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Terms of Trade — Supply of Electricity

Terms and conditions for the supply of electricity to your property.

Ecosmart New Zealand Limited – Electricity Supply Terms and Conditions

1. When these terms and conditions apply and who is responsible under them

1.1. When they start to apply:

These terms and conditions start applying to you when you ask us to start supplying electricity to any property (an address which we supply electricity to, including land and buildings there) and we agree to supply electricity to you. If you ask us to supply electricity to more than one property and we agree to, these terms and conditions will apply to all those properties until we stop supplying electricity to them.

1.2. Moving into a property we already supply:

If you move into a property at which we are already supplying electricity and we have not agreed to supply electricity to you at that property before you move in:

  1. you will be required to pay for the electricity you use at that property from the time you move in;
  2. these terms and conditions apply from the date you moved into the property; and
  3. you will supply us with evidence to show the date you moved into the property.

1.3. Authorised people on your account:

You can have someone else be an authorised person in relation to a property. This means that that authorised person can operate your account for that property with us and instruct us as if they were you. You are responsible for all actions of each authorised person.

1.4. Responsibilities of all people named on your account:

If more than one person is named as the customer on an account, each of those people are individually responsible to us under these terms and conditions. This means that we can require any of these people to meet all of the obligations under these terms and conditions, including the payment of all our charges for all properties on the account. Every person who wants to be named as a customer on an account needs to gives us their consent.

2. We will supply electricity to you and fix issues that occur

2.1. We will:

  1. Supply electricity: supply electricity to you in accordance with these terms and conditions;
  2. Be available: provide you with as much online and telephone help as we reasonably can;
  3. Resolve problems: run a 24/7 fault service to respond to problems with supply of electricity to your property or properties.

2.2. Using some third parties (identified below) we will also:

  1. Get the electricity to your property: supply electricity to your property through the power lines on your electricity network. We arrange this with the network company relevant to your property. If you have a contract with the network company directly, this will be arranged by them and we won’t do it for you;
  2. Work out how much electricity you use: measure the electricity that we supply to you. This involves us arranging for a provider of metering equipment to ensure a meter is installed at each property so that it can measure your consumption and remotely communicate this back to us.

2.3. How electricity is supplied to you:

Each property will have a point of connection to the power lines. For most residential properties, this point of connection will be on a power pole outside the boundary of your property. You can get the exact location confirmed by your network company.

2.4. Stay safe:

All parts of the electricity supply system, including the lines and wires on your property, should be treated as live at all times. Stay safe around them.

2.5 Sometimes we are not able to meet our obligations to you:

We are not required to carry out our responsibilities if an event has occurred which is beyond our reasonable control and which prevents or delays us from carrying out those responsibilities. Some examples are:

  1. our website is unavailable;
  2. our arrangements with an electricity metering provider have been suspended or ended;
  3. our arrangements with a network company have been suspended or ended;
  4. or a network company cannot supply electricity to a property.

We will continue to perform our responsibilities that are not affected by the event and we will do everything we reasonably can to make sure your electricity supply is returned to normal as soon as is reasonably practicable. We are not responsible for any damage that results from electricity supply fluctuations.

3. Issues with our supply of electricity to you

3.1 Fixing problems with the supply of electricity:

The electricity supply system is complex and sometimes parts of it may not function as they are supposed to. When this happens, the supply of electricity to you may be interrupted or otherwise affected. Using third parties, we will do our best to make sure that the supply of electricity to your property is fixed as soon as we can in the circumstances. We will continue to perform our responsibilities that are not affected by these events and we will do everything we reasonably can to make sure your electricity supply is returned to normal as soon as is reasonably practicable. We are not responsible for any damage that results from electricity supply fluctuations.

3.2. Work by network companies may affect supply of electricity:

Sometimes network companies need to do work on their networks and this may have an effect on the supply of electricity to you. When they do this they usually give at least 2 working days' notice. Sometimes they have to do urgent work and will give as much notice as they can. If they do not notify you directly, we will give you as much notice as we reasonably can and it will generally be about the same as the notice they give us.

3.3. We recommend you protect your property and appliances:

Installing surge protection can protect your appliances from fluctuations in frequency, voltage and problems with the electricity we supply.

3.4. We recommend you have insurance:

We recommend you have insurance for damage that may result from fluctuations in frequency, voltage and problems with the electricity we supply.

3.5. Who to contact:

When there is a problem, or you think that there might be one, with our supply of electricity to you, you should first call your network provider, but if in doubt call us on 07 595 0001.  

3.6. Let us know if you have special circumstances we should know about. You need to keep us informed. Tell us if:

  1. You rely on medical equipment: you or someone else who lives at the property has critical medical support that relies on the supply of electricity to keep it operating properly; or
  2. Your health is at risk: there is a real and genuine threat to your health or well-being (or someone else who lives at the property) because of health, age or disability; or
  3. Your financial circumstances change: you experience temporary or permanent financial hardship that makes it genuinely hard for you or someone else who lives at the property to pay for the electricity we supply to your properties.

4. Working out how much electricity we supply to you

4.1. Smart meter installation:

In order to supply your property we need to ensure there is a smart meter at your property. It may be that we can arrange for a smart meter to be installed at your property.

4.2. Meter reading and estimates:

We use actual meter readings whenever practicable. We work out how much electricity we supply to your property by remotely reading the meter on a regular basis or, if we have not read the meter, are unable to read the meter for any reason, or some or all usage data is missing from our attempts to read the meter, we may estimate the amount of electricity supplied to that property. We may also send out a meter reader to physically read your meter. If we need to estimate any usage data we will do so in accordance with clause 5.6. Alternatively, you can call us for a simple explanation as to how we have calculated the estimated supply.

4.3. No unmetered supply:

Due to the nature of our business, we are unable to supply electricity to you as a customer if you have or come to have any unmetered supply connected to your property. Should you already be a customer of ours and you introduce an unmetered supply to your property, or are found to have unmetered supply to your property, you will be immediately required to choose another retailer to supply you with electricity in accordance with clause 4.7, and our contract with you in respect of that unmetered supply will be at an end.

4.4. Problems with your measured supply:

If you think that the meter is not correctly recording the amount of electricity that you are supplied, you need to tell us. If you ask us to test a meter, or if we decide to test it, and we find it is not within the industry standards of accuracy, we will work out what your actual electricity usage should have been, and we will debit or credit your account accordingly. If you ask us to test a meter, and it is found to be accurate, we may charge you for that meter test.

4.5. Remote communication problems with your meter(s):

Your smart meter is designed to remotely communicate your half-hour consumption information to us. This half-hour consumption information is crucial to our ability to service you as our customer due to the nature of our business. In order to remotely communicate, your meter requires sufficient cellular signal strength so it can connect to the central database. Should your meter have or come to have insufficient signal strength that does not resolve itself within 5 calendar days:

  1. We will initiate an investigation and contact you to discuss possible causes;
  2. It's possible that a site visit may be required to determine the cause of the communication issue. If this site visit reasonably determines you have knowingly contributed in any way to the reduction in signal strength (usually due to new construction on your property, but includes any tampering with the meter or its ability to communicate) then you will be charged for this site visit, and any subsequent visits required to attempt to resolve this issue in accordance with clause 8;
  3. Any site visit does not guarantee resolution, and if we are unable to reasonably resolve this communication issue we will be unable to continue to service you as a customer. This means you will be required to switch to another retailer to supply you with electricity in accordance with clause 4.7;
  4. If you were to initiate a switch to another retailer, this will not absolve you of your responsibilities under clause 8 should you be found to have contributed to the failure of your meter's ability to remotely communicate.

4.6. Metering standards:

All meter readings, tests and associated processes will be done in accordance with relevant New Zealand industry protocols and codes of practice.

4.7. When we are unable to continue to provide you with our service:

We may require you to find another retailer to supply you with electricity in accordance with clause 4.3 and/or clause 4.5. If this is required, we will first attempt to switch you back to the previous retailer that supplied your property. If this is not possible, then you must choose another retailer and initiate a switch to them within 3 business days of us notifying you.

5. Paying for the electricity we supply you

5.1. You are responsible for paying:

You must pay for all of the electricity we supply to each property, including where some or all of that is estimated by us. It is your responsibility to pay for all of the electricity supplied to your property from the date you moved into the property, including the cost of delivering that electricity to your property.  If you desire to use credit card facilities to pay your electricity bill the costs incurred by the credit card service provider will be added to your due amount.  These costs will be plainly visible at the time of payment.

5.2. Do not damage metering equipment:

Be careful not to damage any of the metering and other equipment on the property because you may also be responsible for paying to fix any such damage.

5.3. When invoices are issued and when you need to make payment:

We issue invoices covering your electricity expenditure for the prior billing period. You will be notified on your invoice of the payment due date, which will be no less than 5 working days following the date of your invoice. You must pay us by direct credit (bank transfer) to our bank account shown on your invoice, using your account number as the payment reference, so that payment reaches us by the due date. If we have agreed a different payment method with you, payment by that method must also reach us by the due date.

5.4. What happens if you do not pay us:

If you do not pay us for any amount you are responsible for and which is due under these terms and conditions, or if a payment you make to us is dishonoured, reversed or otherwise fails, we can:

  1. ask you to make the payment again immediately;
  2. charge you our reasonable costs in collecting money you owe us, including bank fees, credit agency fees, legal and court fees;
  3. start our debt process, which may in some circumstances lead to disconnection of the electricity supply to any property supplied under these terms and conditions, as described in clause 9. If your supply is disconnected, you may be charged fees. Any fee we charge reflects a reasonable estimate of our actual costs for that service and is never a penalty or charged to make a profit. We will tell you the amount and reason for a fee before we charge it, and you can ask us for our current schedule of fees at any time.

5.5. Terms of payment:

You need to:

  1. always pay us in full (that means that you cannot deduct amounts from the amount you owe us);
  2. pay by direct credit (bank transfer) to our bank account shown on your invoice, using your account number as the payment reference, unless we have agreed a different payment method with you;
  3. make sure your payment reaches us in cleared funds by the due date shown on your invoice — a payment that fails or does not arrive in time is treated under clause 5.4.

5.6. How estimates work and what you will be charged:

If:

  1. the meter at a property has incorrectly measured the amount of electricity used; or
  2. our meter readers have incorrectly read your meter; or
  3. we cannot access a meter (including remotely) for a long period of time even though you met your access obligations under clause 7; or
  4. we do not have complete or correct records of your electricity usage or any other components used to calculate your charges available at the time,

we will estimate what the actual electricity usage at the property should have been. Where possible, any estimated usage data, including usage information you have provided to us, will be updated with actual usage data, or if we cannot retrieve actual data, we will finalise our estimate after validating it against your meter. Finalised estimate data will then be treated as if it were actual data. If it is required, we will then either credit or debit your account for any differences in calculated charges. We will act reasonably and will take into account whether either of us contributed to the error or could reasonably have been expected to know of it. In the event we cannot provide you with an invoice for over 2 months we will work with you to arrange for you to pay that amount over the following 2 months.

5.7. What to do if you think our invoice or our estimate is wrong:

If you want to dispute an invoice or the calculations in clause 5.6:

  1. you should raise your dispute with us in writing prior to the date your next invoice falls due for payment. If necessary, we will hold the disputed amount separately; or
  2. if you do not raise a dispute with us prior to the date your next invoice falls due for payment, then the calculated charge for this electricity remains payable as part of your invoice by the due date.

5.8. Checking your usage:

Your electricity bill includes a breakdown of your usage. You can also log in to the Ecosmart app to see your usage, spend and live spot prices, including per day and per half hour. You can ask us for information about your electricity consumption at any time and we will provide it to you.

5.9. We might ask you for a bond:

We may require a bond from you as security before we can start, or continue, supplying electricity to your property or properties, in case you default on your account. If we ask for a bond, you must pay it by the date we give you before supply starts or continues. Any bond we require will be reasonable. We work it out for your property: a reasonable estimate of your expected charges for a single billing period, based on your expected usage and allowing for the fact that on a spot-price plan a bill in a cold or high-priced period can be well above your average month. Because spot prices vary, if wholesale prices change significantly we may talk with you about adjusting your bond up or down — this also helps you check that a spot market plan still suits you. Clause 5.10 explains how we hold and refund your bond.

5.10. The terms of any bond:

If we exercise clause 5.9, we will tell you why we need a bond, how much we require, when it must be paid to us, how long we will hold it, how we will repay it and other relevant information. We do not pay interest on bonds. We will refund your bond after no more than 12 months of on-time payments, or when your account closes (whichever comes first), less any amount that is then due and unpaid. If your account is closing, we can use your bond to settle your final invoice and will refund the rest.

5.11. Credit balances on your account:

In the event you have a credit balance on your account, it may only be used to pay for electricity supplied by us. Alternatively, we will refund credit balances into your nominated bank account.

5.12. Our Consumer Care Policy and help if you are having trouble paying:

We have a Consumer Care Policy that explains how we care for our residential customers — including how we help customers who are having trouble paying, and the protections for medically dependent consumers. It complies with the Electricity Authority's Consumer Care Obligations, is available on our website, and is separate from these terms and conditions. We will tell you about it and give you a copy or a link when you sign up. If you are finding it hard to pay, or think you might, please tell us as early as you can — we will work with you, can offer a payment support plan based on what you can afford, and (with your agreement) can refer you to free financial mentoring or energy efficiency support. Disconnection for non-payment is always a last resort.

6. Our pricing and other amounts we may need to charge you

6.1. Your electricity pricing at your property:

Pricing for the electricity we supply may be different for each property supplied by us. The reason for this is that there are pricing variations (including, for example, the metering set up, or the time of day that electricity is used) that will apply to each property.

6.2. How your electricity pricing is calculated:

The actual cost of your electricity for each half hour will vary. Your bill is determined by the total of:

  1. the wholesale cost of the electricity for that respective time period (also known as the “spot price”); and
  2. the cost of transmitting and distributing electricity from the point of generation to your particular property during that respective time period and the associated charges of the party(ies) responsible for that transmission and distribution; and
  3. our metering charge — a flat daily charge covering what the meter owner charges us for the meter(s) at your property and for collecting your half-hour usage data; and
  4. our regulatory levies charge — a flat charge per unit of electricity you import, covering the mandatory industry levies and fees we must pay because we supply you (including the Electricity Authority levy and the cost of belonging to the Utilities Disputes dispute resolution scheme), together with any other mandatory industry levies, charges, taxes or fees of any nature; and
  5. our retail charge ("Ecosmart charges"), which we use to service you as our customer.

The metering charge and the regulatory levies charge are flat rates rather than exact pass-throughs of the underlying costs. Metering costs differ between metering companies and between properties, and some levies are charged to us in ways that do not map neatly onto your usage (for example, per customer connection per year) — so instead of passing on a different amount for every property, we set each of these charges as a reasonable estimate of the average cost across our customers. In any given period they may be slightly more or slightly less than the exact costs attributable to your property. We set them to recover our costs overall, not to make a profit, and we review them periodically against what these items actually cost us. The current rates are published on our website and shown on your invoice.

6.3. There will be variations in the pricing of electricity supplied:

Pricing for electricity supplied to a property will not only vary throughout the day (every half hour) but also over the course of a year. Prices for transmission and distribution tend to be reviewed by the respective suppliers annually, but can sometimes change more regularly than that. Our metering charge and regulatory levies charge are flat rates that we review as described in clause 6.2. We will give you 30 days' notice of price changes for the various components referred to in 6.2 above, with the exception of the spot price which will be priced as per the market with no notice and where we are given shorter periods of notice by the respective suppliers.

6.4. Sometimes half-hour prices you are charged are not final:

In some exceptional circumstances, the wholesale cost of energy for a half-hour time period(s) may not be finalised before your invoice is due to be generated. In this instance, you will be charged what the wholesale market refers to as the “interim price” for energy supplied to you during the respective half-hour time periods. If your invoice contains charges that are calculated using interim prices we will notify you by email. In almost all cases interim prices should be finalised prior to your next invoice. Once finalised, should the final price vary from the interim price, we will either credit or debit your account for any differences in calculated charges.

6.5. Pricing will have GST added:

Prices on our website and in this contract are generally shown exclusive of GST — as is standard for electricity industry charges — with the GST-inclusive amount shown alongside. GST is charged in addition at the rate set by law, and the total shown on your invoice includes GST.

6.6. Other charges:

We may also charge you for other products or services you require in relation to the supply of electricity to your property (such as remote reconnections or testing metering equipment). The fees for these types of products and services will appear as a separate line item on your invoice. If you ask us to provide a product or service that involves an additional cost, or if you incur a fee or cost under these terms and conditions, we will tell you the total amount you will need to pay and whether there are ways you can avoid that fee or cost. In some cases the costs are specific to a property (such as decommissioning the electricity from a property). In these instances we will provide you with an estimate of the cost. Any fee we charge reflects a reasonable estimate of our actual costs for that service and is never a penalty or charged to make a profit, and we will tell you the amount and reason for a fee before we charge it.

6.7. Recovering those fees from you:

Provided we have given you notice of the amount and the reason, any money you owe us under these terms and conditions is payable by the due date of the invoice it appears on, or by the date stated in our notice.

7. Access to each property

7.1. Safe and clear access:

For safety and security of supply and other reasons, we and others involved in the supply of electricity to the property need clear and safe access to:

  1. each property and any land over which you have an easement or right to pass electricity;
  2. all metering equipment; and
  3. any equipment used to supply electricity.

7.2. Some of your specific responsibilities:

  1. Restoring supply following an interruption: It is very important that you provide us, the network company and meter owner (and any agent or subcontractor of any of us) with access any time to restore electricity during an interruption in your area, to ensure safety, or to protect people or property;
  2. Maintenance and compliance: during business hours, you must allow us, the network company and meter owner (and any agent or subcontractor of any of us) access to each property (including to meters and other equipment that may be inside) to:
    i. connect, suspend or disconnect your electricity supply;
    ii. read meters;
    iii. ensure that trees, vegetation, buildings and other obstacles are clear of electricity lines or electrical equipment and meters. If you do not keep them clear you may be charged for the cost of clearing the trees, vegetation or obstacles if we reasonably determine it is required;
    iv. install, inspect, work on or remove any equipment necessary to provide electricity;
    v. investigate or repair any damage or interference or suspected damage or interference with the distribution or any equipment used to supply electricity.

7.3. Installing load control equipment:

You must also allow clear and safe access to a property if we or a network company or meter owner need to install or maintain equipment for load control.

7.4. Notice we’ll give you before accessing the property:

Except in an emergency situation or where access is routine (for example, inspecting a meter on the outside of a building), where access is required by a third party, we will give you written notice of when and why access to a property is required. That notice will be at least 10 business days prior to access if it is for construction, upgrade, repair or maintenance; and a reasonable timeframe if access is to inspect or operate any equipment used in connection with generating, transforming, converting or conveying electricity. However, if we receive less notice than this from a third party who is not under our control and has the right to access your property (such as a network company) then we will give you as much notice as practicable after we have received notice.

7.5. We will access the property appropriately:

If under this clause 7, we, our employees or agents access your property we will:

  1. take reasonable steps to minimise direct impacts on the property or inconvenience to you, and to comply with your reasonable requirements;
  2. ensure our employees and agents carry identification showing they are our authorised representatives and show you this on your request and identify themselves before entering that property;
  3. ensure our employees and agents act courteously and professionally at all times.

7.6. What might happen if you don’t provide us the required access:

If we are acting in accordance with this clause 7, and you do not provide clear and safe access, we or the network company may need to temporarily disconnect your electricity supply.

8. Your responsibilities in relation to the electricity supply equipment on the property

8.1. Things you need to do:

You must take reasonable steps to:

  1. make sure nothing on your property interferes with or damages the distribution network;
  2. ensure the safety, security and maintenance of any electricity lines and equipment used on each property;
  3. ensure the safety, security and maintenance of any electricity lines and equipment past a distribution connection point to any dwelling or premises on a property;
  4. keep trees, vegetation and other obstacles away from meters and the electricity lines - this includes anything overhanging from neighbouring premises;
  5. make sure there is sufficient secure space at each property for metering equipment and other equipment we or the network company think is necessary to supply electricity to you;
  6. make sure that other people at a property comply with your obligations under this clause 8.

8.2. Tell us if there is damage:

You must notify us or your network company as soon as you become aware of any damage to, or fault with, meters or equipment.

8.3. Things you cannot do:

You must not:

  1. connect or disconnect a property to a distribution network, or interconnect two or more network connection points (these are the points at which a property connects to an isolating device on the distribution network);
  2. interfere with or work on a network company's lines or equipment;
  3. take a supply of electricity from anywhere along the electricity lines between a distribution connection point and the meter;
  4. interfere with any meter or other equipment used to supply you electricity;
  5. generate electricity or inject it into a distribution network unless you have been authorised to do so;
  6. use a distribution network to send or receive any signal or communication.

8.4. More things you cannot do:

Meters, meter reading equipment, and other equipment that we, a network or metering company own, does not belong to you, but to the party responsible for supplying it. You must never:

  1. interfere with or remove a meter or meter reading equipment;
  2. interfere with any other equipment supplied by us or a network company;
  3. allow any mortgage, security interest or other charge to be created over a meter or other equipment that we, a network or metering company own, or otherwise interfere with ownership of any of them.

8.5. Keep trees trimmed:

You have obligations under the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 to, for example, keep trees free from power lines.

8.6. What happens if you do not meet your responsibilities:

If you do not meet your obligations in clauses 5, 7 and 8 we will inform you and, if necessary, give you time to rectify or to take dispute resolution proceedings:

  1. and if we (or third parties such as network companies or metering equipment providers) incur costs or charges, for example we (or third parties) have to do work that you should have done, we may charge you for that work;
  2. and if the failure is material or persistent and is clearly established, we may:
    i. disconnect your electricity supply and refuse to reconnect your property;
    ii. require you to switch to another retailer;
    iii. inform the Police where we consider that the matter is serious enough.

8.7. Your obligations to network companies:

You must:

  1. comply with the network company’s network connection standards that apply to your property; these include safety and technical requirements. You can obtain a copy of each of these from the relevant network company. If you are unsure who your network company is, you can contact us to find out;
  2. follow any instructions given to you by a network company to make sure its electricity lines or equipment on your premises is safe;
  3. if a property has load control devices, allow us or the network company to control their operation as we or others choose;
  4. accept that a network company may interrupt your electricity supply if we are in default under our contract with the network company.

8.8. We will pass on compensation we receive from network companies:

If we receive compensation from a network company or another third party for losses that result from an interruption to electricity supply, we will pass that on to you.

8.9. Claims for network company issues:

If you suffer a loss or damage because of something the network company does or does not do, you can only claim from us what we can recover from the network company, and that is applicable to you.

8.10. Network company liability is limited:

Each network company has excluded or limited its liability to you and to us. Unless the agreement we have with a network company provides otherwise, all liability any network company may have to you is excluded, as much as the law allows.

8.11. Your financial responsibility to network companies:

If you damage network company equipment or distribution, you may be liable for any damage you cause. If a network company suffers direct loss or damage which is caused or contributed to by your fraud, dishonesty, or willful misconduct, you will be liable to make good that loss or damage.

8.12. Other provisions that network companies can enforce:

The provisions of clauses 3, 7, 8 and 9 that allow a network company to interrupt electricity supply, oblige you to give access to and look after network company equipment and lines and cooperate with each network company are intended for the benefit of and are enforceable against you by each network company under subpart 1 of Part 2 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017.

9. Ending or suspending our obligation to supply electricity to you

9.1. Payment to us:

You have to pay for all electricity supplied, and for all fees charged to you, to each property until:

  1. the date you or we notify the other that you’ve ended the supply of electricity under these terms and conditions; or
  2. the later of the following dates:
    i. when you move out of that property; or
    ii. when you notify us you have moved out of that property.

9.2. If you want to switch to another electricity supplier:

You may switch to another electricity supplier or end the supply of electricity in accordance with these terms and conditions at any time. In these events you will need to pay for all electricity supplied to your property(ies) and any other charges you owe us. It is up to you to arrange for your new supplier to supply electricity to your property.

9.3. Tell us if you are moving out of a property:

If you are moving out of your property, you must tell us 2 business days in advance so we can prepare a final invoice(s) for that property.

9.4. Tell us if you want electricity supply suspended:

If you want the electricity supply to a property suspended temporarily or permanently, you must tell us 10 business days in advance. You may incur a charge for disconnection or reconnection when you ask us to do either of these things, or if we have had to disconnect.

9.5. Our obligations in relation to your switch to another electricity supplier:

The timeframes in clauses 9.3 and 9.4 are within accepted industry standards and relevant laws. If you switch to another retailer, we will switch you to that other retailer in accordance with industry standard and relevant laws and facilitate the switch.

9.6. When we will disconnect the electricity supply:

If you no longer need electricity supplied to a property at all, we will stop your electricity supply as soon as reasonably practical after you notify us of that (while making sure disconnection occurs safely).

9.7. Reasons electricity supply might be disconnected:

Either we or a network company may disconnect your electricity supply to any property if you:

  1. do not pay us for amounts invoiced under these terms and conditions. However we will not disconnect you if the amount unpaid is the subject of a genuine dispute resolution process, or is an estimated amount;
  2. do not meet your obligations in relation to any material term or condition or you persistently do not meet your obligations in relation to any other term or condition. We will not disconnect you if the matter in question is subject to the dispute resolution process. Before disconnecting you, we will give you the chance to meet your obligations (if it is possible to do so) and we will tell you how to do that;
  3. move into a property that we supply electricity to and you do not tell us.

9.8. Notice of disconnection:

We use our best endeavours to make sure that disconnecting a property for non-payment is a genuine last resort. Before we disconnect a property for not paying an electricity invoice, we will follow our Consumer Care Policy and the Electricity Authority's Consumer Care Obligations. In particular, we will:

  1. work with you to try to resolve the overdue amount, including reminding you of our Consumer Care Policy and offering a payment support plan suited to your circumstances;
  2. make at least five attempts to contact you;
  3. send you at least two written disconnection notices, normally by email in accordance with clause 13.3 — an initial notice no earlier than 28 days after the unpaid invoice was issued, and a final notice no earlier than 44 days after it was issued. We will give the final notice at least 24 hours, and no more than 10 days, before disconnection;
  4. set out in those notices how you can avoid disconnection, the payment options and support available, our internal complaints process and Utilities Disputes, the fees that may apply to disconnection and reconnection, contact details for Work and Income, and information about medically dependent consumers; and
  5. satisfy ourselves that no one at the property is a medically dependent consumer, and that you have not agreed to (or are not keeping to) a payment support plan.

We will only disconnect for non-payment of amounts relating to the electricity we supply, and not for any other product or service. We will not disconnect at a time that is unsafe or that would make rapid reconnection unreasonably difficult — this means we will not disconnect on a Friday, a weekend, the day before a public holiday, at night, or during (or just before) a severe weather event. If you contact us before disconnection, we will work with you to try to avoid it, even if you have not responded to us before.

9.9. If electricity is needed for critical medical equipment:

If you tell us, or we otherwise become aware, that you or someone at the property may be a medically dependent consumer (someone who relies on mains electricity for critical medical support, where losing supply could risk their life or serious harm), we will treat that person as medically dependent while we assess the position, and we will not disconnect the property for non-payment while we know a medically dependent consumer may live there. We will also give advice about preparing an individual emergency response plan, because electricity supply can never be guaranteed. How to be recorded as a medically dependent consumer, and the protections that apply, are set out in our Consumer Care Policy. We may still disconnect a property if there is an immediate safety risk.

9.10. Disconnections for safety and electricity supply reasons:

We or a network company may disconnect or disrupt your electricity supply without notice for safety reasons, where there has been an occurrence or circumstances that may adversely affect the proper working of the distribution network or the transmission system, or where there is an emergency.

9.11. Reconnection after you meet requirements:

If we disconnect you (including because you have not paid us) and you satisfy our reasonable requirements for reconnection, we will restore your electricity supply as soon as is reasonably practicable. If a disconnection was made in error, or affected a medically dependent consumer or someone who has applied to be recorded as one, we will reconnect the property immediately and at no cost.

9.12. What happens if we default:

If we commit a relevant event of default as defined under the Electricity Industry Participation Code 2010:

  1. the Electricity Authority can require us to provide information about you and can:
    i. transfer that information and all or any part of our rights and responsibilities under these terms and conditions to another electricity retailer (new retailer); and
    ii. amend these terms and conditions to be consistent with, or more favourable than, the standard contract that the new retailer would normally have offered you immediately before we committed the event of default; and
    iii. amend these terms and conditions to include a minimum term, so that you must stay supplied by the new retailer for that term unless you pay a cancellation fee.
  2. should we already have a legal arrangement in place with another electricity retailer (new retailer), we may perform the tasks outlined in clause 9.12.1 in order to expedite the transfer process to this new retailer and ensure the continued supply of electricity to your property.

10. Use of your information

10.1. Your personal information:

The Privacy Act 2020 applies to personal information. You must make sure the information you give us is correct and up to date.

10.2. Our Privacy Policy sets out how we collect, store, use, disclose and keep secure your personal information:

Our Privacy Policy is available on our website and forms part of these terms and conditions. It sets out how we will collect, hold, use, disclose and keep secure personal information. We can change our Privacy Policy by providing 30 days' notice. That notice will be provided on our website and will include reasons for any change.

11. Use of our website, app and tools

11.1. We will make our website, apps and other tools available to you.

The use of website, tools, apps or the like requires your acceptance of the terms relating to those specific items. These will be made available on our website, through email or via any app where applicable.

11.2. Our app and tools are information tools only:

The information shown in our app, on our website and in any alerts or notifications we provide — including spot prices, price forecasts, usage, spend and balance figures — is indicative and provisional. It may be delayed, estimated, incomplete or temporarily unavailable, and it is not the basis of your bill. Your invoices are calculated as described in clauses 5 and 6; they may initially use estimated usage data or interim prices, and may be corrected (washed up) when actual data or final prices become available, as described in clauses 5.6 and 6.4. If information in the app differs from an invoice, the invoice applies (and you can query it under clause 5.7).

11.3. Do not rely on our tools as your only way of managing your usage:

We do not guarantee that the app, website, alerts or other tools will be available, accurate or up to date at any particular time. Spot prices can change and spike at any time, including while our tools are unavailable or delayed. You remain responsible for managing your electricity usage and its cost, and should not rely on our tools — including any price alerts — as your only means of doing so. Wholesale spot prices are independently published by the market operator on WITS (www1.electricityinfo.co.nz); if our tools are unavailable, use WITS as the authoritative source of price information.

11.4. Our responsibility for the tools:

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for any loss arising from your use of, reliance on, or inability to use the app, website, alerts or other tools, including loss caused by unavailable, delayed or inaccurate information. Nothing in this clause limits your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (see clause 12.5), and clause 12 applies to any liability we do have.

12. How much you and we might be responsible for under these terms and conditions

12.1. If we cause damage:

If we damage property by not taking reasonable care, and that damage was reasonably foreseeable we will pay the costs of repairing the damage or replacing damaged property (at our discretion) up to a maximum of $10,000 for any single event or series of closely related events. In the event we rely on this clause, your rights under clause 12.5 remain.

12.2. We are only responsible for direct loss we cause:

Except where we are liable to you under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or the Fair Trading Act 1986, we will not be liable to you for any indirect or consequential loss, or loss of profits or business or any similar claims.

12.3. Our total amount of financial responsibility to you:

If for any reason we are found to be liable to you, our total maximum liability under these terms and conditions is limited to $10,000 for any single event or series of related events.

12.4. Your financial responsibility for damage to equipment:

If you damage any of our property or equipment or any meters or associated equipment we may require you to pay the reasonable cost of repair or replacement of them up to a maximum of $10,000 for any single event or series of related events. This limit does not apply to your obligation to pay for electricity.

12.5. How the Consumer Guarantees Act applies:

The Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 applies to these terms and conditions. These terms and conditions do not detract from your rights under that Act. We will supply electricity to the standards required under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

If you are receiving electricity and services for the purposes of a business, you agree that the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 will not apply to this contract.

13. Miscellaneous

13.1. You cannot transfer this supply arrangement:

You cannot transfer any of your rights and obligations under these terms and conditions to any other person.

13.2. When we will tell you about changes to these terms and conditions:

We will give you at least 30 days' notice of changes to these terms and conditions. Where we materially change terms and conditions, we will use our best endeavours to explain why we are making the change.

13.3. How we will notify you:

We can send notices to you using the email address you have provided to us. Notices are deemed received the day after they are sent. It is important that you provide us your current email address on an ongoing basis and it is your responsibility to keep it up to date.  The email address you supply us is deemed a viable method of transmission of any and all communications between ourselves and you.  It is also important that you make our email addresses a trusted source so our communications do not end up in your junk/spam folders.

13.4. Continuing your electricity supply if we have financial issues:

If we think that a receiver, liquidator, administrator or other similar officer is likely to be appointed in respect of our business, we will take all reasonable steps to ensure you continue to receive electricity supply to your properties.

13.5. Clauses that continue after the end of our supply obligations:

Any clauses that are intended to have effect after termination continue to have effect. This includes clauses 5-12 inclusive and this clause 13.5.

13.6. Our transfer of your supply arrangements to another electricity supplier:

We may transfer all or any part of our rights and responsibilities under these terms and conditions to another electricity supplier. We will give you at least 30 days' notice of this, where you can access the information you need to contact the new electricity supplier and when the transfer will take place.

13.7. Clauses for the benefit of the Electricity Authority:

Clause 13.6 (that allows us to transfer our rights and obligations under this contract to another retailer) and clause 9.12.1 (that allows the Electricity Authority to transfer your contract to another retailer and amend your contract) are also intended for the benefit of and are enforceable against you by the Electricity Authority under subpart 1 of Part 2 of the Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017. Clauses 13.6 and 9.12.1 cannot be amended without the consent of the Electricity Authority.

13.8. Other parties may help us:

We may subcontract or delegate our responsibilities under these terms and conditions to other people or companies.

13.9. References to:

  1. us, we and Ecosmart are to Ecosmart New Zealand Limited;
  2. a network company; and
  3. a meter owner; in each case include its subsidiaries, employees, contractors and agents.
    References to "an individual" means to a natural person. Reference to something in the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

13.10. Other documents are incorporated into these terms and conditions:

These terms and conditions are a contract between us and you and are comprised of these terms and conditions, the Privacy Policy is available on our website and referred to in these terms and conditions.

14. Resolution process and contact details

14.1. How to make a complaint:

If you have a complaint, you should tell us as soon as possible. Please contact our customer support team in the first instance. Our complaints process is free.

14.2. What we will do once we receive your complaint:

Once we have received your complaint, we will reply to you within 2 working days to confirm we have received it. We will also decide whether we think your complaint is related to network company services, or our service.

14.3. If the complaint relates to services of the network company:

If we think your complaint is related to network company services, we will liaise with your network company and work with them to manage and resolve your complaint.

14.4. If the complaint relates to services we provide:

If we think your complaint is related to our service then from there we will contact you directly to work through the issue with you, and continue to update you via email.

14.5. What to do if the complaint takes a while to resolve:

We will monitor your complaint progress regularly to ensure we resolve it with you as soon as possible. We aim to resolve all complaints within 20 working days. If it takes us longer than 20 working days to resolve your problem, then we will contact you to let you know why, how much longer it will take, and to discuss your options.

14.6. Your other options to seek resolution:

If you’re not satisfied:

  1. We are a member of Utilities Disputes, a free and independent dispute resolution scheme. If for some reason you are dissatisfied about the resolution of your complaint, or we cannot resolve your complaint or problem within 20 working days, you can take your complaint to Utilities Disputes:
    www.udl.co.nz
    Email: info@udl.co.nz
    Free Phone: 0800 22 33 40
    You have 2 months to lodge a complaint with Utilities Disputes from the time we notify you of our final resolution.
  2. You can also take your complaint to the courts or the disputes tribunal.

These terms and conditions were last updated on 25 July 2026.