I’ve written to EWON, the industry regulator, because despite our office having suffered a fire and being out of use – and Powershop knowing this – its billing does not relate to our zero actual usage. Find any other supplier.
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Could you elucidate the components of their billing, eg service/connection charges and if it shows draw from the grid how much, and the state of the burnt out office, so readers can better understand your issue?
For example if there is a functional alarm system it will draw some power, and so on.
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Despite the fact that our office at Buckingham Street has been out of service – and therefore unused – since February 8, 2025, Powershop’s charges for electricity supply have gone up by $300 in the period since.
On March 25, 2025, I received an email telling me that our Powershop account had $606.73 owing.
Also on March 25 – the same date – I then received another email telling me that this amount had gone up to $682.89, and this extra amount accounted for the period 8 February 2025 - 8 March 2025.
On March 13, I had called Powershop to advise its representative that because of a fire in the adjoining office, our office would be unusable for a minimum of six months, and that there would be no activity taking place within it.
This meant that if we got billed for any usage after this date, because no one was using it, it would be fraudulent.
Again, it appears that this is exactly what has occurred.
Then, on March 28, I received an email relating to this account telling me that, “You’ve still got a credit of $659.10.”
Subtracting this credit from our alleged debt would mean we owed Powershop just $23.79.
Now, however, I’ve received an invoice lifting our debt to $1,011.44, due 3 June 2025.
This is simply fraudulent, and likely not isolated to us alone.
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I’ve written to EWON, the industry regulator, because it is ripping us off. We have one account for home, one account for office, yet it has invented a third, phantom account to scam us, even writing to us, using it as reference.
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As we know a Bill shows the daily supply charge and other levies even if there’s been no lights nor power used, and that is a substantial cost in itself.
And it might be a good idea to check the meter for usage, there could be squatters or someone else on the premises using it.
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Did you specifically ask Powershop to disconnect the supply? As others have written, not using power (yet still connected to it and paying a supply charge) is different to not using power because there is no power supplied…
If still connected, then you still have a supply charge. My (domestic, in Victoria) Powershop supply charge is just over $1/day, or around $31/month. The difference between your current bill and your Feb-March bill (1011-683) is 328, which could just be your supply charge for those months. (I can’t tell from your post exactly how many months it is, and I’m guessing business supply rates may be higher than domestic). Are there any late payment fees further increasing the debt because you didn’t pay the earlier account?
And how certain are you that no-one (at all) is using the office?
Finally, you don’t state whether you have contacted Powershop (other than your initial contact on March 13) to ask about the apparent confusion. I’ve found them very good at answering any questions I’ve had over the past dozen years or so I’ve been with them.
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Per the topic title … My experience with Powershop is: they are OK.
I was with Powershop for a while and I didn’t have any particular problems with them. The only problem was that their pricing eventually became uncompetitive - so I moved elsewhere.
Their web site e.g. for viewing your production / consumption etc. is probably better than average.
My understanding is that Powershop is just a retailer i.e. they know nothing about your supply or your consumption or anything of that nature that does not come from the network operator.
Hence if there were genuinely underlying issues with the billing, it is likely that it would have to escalated.
I guess you can read your own meter too, as a sanity check for the consumption-related component of the bill. I understand that it is too late now but you should have photographed the meter when you vacated the office.
It may help to confirm whether your bill is based on an estimate of consumption (which will come out in the wash eventually). If you suddenly vacate the premises then estimated consumption (based on historical consumption) may be significantly higher than actual consumption.
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No, I have given Powershop no such instruction, so we are not disconnected. However, because we had a fire which has taken out of service every office on our floor for many months to come, and because our business comprises just two people, my wife and I, and neither of us is working there, I can be 100 per cent confident that no one is using that space.
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The crux if the issue is whether you instructed powershop to disconnect the service. Unless you did that you will minimally be paying a daily service fee for the connection and account. Has usage been charged? Are there any chargers in the walls of the unused damaged office? If plugged in to an ‘on’ powerpoint they use a few watts each regardless if they are charging anything.
Unless you are willing to share your bills (personal details redacted of course) it is impossible for us to discern or guess about your situation with them.
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It’s clear from your post that you didn’t disconnect, but can’t use your office due to a fire near by.
Btw there’s no need to let our energy provider know that we are going to be away from the premises for a while, unless we wish to make changes to a payment schedule or such.
But there’s an elephant in the room, no actually there’s two and they are your energy meter and your bill. Do you have access at all to your meter and does it tally with your bill as far as usage is concerned?
Your bill will also show daily supply charge and GST, those are payable even if there’s no lights or power being used (but as it has been mentioned if there’s a fridge, a hot water unit, office equipment, or anything plugged in on standby there will be some usage that’s going to be charged).
It cannot be fraud if the bill tallies with the meter reading, but if usage is unreasonably high for a vacant office it can be malfunctioning, maybe impaired by the fire, or computer error, surely it can be worked out? Please let us know, keep trying with the company 
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If you still have power connected, the strong likelihood is that the bills are for your supply charge and will continue to accrue, since you are being supplied with power, regardless of actual usage or not.
Supply and usage charges are clearly differentiated on my Powershop bill (see below); is there any reason why your bill layout would be very different?
I understand your frustration, however you haven’t stated any other efforts to discuss with Powershop before declaring them fraudulent and lodging a complaint elsewhere. In my experience a phone call to clear up concerns can save a lot of angst…
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It is a NZ company. Doesn’t have very good reviews, especially not on NZ sites and on Trustpilot. Not easy to call. More than one issue is about rate rises without warning.
@grahamlauren Do you really need to have the power on at an unused office? I would be inclined to disconnect with them, who knows what other charges there might be, at least you’d be able to keep going with your inquiries/complaints having put a stop to any further costs.
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Is it an estimated bill?
As the premises has been subject to a fire and if the meter is one that manually read, the metering company may have decided that it is unsafe for its employees to enter the property to read the meter(s). Meter readers also might not be able to access the meters. In such case they will use estimation of energy used which is usually based on the energy used in the preceding year. This website explains more:
At the next actual meter read, adjustments will be made and any overestimated use will be credited to the next bill after the actual meter read.
I can also see why one might not wish for power to be disconnected, if the connection is safe to maintain. If the fire damage is repairable, electricity will be needed for repairs (operating equipment, lighting, ventilation equipment etc). Disconnecting can hinder the ability of repairs to occur, especially if one doesn’t know when they are planned to occur (such as being carried out under an insurance claim where one has jo control over any planned repair works).
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Yes, that’s makes sense and it’s probably the reason the OP has kept the power on even though the office will be vacant for ‘at least the next six months’. But…the power can always be reconnected and often new customers enjoy attractive offers and incentives.
It would confuse and irritate me to receive notifications such as the following:
grahamlauren
On March 25, 2025, I received an email telling me that our Powershop account had $606.73 owing
Also on March 25 – the same date – I then received another email telling me that this amount had gone up to $682.89 and this extra amount accounted for the period 8 February 2025 - 8 March 2025.
Then, on March 28, I received an email relating to this account telling me that, You’ve still got a credit of $659.10
Subtracting this credit from our alleged debt would mean we owed Powershop just $23.79.
Now, however, I’ve received an invoice lifting our debt to $1,011.44, due 3 June 2025.
I’m thinking that asking for a final bill (on the grounds that the premises are vacant) would at least put a stop to the crazy ‘Debit-Credit’ saga and there’d be a set amount of costs to be queried.
Also, the company has gone through a tough time which could account for any errors etc..
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That GetUp campaign was back in 2021. Not sure it had any real impact on Powershop, so possibly not the reason for perceived errors (which the OP has so far failed to provide evidence of, other than their disagreement with and possible misunderstanding of their bills…).
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Shell acquired Powershop in 2022. Those who had been looking for a ‘clean’ energy retailer were very disappointed, data given to the ABC shows a loss of 6K customers. Reviews give voice to the disappointment and to the fact that after the acquisition the company wasn’t giving the same customer service as before.
Regarding the problems that @grahamlauren is facing: I find it difficult to follow exactly what has been going on but those notices of debit and credit are a nightmare. I would cut all ties with them sooner rather than later, but it is up to the OP who after all is a business man.
I wish them all the best in getting favourable results soon 
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