Best-Rated Bundled Utilities

Compare Bundled Utilities in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Electric Kiwi, Nova Energy, Genesis, Slingshot, Contact and Mercury were compared on Overall Satisfaction, Bill & Cost Clarity, Customer Service, Tools & Advice and Value for Money.

See our Ratings Methodology.

Most Satisfied Customers | Electric Kiwi

On-line and on-grid, Electric Kiwi is rated No.1 for customer satisfaction for bundled utilities.

 

 

 

 

How we rate bundled utilities

Our review compares bundled utility providers on customer satisfaction, so you can discover what other Kiwis think about our compared utility companies before you sign on with one of them. Think of it like asking hundreds of your closest mates which bundled utility provider they think is best!


Canstar Blue surveyed 747 Kiwis who have an account with a bundled utility provider (two utilities from either power, broadband or gas) and asked for their feedback on their account provider.

  • The outcomes reported in these ratings are measured via accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics.

Respondents rate their satisfaction with their providers from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria:

  • Overall Satisfaction: measures consumer satisfaction with a provider as an individual score NOT a combined total of all criteria.
  • Bill & Cost Clarity: the billing provides accurate and full details of electricity/gas/broadband usage and their associated costs.
  • Customer Service: the customer service provided by the bundled utility provider is helpful, prompt and of a high standard.
  • Online Tools & Advice: the bundled utility provider offers online tools and advice to allow customers to optimise their utility usage.
  • Value for Money: the bundled utility provider offers great value for money when comparing services and extras with price.

The winning brand is the one that receives the highest Overall Satisfaction rating once all the scores from the Overall Satisfaction criteria are combined and averaged.

  • Overall Satisfaction is asked as a specific question and represents an individual measure, not a combined total of all criteria.
  • When we cannot determine a clear winner from the criteria for the Overall Satisfaction rating, we will then look at the other criteria measured in the rating.
    • The brand with the highest number of five-star ratings within the supporting criteria will become the five-star recipient in overall satisfaction, and thus win the award. If a clear leader still cannot be determined from the supporting criteria, joint winners will be declared.

Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included, so not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The brands rated in this survey are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.

  • Electric Kiwi
  • Nova Energy
  • Genesis
  • Slingshot
  • Contact
  • Mercury


Find more information on our Most Satisfied Customer methodology.

Best bundled utility providers in New Zealand

  1. Electric Kiwi
  2. Nova Energy
  3. Genesis
  4. Slingshot
  5. Contact
  6. Mercury

Electric Kiwi

Ratings Results

This is the second time Electric Kiwi has won our top award, and this year, once again, it does so in emphatic style: it’s the only bundled utility provider to earn a top 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction from its customers. In addition, it earns further top ratings for Value for Money, Customer Service and Tools & Advice.

Delivering outstanding value and customer service across its entire product range, Electric Kiwi is also the current winner of Canstar Blue’s Most Satisfied Customers Electricity Award. You can read more about our electricity provider award here! 

Editor’s Notes

Electric Kiwi offers four power plans, all include one free Hour of Power each day. All plans have time-of-use pricing, which allows you to take advantage of lower electricity rates during off-peak hours, and save money on your energy bills.

Customers can also add one of Electric Kiwi’s two broadband plans. Unlike most broadband plans, these are charged on a daily basis, not monthly.

Powershifter with Broadband

  • To be on this plan customers must have an active Sweet Fibre or Sweet As Fibre broadband plan
  • Two different rates for power (peak and off-peak) – move your power usage off-peak for the biggest savings

PrePay 300

  • Two different rates for power (peak and off-peak) – move your power usage off-peak for the biggest savings
  • Your account will automatically be topped up by $300 when you run out of credit

MoveMaster

  • Three different rates for power (peak, off-peak shoulder, off-peak night)
  • Half-price power overnight (11pm-7am)
  • 12.5c/kWh solar buyback rate

Kiwi

  • Everyday great rates. No commitment needed.
  • Two different rates for power (peak and off-peak) – move your power usage off-peak for the biggest savings

Electric Kiwi Broadband Bundle

Bundle one of two unlimited data fibre plans with your power:

Sweet Fibre $2.65/day (incl GST): Average peak-time speed 300/100Mbps

Sweet As Fibre $2.95/day (incl GST): Average peak-time speed 800/500Mbps

Customer service

Consumers can get in touch with Electric Kiwi through its online live chat service, and by sending a message or requesting a call-back via its website. Electric Kiwi is also active on social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

For common queries, Electric Kiwi addresses a number of topics with its FAQs section on its website, so be sure to check there first before enquiring.

Account management

Electric Kiwi customers can access their accounts online or via the Electric Kiwi app. Customers can:

  • Update their billing cycle, receiving bills weekly, fortnightly or monthly
  • Access their payments history and download any of their previous bills
  • View their billing and power use information right down to the half-hour
  • Track Hour of Power savings
  • Pay their bills via direct debit or manual credit and debit card payments

Nova Energy

Ratings Results

Placing second on our results table for Overall Satisfaction, Nova scores great 4-Star ratings in the all-important categories of Value for Money and Customer Satisfaction, as well as for Overall Satisfaction.

Editor’s Notes

Nova Energy offers electricity and gas, as well as broadband and mobile. It offers two bundled utilities deals:

Electricity Multisaver

  • Enjoy lower pricing when you bundle with another eligible Nova service, such as broadband
  • No fixed term, no break-fees, no worries

Smart Bundle

  • Electricity and broadband bundle
  • 24-month term
  • Choose an LG smart TV or a Samsung Galaxy A34 smartphone
  • Termination fees apply

Genesis Energy

Ratings Results

Genesis is a major gentailer of electricity that is 51% owned by the government. In this year’s award ratings, Nova earns a great 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, plus excellent 5-Star ratings for Customer Service, Bill & Cost Clarity and Tools & Advice. For Value for Money, it has a 3-Star rating.

Editor’s Notes

Genesis offers gas and electricity across three residential power plans. Consumers are able to check plan rates via its website and sign up online. Its gas and power plans offer a 5% dual fuel discount.

Energy Basic plan:

  • Fixed prices for 12 months (with a $150 exit fee if you leave within 12 months)

Energy Plus plan:

  • A choice between fixed prices for 12 months with a $100 bonus on 12-month sign-up (a $150 exit fee applies if you leave within 12 months), or staying flexible with no exit fees or discount
  • Up to 6% in bill discounts for things like paying your bill by direct debit or credit card, or receiving it by email
  • Free Power Shout hours (see below)

Energy EV

  • Half-price power from 9pm-7am every night.
  • Up to 6% in bill discounts for things like paying your bill by direct debit or credit card, or receiving it by email
  • Free Power Shout hours (see below)
  • 12-month fixed term

Power Shouts

Genesis customers on the Energy Plus plan regularly enjoy Power Shout offers of free electricity.


Slingshot logo

Slingshot

Ratings Results

While many power companies offer broadband, Slingshot is a telco that offers power. Its customers award it a great set of ratings across all categories: a 5-Star rating for Customer Service, and 4 Stars for Overall Satisfaction, Value for Money, Bill Cost & Clarity and Tools & Advice.

Editor’s Notes

Slingshot offers electricity and mobile when bundled with broadband. It offers just two plans based on the standard user tariffs: low user & standard user. Its plans feature:

  • No contracts or break fees
  • One bill to cover electricity, broadband and phone
  • Pay weekly, fortnightly, or monthly on a day of your choice
  • Save big on your electricity, broadband and mobile plans when you bundle

Contact Energy Logo NEWContact

Ratings Results

Contact earns a great 4-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction from its Kiwi customers, and the same rating for Tools & Advice. It achieves its best scores, 5 Stars, for both Customer Service and Bill & Cost Clarity.

Editor’s Notes

Contact has a 25-year history built on a largely renewable portfolio of electricity generation assets. It owns and operates 11 power stations, and produces 80-85% of its electricity from renewable hydro and geothermal stations.

Contact offers electricity, gas and broadband plans. Its broadband and power deals include:

Broadband Bundle: Bundle wireless or fibre internet with electricity for discount deals and no fixed terms.

Basic Power: Simple power rates, no fixed term

Good Weekends: Free power 9pm-5pm every Saturday and Sunday, no fixed term

Good Nights: Free power 9pm-midnight every night of the week, no fixed term

Good Charge: Half price power 9pm-7am every night of the week, no fixed term


mercury energy logo yellow

Mercury

Ratings Results

Mercury is one of the highest profile power companies in the market. It achieves its highest rating for Customer Service, 5 Stars, and Bill & Cost Clarity, 4 Stars. Across all other categories, Mercury earns 3-Star ratings from its customers.

Editor’s Notes

Mercury is 51% owned by the government and its generation comprises 100% renewable hydro and geothermal. It offers electricity, gas, broadband and mobile bundles.

Open term

  • No fixed term or break fees
  • Prices are not fixed

1-year fixed

  • $250 signing on credit
  • Lower, fixed rates
  • Break fee applies

All Mercury plans offer:

  • Additional 2% discount if paying by direct debit and receiving bills by email
  • Regular free power days
  • Complete fun challenges on the Mercury app, earn Mercury Dollars, then exchange them for bill credits or rewards

Broadband bundle

Bundle electricity and broadband, either wireless or fibre, for two years for a discount and your choice of a Samsung appliance, TV or phone.

Choosing the bundled utility provider

Canstar’s research into bundled utilities reveals that Kiwi consumers love to bundle because it helps them keep track of their bills more easily. And most (63%) think that it helps save them money.

Indeed, the bundled offers available can give sizeable discounts on broadband, gas and mobile plans – however, it still pays to check individual costs to see if while you’re saving on, say, your broadband, you’re not overpaying for power.

This is especially true if you’re receiving a “free” appliance or tech gadget as part of the deal, because the cost of the device will ultimately be met by you, the customer.

Overall, Value for Money is the most important factor for Kiwis when rating the performance of their bundle providers.

Here’s the full rundown of what the consumers in our survey say are their most important considerations when their utility bundles:

  • Value for Money: 39%
  • Customer Service: 34%
  • Bill & Cost Clarity: 17%
  • Online Tools and Advice: 10%

About the editor of this page

This report was written by Canstar’s Editor, Bruce Pitchers. Bruce has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in the UK and Australasia, including ACP, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. Prior to Canstar, he worked as a freelancer, including for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority, and for real estate companies on both sides of the Tasman.

Key statistics

Take measures to lower their bills: 67%

Like their bundled utilities plans: 54%

Keep track of their utility usage through apps and online: 48%

Worry about the size of utilities bills: 48%

Have taken extra steps to make home warmer: 37%

Have additional insulation in home: 29%

Place value on rewards from utility providers: 26%

 

Bundled utilities types %
Electricity & broadband 49%
Electricity & gas 26%
Electricity, gas & broadband 16%
Gas & broadband 1%

I bundle my utilities because:

It’s easy to keep track of bills: 79%

I think it saves me money: 63%

Canstar Blue surveyed 2505 New Zealand consumers across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from respondents who have a bundled utilities account. In this case, 747 New Zealanders. Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criterion.

The past winners from Canstar Blue’s bundled utility ratings:

  • 2023: Electric Kiwi
  • 2021: Genesis
  • 2020: Pulse Energy

 

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