Low User Plans You could benefit from changing to one of our Low User Plans if your electricity usage is less than 8,000kWh a year, or 9,000 kWh a year from 1 April 2009 if you live in the Lower South region. Our low user plans have a lower fixed daily charge than our standard options and a higher variable charge for the electricity used. The amount of the variable rate varies depending on where you live and what type of meter your property has. As a guide, the Lower South region consists of all areas South of and including Christchurch, but excluding the West Coast, please refer to the map below. If you have any questions about this, please call our Customer Service Team on 0800 34 00 00 The benefits of changing to a Low User plan are likely to be marginal if your usage is within 1,000kWh per year of the values stated above. Does my home qualify?
To qualify for a low user pricing plan, your home must: - be used or intended for occupation mainly as a place of residence
- be your principal place of residence, and
- not be covered by an exemption to the Electricity (Low Fixed Charge
Tariff Option for Domestic Consumers) Regulations 2004.
 To change to a Low user plan or find out more, please email us at support@empower.co.nz or call our Customer Service Team on 0800 34 00 00.
Staying safe with electricity
Electricity really does power our lives! These tips will help make sure you and your family use it safely.
Water and electricity don't mix!
- Dry your hands before you touch electrical appliances.
- Wear dry shoes with rubber soles if you use an electrical appliance outside or on a wet floor.
- Keep electrical appliances away from water.
- Leave portable electric heaters outside your bathroom. It's much safer to have a fixed heater installed by an electrician.
- Keep appliances away from swimming pools. Don't use extension cables that reach to your pool.
- Keep appliances and cords out of the rain.
- Don't wash electrical equipment or appliances, even if unplugged. Just wipe over with a dry cloth.
- Outside meter boxes and switch boards are particularly vulnerable to water damage. It is the customer's responsibility to maintain weather tightness of the meter box. If you can see water has entered the box, or you are in doubt, please call a licensed electrical worker to check it.
Keep your children safe
- Keep appliance cords out of reach of children.
- Use plastic socket protectors on your plugs if you have young children around.
- Don't let young children plug in or unplug appliances.
- Don't leave things around children might put in power sockets, like screwdrivers or knitting needles.
- Supervise your children when they use electrical appliances; especially toasters, heaters and fans.
Wear and tear
- Check there are no worn, broken or loose parts before you plug in or turn on appliances.
- Check flexes or cords for any damaged or exposed wires, or fraying or split leads.
- Throw out any damaged leads or have them repaired professionally.
- Don't overload power points by 'piggy-backing' too many plugs into one socket.
- Don't remove plugs from sockets by pulling on the cord.
- Replace cracked or broken power sockets.
Protect yourself around your meter and metering equipment
The meter and the equipment around it can be dangerous so you need to take note of the following to ensure you stay safe:
- You must not tamper with the metering equipment. (Refer Standard Terms and Conditions for definition of metering equipment). You do not own the metering equipment and, therefore, must not allow it to become a fixture or fitting of your property, or move or remove it from the location to which it is supplied without our consent.
- To protect your safety, you need to let us know if you wish to undertake any work on your property that may affect the network or metering equipment (including moving the metering equipment). We need at least five working days notice to make any necessary arrangements.
- You own the meter box itself, and all the wiring and other electrical equipment inside it, except the metering equipment. It is your responsibility to ensure your meter box, sub or fuse board, and any other wiring or piping is maintained. Please check these items regularly.
- Make sure only a licensed electrical worker carries out repairs on any equipment at your property and always ask to see their Practising Licence.
Protect yourself and your appliances
Use an RCD (Residual Current Device) or an isolating transformer for portable electrical appliances such as power tools, concrete mixers or electric mowers. RCDs give you instant protection against injury from electric shock. Options include:
- Having an RCD installed in an existing socket outlet (all bathrooms have RCD-protected sockets)
- Having an RCD installed in your switchboard to protect a number of circuits, or
- Buying a portable RCD.
A surge protector will stop damage from electrical spikes or surges. It's important for:
- Computers (especially if you use a modem)
- Stereo equipment
- Television and video equipment
- Cordless phones
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- If you install a number of new appliances, or a large appliance such as a spa or central heating system, we recommend you get a licensed electrical worker to check the capability of your meter board and wiring. Overloading these can be dangerous.
- Make sure only a licensed electrical worker or service person carries out repairs on any appliances and always ask to see their Practising Licence.
Ask an expert
- Use a registered electrical worker for any electrical repairs.
- Call an electrician for advice or assistance if you don't know how to change a fuse.
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