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Powershop is an online electricity retailer, originally founded in New Zealand and available in Australia as well. Powershop is a 51% New Zealand state-owned enterprise and claims to be the first electricity company in the world where consumers can choose between different brands of electrical power listed on the website and switch between them with the click of a button. Different brands of power may offer lower prices, sponsorships or environmental benefits. Users can either let the system automatically buy power from the cheapest supplier, or log in regularly to take advantage of specials. Powershop initially claimed it would always be the cheapest company for the "typical" consumer in New Zealand. This claim was later dropped.〔http://blog.powershop.co.nz/?p=54#comment-1797〕 Powershop was found to be the cheapest electricity retailer for the typical consumer in the main centers by the Ministry of Economic Development.〔(Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices: Updated to 15 August 2009 )〕 It was the best company in Consumers' Institute of New Zealand's 2011 survey of electricity companies. 96% of Powershop customers found it 'good' or 'very good'.〔() ()〕 Powershop was rated 96% again in 2012.〔() ()〕 == History == Meridian traditionally had been a major electricity generator, but only a small retailer.〔http://www.electricitycommission.govt.nz/pdfs/opdev/retail/regstats/regstatspdfs/percenticps/Oct09-Appendix1.html ICP per retailer October 09 - Electricity Commission〕 In 2006, Ari Sargent, an electricity industry veteran, had an idea to increase Meridian's market share in the retail market: turn electricity from a utility into a consumer good.〔http://www.idealog.co.nz/magazine/20/power-trip〕 Initially, it was planned to sell electricity tokens in supermarkets, but that idea was scrapped due to cost and they turned the idea to the Internet. Sargent, together with Simon Coley, a design specialist, founded Powershop in September 2007. In September 2008, Powershop bought its predecessor, Meridian Energy's ''Marketplace Innovations Business Unit'', for NZ$1.26 million in stock.〔()〕 After 14 months of private beta, it officially launched to the public on 22 February 2009 and was unofficially available in the weeks prior. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Powershop」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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