EnergyMate can support you with targeted support through in-home visits and community hui in select locations in Aotearoa.
This year, EnergyMate will be available in West Auckland (Hendson-Massey, Whau, Waitakere), South Auckland (Mangere, Papatoetoe, Manukau, Papakura), Rotorua, Whakatāne, Taupō, Hastings/Napier, Christchurch, Timaru, Oamaru, and Dunedin.
Households at high risk of energy hardship can be referred into the program by their power company, their local participating budgeting support service, or participating Healthy Homes support services.
We would love EnergyMate to be available everywhere in New Zealand, but EnergyMate in-home visits are only available in selected locations.
If we’re not currently in your area, we can still help you! We have online resources available here to help you make the most of your electricity.
At an EnergyMate visit an EnergyMate coach will do a check of the home, including heating, lighting, hot water, and appliances to find ways the whānau can save on power. That way they can use those savings where they matter most
The EnergyMate coach will review the household’s electricity bill with the whānau, explaining what it means and different payment options. Then, together with the coach the whānau will call their power company and check they are on the power plan best suited to their needs.
The coach will help the whānau build an action plan of the things they can do to save power and keep their home warm.
EnergyMate coaches can also connect households with support from other agencies like budgeting support, free curtains and insulation to help address the drivers of energy hardship.
Whānau feel the benefits of an EnergyMate visit in various ways. For some, EnergyMate will help reduce their monthly power bill. For others, it will help make their house warmer in winter without spending any more than they do now.
At the hui attendees are helped with simple and cheap power saving tips, information to help them better understand their power bill and different payment options, as well as free LED lightbulbs for instant power savings, and energy-efficient appliances to help keep warm and healthy.
EnergyMate is currently operating in the following locations:
EnergyMate is delivered by the following financial mentoring and social support services