Billy, six months on: there’s power in checking

Electricity is woven into almost every part of our lives.

It's there when the alarm clock wakes us in the morning, when we turn on the heater on a cold winter day, cook dinner for our families, charge our devices, or connect with the people who matter most. We rarely think about it until something goes wrong, or until the bill arrives.

For many New Zealanders, those bills are causing real anxiety. Last year, our research found that 38% of households and 35% of small businesses were not confident they could afford their power bills over the following six months.

When we launched our free comparison and switching service, Billy, six months ago, we wanted it to help make a difference to New Zealand households.

Billy was built around a simple idea: there's power in checking.

We know electricity pricing can feel complicated. Plans vary, discounts change, retailers introduce new products and many people simply don't have the time or confidence to work out whether they're getting a good deal. Billy helps cut through that complexity by giving people an easy way to compare plans and explore their options.

The response has exceeded our expectations.

In its first six months, about half a million people have visited the site, over 200,000 comparisons have been made, and over 8,500 people have initiated a switch through Billy.

Savings figures change every day, and our latest figures show the average potential savings for those switching through Billy is $62 from their monthly bill.

For many households, these savings can go towards groceries, school expenses, petrol, or provide a little more breathing room in the weekly budget.

What we’re most proud of isn't the numbers themselves. It's what they represent.

Every comparison checked is someone taking control. Every switch is someone feeling empowered to ask whether their current plan is the best deal for their household. Every visit is a reminder that when people are given clear information and simple tools, they're more able to make choices that work for their circumstances.

Of course, Billy is only one part of a much bigger picture.

Our goal has never been simply to build a comparison website. Our goal is to help promote a competitive electricity system that works for people.

Everyone should feel confident they're getting a fair deal and know they have options if they're not. But we also recognise that not everyone experiences the electricity market in the same way. Some New Zealanders face challenges accessing the electricity they need to power their homes and lives.

Over the past 18 months we've introduced stronger consumer protections, including special safeguards for people who rely on electricity for critical medical equipment. We've opened up more choice through time-of-use plans that can reward households for shifting when they use power. We're requiring bills to become clearer and easier to understand, helping people avoid bill shock. And we're placing more responsibility on power companies to make sure their customers are on the best plan for their circumstances.

Taken together, these changes are designed to put consumers at the centre of the system.

Billy plays an important role in that. Behind the curious eyes is real data from real people, drawing on information from 27,000 New Zealand households and comparing plans that cover around 97% of Kiwi homes. But technology isn't the point. People are.

What matters is helping someone answer a simple question: Am I on the right plan?

Six months in, we've seen hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders take the time to ask that question. That's encouraging. But it's also a reminder that there's more work to do.

We're committed to continuing to improve the way the electricity market works so that people have more choice, more transparency and more control.

Because electricity is essential. It powers our homes, our businesses, our communities and our future.

And every New Zealander deserves confidence that the system delivering it is working for them.