Canstar Reveals New Zealand's Best Bottled and Natural Gas Suppliers

Canstar Blue Reveals New Zealand’s Best Bottled and Natural Gas Suppliers

Canstar Blue reveals which two providers take out our awards for Most Satisfied Customers Natural and Bottled Gas.

Electricity may be the most popular choice for heating and cooking, but gas still has a place at the heart of many homes. Many Kiwis still love the power, flexibility and affordability of gas, whether used for endless hot water, or the cooking finesse offered by a gas stovetop.

So if you’re in the market for bottled gas, or are looking for a new gas mains provider, Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customer awards can help. Each year, we ask everyday consumers about their feelings toward their gas providers, to understand which providers are the nation’s favourite, both for bottled and mains supply.

This year, as part of our mission to help consumers make the right choice, we surveyed 896 Kiwis with a gas account (either piped or delivered bottled gas) to rate their experiences across the following categories:

  • Overall Satisfaction
  • Customer Service
  • Value for Money
  • Bill & Cost Clarity
  • Tools & Advice
  • Focus on Environmental Sustainability

In this year’s award:

Contact Energy is our award winner for Most Satisfied Customers | Bottled Gas.
Genesis Energy is our award winner for Most Satisfied Customers | Natural Gas.

Contact Energy Logo NEW

Contact Energy: No.1 for bottled gas

In this year’s award survey, Contact Energy scores excellently, and is the only provider to earn a 5-Star Overall Satisfaction rating. It earns three more 5-Star ratings for Customer Service, Bill & Cost Clarity and Tools and Advice. It earns two excellent 4-Star ratings for Value for Money and Focus on Environmental Sustainability.

New Zealand’s favourite bottled gas suppliers

Here are New Zealand’s favourite bottled gas suppliers, based on our survey results:

  1. Contact Energy
  2. Rockgas
  3. Trustpower
  4. Genesis Energy
  5. Elgas

While Contact Energy is our standout winner, Rockgas also scores highly in our survey results. It earns 4 Stars for Overall Satisfaction, Customer Service, Value for Money and Bill & Cost Clarity. It earns two 3-Star results for Tools and Advice and Focus on Environmental Sustainability.

All other providers earn 3 Stars for Overall Satisfaction, although Trustpower does earn a standout 5-Star Value for Money rating.

MSC bottled gas award logo 2022

Contact Energy: what’s on offer?

Contact energy is one of New Zealand’s big gentailers, meaning they generate and sell electricity alongside bottled and natural gas, and broadband. It offers a variety of plan options, with the option to bundle multiple utilities for added discounts.

Contact Energy uses Rockgas to provide its bottled gas service, providing consumers with the benefit of Contact Energy’s customer service and tools, with the convenience of Rockgas’ excellent delivery service.

Customers can order bottles through the Rockgas app, online at Contact Energy or via phone (0800 307 300). Otherwise, you can use one of Rockgas’ 30 locations to refill your own smaller LPG bottles.

Rates for bottled gas differ depending on your address, so be sure to visit Contact Energy to get a quote.

For our full Bottled Gas Awards, click here!

Genesis Energy: No.1 for natural gas

In this year’s awards survey, Genesis Energy is a standout favourite for natural gas. It earns a 5-Star Overall Satisfaction rating thanks to 5-Star results for what consumers say are the three most important drivers of satisfaction: Customer Service, Value for Money, and Bill & Cost Clarity. It earns two 4-Star results for Tools and Advice and Focus on Environmental Sustainability.

New Zealand’s favourite natural gas suppliers

Here are New Zealand’s favourite natural gas suppliers, based on our survey results:

  1. Genesis Energy
  2. Mercury Energy
  3. Frank Energy
  4. Contact Energy
  5. Trustpower
  6. Nova Energy

Aside from our award winner, Genesis Energy, only one other provider manages to score any 5-Star results: Mercury Energy takes home two, for Value for Money and Tools & Advice. It earns 4 Stars in all other categories, including an excellent 4-Star Overall Satisfaction rating.

All other providers earn 3 Stars for Overall Satisfaction.

MSC natural gas award logo 2022

Genesis Energy: what’s on offer?

Another one of New Zealand’s electricity gentailers, Genesis offers electricity, bottled and natural gas. Genesis only offers natural gas when paired with an electricity plan, but provides a 5% discount off both your electricity and gas bill when you do so. (NB: natural mains gas is only available in some parts of the North Island.)

You can select from one of Genesis Energy’s two plans:

Energy Plus plan:

  • A choice between fixed prices for 12 months with a 3% discount off each bill (a $150 exit fee applies if you leave within 12 months), or staying flexible with no exit fees or discount
  • Bill discounts for things like paying your bill by direct debit or credit card, or receiving it by email
  • Free Power Shout hours

Energy Basic plan:

  • A basic plan with no frills but lower fixed prices
  • 12-month contract (with a $150 exit fee if you leave within 12 months)

For our full Natural Gas Awards, click here!


author andrew broadley

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Content Producer, Andrew Broadley. Andrew is an experienced writer with a wide range of industry experience. Starting out, he cut his teeth working as a writer for print and online magazines, and he has worked in both journalism and editorial roles. His content has covered lifestyle and culture, marketing and, more recently, finance for Canstar.


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