Retail
9 August 2013
General Managers of Retailers
Company
Address 1
Address 2
Address 3
Dear Name
Request for information: voluntary/confidential
The Electricity Authority (Authority) requested the Retail Advisory Group (RAG) to review
options for promoting retail competition by increasing consumers’ propensity to compare and
switch retailers. The RAG released a consultation paper on 9 April 2013, seeking views on
actions the Authority could take after April 2014, when the Consumer Switching Fund (CSF) and
the ‘What’s My Number’ (WMN) campaign and related initiatives are scheduled to cease.
The RAG is currently analysing submissions along with other information that it has access to,
such as survey information, to assist it in making its recommendation to the Board on options
the Authority can take to promote retail competition by increasing consumers’ propensity to
compare and switch retailers.
At the latest RAG meeting on 13 July 2013, some RAG members noted that retailers are likely
to undertake their own consumer surveys or collate other information relevant to consumer
attitudes and behaviour (which may include analysing the drivers of consumer behaviour, best
communication channels, etc.) and that retailers might be willing to share this information with
the RAG and the Authority.
Further to this the RAG is asking retailers, on a completely voluntary basis, whether they are
prepared to provide any information they might have on what makes consumers switch (or not
switch), how to target specific consumer groups, which consumer groups should be targeted,
along with any survey information retailers may have compiled that is relevant to consumer
behaviour. For examples of types of information that might be useful, please refer to
http://www.ea.govt.nz/consumer/csf/ which provides information on the CSF and includes
examples of national surveys, campaign surveys and various reports on consumer switching.
Note that the RAG and the Authority would greatly appreciate any information that retailers think
could assist the RAG to review options for promoting retail competition by increasing
consumers’ propensity to compare and switch retailers. All information provided to the RAG and
the Authority in response to this request will be treated as strictly confidential. However, the
Authority is covered by the Official Information Act 1982 and may receive requests that covers
the information provided. Accordingly, please be sure to clearly mark any information that you
consider to be commercially sensitive. If the Authority receives an Official Information Act
request, it will not decide whether to provide the information to any other party without first
consulting the retailer that provided the information.
If possible, please provide any information by Friday 16 August 2013. Please note that provision
of information in response to this request is completely voluntary. If you have any questions
regarding this request, please contact Blair Robertson, Adviser Retail and Network Markets, at
04 460 8873 or blair.robertson@ea.govt.nz. Please send any information you are willing to
provide to Blair Robertson at blair.robertson@ea.govt.nz or if by post, to:
Blair Robertson
Electricity Authority
PO Box 10041,
Wellington 6143, New Zealand
Yours sincerely
Peter Allport
Chairman
Retail Advisory Group
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