Powershop review

Powershop is an online, app-first power company that built its reputation on doing retail electricity differently, showing customers what they are using in far more detail than the industry norm, and not locking anyone in. It is part of the Meridian Energy group, so a large generator sits behind what feels like a small, independent brand.

What Powershop actually offers

Powershop's current plan is Get Shifty, built around moving electricity use away from peak demand. The logic is the same one running through much of the market now: the grid is most strained in the early evening, power is most expensive to supply then, and a household that can move its heavy use out of that window should pay less for doing so.

The company states it has no fixed-term contracts for residential customers. That matters more than it might appear. It means trying Powershop is a reversible decision, and it means the company has to keep you by being good rather than by holding a term over you.

We saw $150 of free power advertised as a joining offer when we checked on 27 July 2026. Joining offers change, so treat that as a snapshot and confirm what is current when you enquire.

The other thing Powershop is known for is visibility. The app and account have historically given much more granular information about consumption than most retailers provide, which is genuinely useful if you are trying to change your usage rather than just pay the bill.

Who it suits

Powershop suits people who want to engage with their power use. If you are the sort of person who will look at the app, notice that the hot water cylinder is the biggest line, and do something about it, you will get more out of Powershop than out of a company that simply sends you a bill.

It suits households that can shift load into cheaper periods.

And it suits anyone who dislikes being locked in. No fixed term means no term to serve out.

What to watch

It is online-first, and that is the deal. There is no branch network. If you would rather ring someone and talk it through, this is a genuine trade-off rather than a detail.

We could not confirm mains gas. If your home runs piped gas for hot water or heating, you may need a second supplier, which usually costs more overall than a dual-fuel account. Check directly.

The model takes a moment to click. Powershop's approach to buying power has historically been less conventional than a standard monthly bill. Most people find it fine once used to it, but it is worth understanding how billing works before you switch rather than after.

How Powershop compares

Against Electric Kiwi, Powershop is the closest comparison among the companies we list: both are online-first, both reward load shifting, both avoid locking customers in. Electric Kiwi's distinguishing feature is the free Hour of Power; Powershop's is the depth of usage visibility and the Meridian group behind it.

Against the big generator-retailers, Powershop trades breadth for focus. There is no gas bundle and no mobile plan. It does electricity, and it does it in a particular way.

As with everyone we list, we do not yet show what Powershop costs. Electricity is priced by network region, user type and meter configuration, and we are collecting rate files from the companies directly rather than estimating. Compare on what is verifiable: no fixed term, the shifting structure, the joining offer, and confirm the numbers with Powershop before signing up.