Are you or a member of your household Medically Dependent on electricity or natural gas?
A medically dependent consumer ("MDC") is someone who is dependent on mains electricity or natural gas for critical medical support, where loss of electricity or natural gas might result in serious harm to them.
If you or someone living with you (even for a short period) depends on electricity or natural gas to run critical medical support equipment, please contact us.
Your medical dependency will be recorded against your account and we will ensure you stay connected (unless it is a situation outside of our control, for which you will need a back-up plan).
Examples of critical medical equipment include ventilators, renal dialysis machines, oxygen concentrators, and ventricular assistance devices, as well as other nonmedical equipment which may be needed for critical medical support (e.g. an oven to heat fluids for renal dialysis).
To register Medical Dependency
If you or a member of your household is medically dependent (such as you – the person that pays the electricity bill – a child or any other person that normally lives at the property), please let us know as soon as possible by following these steps:
Your healthcare provider will need to complete a Medically Dependent Consumers Form. This form can be downloaded here.
Once completed, scan and email a copy to us at creditcontrol@megatel.co.nz..
Essential Backup Plan and Safety
Your electricity supply cannot be guaranteed 100% of the time. Bad weather or a fault could mean you lose power, so it is important that you have a backup plan in place. Your backup plan could include a backup power supply, a battery or generator, torch, an analogue phone, going to a friend or family member’s home who has power or, in an emergency, calling an ambulance. If you rely on electricity for medical equipment we also suggest you contact your local hospital, GP or the supplier of any essential equipment to discuss backup options.
If for any reason you are without supply, please do not attempt to reconnect this yourself.
In the event of a civil emergency, initiate your backup plan. For guidance, please refer to the civil defence information here.
Please note than in an emergency, the operation of any naked flame indoors is not recommended.
Vulnerable Consumer
A vulnerable consumer is someone who, for reasons of age, health or disability, the disconnection of electricity presents a clear threat to that person, or a member of their household’s health or wellbeing and/or it is genuinely difficult for the customer to pay his or her electricity bills because of severe financial insecurity whether temporary or permanent.
If you consider you or a member of your household is a vulnerable consumer please call us on 0800 634 283 to discuss payment or supply options.
Alternate Contact
You might want to supply us with the details of an alternate contact. This might be someone like a family member, a friend or a social agency who has agreed to assist you to communicate with us or manage your payments. They will not be held financially responsible for your account. You can have more than one contact, but you must have their agreement that they are willing to talk to us and make decisions on your behalf.
Budgeting Advice and Social Agencies
You can always call us to discuss payment options on 0800 634 283. For further financial advice there are free budgeting services in almost every community in New Zealand. For details on your local service or for more information call 0800 345 123 weekdays 8am to 8pm and Saturdays 10am to 2pm or visit www.moneytalks.co.nz or www.familybudgeting.org.nz. You may also want to contact Work and Income on 0800 559 009 or visit www.workandincome.govt.nz to find out if you are entitled to financial assistance.
Megatel’s payment options
We offer a range of ways to pay your Megatel account. You can pay your bill anytime through the MyMegatel app using your credit or debit card, or by making an online banking payment directly within the MyMegatel app. The easiest way to pay is by setting up automatic payments via Direct Debit or Credit Card. The amount due will be automatically deducted from your bank or card account on the due date, and you can set up this payment option through the MyMegatel app. You can also call us at 0800 634 283 to pay using a credit or debit card, or to set up automatic payments via direct debit or credit card.
