How can my power company help?

Your power company can support you if you’re struggling with payments

Many people are doing it tough with the rising cost of living. If you’re struggling with your power bill, power companies can help you in various ways. This includes providing advice on the best power plan for you or making it easier for you to pay your bill over time.

Different power companies provide different types of support. They often provide support on a case-by-case basis, so it’s important to reach out to them and let them know your situation. What support you receive can depend on your circumstances and what issues you’re facing.

One of the ways a power company can help is providing advice on what energy plan is best for you, depending on your personal factors such as how much electricity you use and your appliances.

Power companies can also often offer payment plans which helps make paying your power bill more manageable. Sometimes they might be able to provide financial assistance to help you through tough times. Support like smooth billing, where invoices don’t spike over winter, and weekly and fortnightly billing can help smooth prices as the seasons change.

They can also refer you for support from other agencies, like financial mentors or WINZ. If you’re a WINZ client, your power company can help you set up a redirection from your benefit.

If you find yourself getting behind on your power bill, reach out to your power company and they will be able to connect you to their trained customer service teams who specialise in energy support.

How do I find out what support is available from my power company?

Firstly, you should get in touch with your power company to ask what support is available. Power companies must make it easy for you to contact them, and most power companies have 0800 numbers, emails or online chat channels you can access for free.

Power companies also often have mobile apps, which provide important information about your usage and what support is available. Sometimes, you can contact your power company directly through the app.

There are rules in place that power companies must treat you with respect, support you when you’re struggling to afford your bills, and help keep your power on. These are called the Consumer Care Obligations, and more information can be found in our article about these standards.

There is also other support available from government and community organisations, and our support page provides information on the options available.