Mercury to bring power to Western BOP

By NZPA

Thursday 18th July 2002

The main supplier of electricity in Auckland city for more than 80 years is having a crack at the Western Bay of Plenty market.

Mercury Energy, which provides power to 250,000 homes and businesses in Auckland, Manukau, Papakura, Thames Valley and Northland, has begun an advertising campaign to attract local residential and business customers.

The Bay move is part of its strategy to spread its brand right across the top half of the North Island.

The company is also looking to expand into Hamilton, Cambridge, Te Awamutu, Rotorua and Taupo.

"We believe we can become one of the major competitors in the northern part of the North Island," said Mercury Energy spokeswoman Angela Armstrong.

"We believe customers are looking for a full-service brand."

Mercury, owned by state electricity generator Mighty River Power, is offering monthly meter readings and a range of payment options including credit card, 10 percent prompt payment discount and 2 percent discount for electronic payment -- not unlike key local retailer TrustPower.

Mercury has started preparing a pricing structure but it was reluctant to release details, saying "we will be competitive."

The move doesn't worry TrustPower, which has a 90 percent share of the total Western Bay market.

"We always welcome competition," TrustPower chief executive Keith Tempest said.

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