Auckland households are staying put with their power companies despite falling satisfaction, new research shows.

A consumer electricity survey by Entrust found satisfaction with electricity retailers dropped from 74 percent in 2018 to 64 percent in 2025.

Over the same period, switching rates fell from 51 percent to 32 percent, with fewer households comparing plans or changing providers.

Entrust says the trend suggests competition is not working as intended.

Confidence among consumers that they are on the right electricity plan has declined, yet this has not led to more switching.

Even when people do change retailer, results are mixed.

Only 47 percent said they were more satisfied after switching, while 35 percent reported no difference.

Entrust Chair Denise Lee says switching should be increasing, not falling, when satisfaction is dropping.

She says the figures raise concerns about whether consumers are getting the benefits a competitive electricity market is meant to deliver, including lower prices.

The findings align with monitoring data from the Electricity Authority, which shows residential switching peaked in 2018 and has declined since.

For Hibiscus Coast households, the issue is practical.

Power bills remain a major household cost, and lower switching rates mean fewer families may be accessing cheaper plans that could be available to them.

With no local price relief built into the system, staying inactive can mean paying more than necessary over time.

Entrust says improving competition is critical to making electricity more affordable for households and businesses, and to ensure consumers feel confident to shop around when prices rise.

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