Figures from the Ministry of Economic Development have confirmed what we all know - power prices have increased in the past year.
The latest survey of domestic power prices showed that in the 12 months to May, Otago customers of all but one company faced increases from as little as $52 (Contact Energy Dunedin) to as much as $393 (Pulse Energy Central Otago).
In the Waitaki, a small number of TrustPower customers had a reduction of 9.9%, or $201, in their yearly power bill.
In Dunedin, the greatest increase was from Genesis Energy - $211, up 13% in a year and up 7.1% from February to May. The figures were based on a domestic consumer using 8000kWh a year.
Genesis also had some of the larger increases around the region - $263 in Central Otago, $246 in Queenstown and $309 for OtagoNet customers, although the highest came from Pulse and Just Energy in those areas.
Genesis public affairs manager Richard Gordon said the company had increased its prices overall by 8% for any new customers from March as a result of the increase in line charges coming through from the upgrade of the national grid.
The increase did not apply to existing customers, as Genesis had kept its rates competitive last year to attract customers in Otago.
Jason Davis, a spokesman for Pulse Utilities, the head company for Pulse Energy and Just Energy, said while the increase looked large for the two retail companies, it did not take into account the prompt payment discount of 22% they offered.
The 10% increase was the result of increases coming through from the lines companies and the wholesale price going up as a result of low dam levels, he said.
The retailer with the lowest price increase in Dunedin was Contact with a 2.6% increase.
However, Contact had the highest kilowatt charge for May of 25.92c, while Powershop had the lowest at 22.60c per kWh.
Contact Energy spokesman Jeremy Seed said its 120,000 residential customers would have received an average increase of 2.4% as a result of increased network costs.
The ministry report was based on one tariff rate and average costs, which was not wholly reflective of what its customers paid, as many were registered for online discounts of 22%, Mr Seed said.
Prices for TrustPower customers went down in the Waitaki by 9.9%, and rose by $82 in Queenstown. The lowest increase in Central Otago, $88, was from Powershop.
TrustPower spokesman Graeme Purches said the reduction in the Waitaki was due to the company competing in a market it had not previously competed in, providing an option that was a price reduction.
Overall, the ministry figures were "meaningless" in terms of what the average customer actually used power-wise, so it was important customers checked with their supplier to make sure they were on the most suitable option for them, he said.
Powershop chief executive Ari Sargent said the figures showed how important it was for people to shop around to get the best deal possible.
Network charges made up about 40% of a residential customer's bill and the planned upgrades would account for about 2% to 4% of the price increases, he said.
