Bargain retailer The Warehouse will start selling electricity this week in what is believed to be a world first.
From Tuesday The Warehouse will offer electricity through Powershop -- an online electricity store and wholly owned subsidiary of Meridian Energy.
Powershop is thought to be the world's first online electricity retailer.
Powershop chief executive Ari Sargent said the online store would revolutionise the way New Zealanders bought electricity with "real choice for the first time".
Electricity at Powershop was cheaper than traditional suppliers, he said.
A $20 signup pack, including $50 worth of electricity, was available from Warehouse stores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
The online store offered electricity from a range of suppliers and allowed consumers to switch "with a click of a mouse," Mr Sargent said.
"At Powershop you don't pay line charges or daily fixed charges like you do with a traditional retailer so if you don't use any electricity, you don't pay anything."
Consumers could purchase some or all of their electricity in advance using a "buy me the cheapest" option but meters could still be read for those who preferred to pay after use, he told the Sunday Star Times.
The website also offered a tool to help consumers understand more about electricity consumption and how to reduce usage, he said.
NZPA