract and usually continue if you switch retailer. Confirm any registration or maintenance requirements that keep warranties valid.
• Meter changes: if a new retailer requests a meter upgrade (for a smart meter or export metering), ask whether the retailer or the lines company pays for the work and who guarantees the new equipment.
• Export / feed-in: if you export solar generation, check the new retailer’s feed-in arrangements and the export metering process — payment rates and application steps can vary between retailers.

• After the switch what to check promptly
• Review your first bill carefully for correct ICP, meter reads, applied rates and discounts.
• Confirm payment method and any scheduled payments or top-ups are set correctly.
• Keep records of promises (installation dates, credits, meter upgrades) and any correspondence.
• If you signed a fixed-term contract, note the end date, any notice period and renewal rules.