Brandwave

How popular isContact Energy?

In September 2026, people searched for Contact Energy by name about 78,700 times in New Zealand, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 24.3% of all New Zealand electricity retailer searches, placing Contact Energy first out of 12 retailers. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about electricity retailers, Contact Energy appeared in two of the three answers and was the fourth most recommended of the 12.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Contact Energy is the most searched of 12 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.

  1. Contact EnergyShare of searches 24.3%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
  2. Genesis EnergyShare of searches 21.2%Mentioned in 1 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
  3. MercuryShare of searches 16.7%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Electric KiwiShare of searches 9.8%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  5. Meridian EnergyShare of searches 7.3%Mentioned in 2 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th

+7 more

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Top electricity retailers in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions, Contact Energy was mentioned in two out of three: in two of the three ChatGPT answers. Contact Energy is the fourth most recommended of the 12.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Electric Kiwi1st
  2. Powershop2nd
  3. Mercury3rd
  4. Contact Energy4th
  5. Ecotricity5th
  6. Toast Electric6th
  7. Meridian Energy7th
  8. Genesis Energy8th
  9. Pulse Energy–
  10. Globug–
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

+2 more

See every answer about electricity retailers

3 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 19, 2026.

Which electricity retailers compete with Contact Energy?

Contact Energy against electricity retailers in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Contact Energy, Genesis Energy, Mercury, Electric Kiwi, Meridian Energy, Powershop, Pulse Energy, Globug, Nova Energy, Ecotricity. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthContact EnergyGenesis EnergyMercuryElectric KiwiMeridian EnergyPowershopPulse EnergyGlobugNova EnergyEcotricityOctopus EnergyToast Electric
Oct 202522.8%20.2%19.3%7.5%8.4%8.2%3.7%3.8%3%1.8%0.87%0.35%
Nov 202521.3%18.5%21.9%7.2%7.9%9.3%4.2%3.5%2.8%2.1%0.99%0.34%
Dec 202524.4%17.5%20.4%7.9%7.4%8.7%3.9%4%2.6%1.8%0.94%0.32%
Jan 202625.4%18.2%17.4%8.3%7.7%9.1%4.1%4.2%2.7%1.8%0.97%0.33%
Feb 202625.5%18.1%17.6%8.4%7.7%9.2%4.1%3.5%2.7%1.7%0.98%0.38%
Mar 202625.2%17.8%17.4%8.5%7.6%9%4.1%3.5%2.7%2.6%1.2%0.34%
Apr 202623.4%16.6%19.5%9.6%7%10.2%3.8%3.2%2.5%2.8%1.1%0.29%
May 202622.3%19.3%18.7%9.2%8.2%9.7%3.6%3.1%2.4%2.2%1.3%0.28%
Jun 202624.3%21.3%16.8%9.8%7.4%8.7%3.2%2.7%2.1%2%1.4%0.3%
Jul 202624%21.8%16.5%9.7%7.2%8.6%3.9%2.7%2.1%1.8%1.4%0.29%
Aug 202623.3%21%16.1%11.5%7%8.3%3.8%2.7%2.1%2%1.7%0.45%
Sep 202624.3%21.2%16.7%9.8%7.3%7.1%3.9%2.8%2.6%2.4%1.4%0.47%

  1. 1.Contact Energy

    24.3%

    Held 1st. 76K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share +0.9 points.

  2. 2.Genesis Energy

    21.2%

    Held 2nd. 66.3K estimated branded searches, -20.6% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.

  3. 3.Mercury

    16.7%

    Held 3rd. 52.3K estimated branded searches, -18.6% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  4. 4.Electric Kiwi

    9.8%

    Held 4th. 30.6K estimated branded searches, -33.4% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.

  5. 5.Meridian Energy

    7.3%

    Moved from 6th to 5th. 23K estimated branded searches, -18% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.

  6. 6.Powershop

    7.1%

    Moved from 5th to 6th. 22.3K estimated branded searches, -32.8% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.

  7. 7.Pulse Energy

    3.9%

    Held 7th. 12.2K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  8. 8.Globug

    2.8%

    Held 8th. 8.7K estimated branded searches, -18.3% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.

  9. 9.Nova Energy

    2.6%

    Held 9th. 8.2K estimated branded searches, -0.24% vs prior month. Share +0.6 points.

  10. 10.Ecotricity

    2.4%

    Held 10th. 7.6K estimated branded searches, -6.9% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.

  11. 11.Octopus Energy

    1.4%

    Held 11th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, -33.3% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  12. 12.Toast Electric

    0.47%

    Held 12th. 1.5K estimated branded searches, -18.8% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Contact Energy and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Contact Energy

18 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Contact Energy changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Contact Energy in New Zealand held steady, from 79.2K to 78.7K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contact Energy’s share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand increased from 22.8% to 24.3%.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Contact Energy’s share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand peaked at 25.5% in February 2026 and was lowest at 21.3% in November 2025.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand electricity retailers in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Contact Energy gained share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand, from 23.3% to 24.3%.

  2. In September 2026, Mercury gained share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand, from 16.1% to 16.7%.

  3. In September 2026, Nova Energy gained share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand, from 2.1% to 2.6%.

  4. In September 2026, Electric Kiwi lost share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand, from 11.5% to 9.8%.

  5. In September 2026, Powershop lost share of searches among electricity retailers in New Zealand, from 8.3% to 7.1%.

  6. In September 2026, Meridian Energy rose from 6th to 5th among electricity retailers in New Zealand.

How are Contact Energy’s branded searches counted?

12 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Contact Energy’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • broadband contact energy
  • contact broadband
  • contact broadband modem
  • Contact electricity
  • contact energy broadband
  • Contact Energy electricity
  • contact energy fibre
  • contact energy mobile
  • Contact Power
  • Contact Power rates
  • Contact prepay power
  • contactenergy

Do you work for Contact Energy? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Contact Energy compete?

Contact Energy is ranked in two competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Mobile and broadband providers3rd of 916.8%Show ranking
electricity retailers1st of 1224.3%Shown above
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