Compare Dual Fuel providers in New Zealand at Canstar Blue. Nova Energy, Mercury, Energy Online, Genesis, Trust Power and Contact Energy were compared on value for money, bill and cost clarity, customer service, tools and advice, focus on environmental sustainability and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Nova Energy rated number one for customer satisfaction
Bundling your electricity and gas services with the same provider is a convenient way to manage your bills. Dual fuel plans take a lot of the hassle out of energy, indeed 59% of customers we spoke to agreed that dual fuel plans make it easy to keep track of their bills. Better yet, 38% believe that dual fuel plans save them money compared to having separate electricity and gas accounts with different retailers. Yet while dual fuel deals can prove convenient, it’s important not to become complacent about energy and regularly shop around for the best deal on the market.
Unfortunately, our research suggests that more than a third of customers worry about their next bill, while only 39% of dual fuel customers say they are happy with their plan. If this sounds like you, then you’re in the right place.
To help Kiwis make better-informed decisions about purchases, Canstar Blue undertakes surveys to highlight the top-performing retailers in the eyes of consumers. We’ve asked 679 Kiwis what they look for in a good energy company and how they would rate their own dual fuel retailer based on their experiences.
The results are in and we can announce that Nova Energy received five stars in overall satisfaction and is the winner of Canstar Blue’s award for ‘Most Satisfied Customers – Dual Fuel’. Nova Energy also rated five stars for value for money, focus on environmental sustainability, bill and cost clarity and customer service. While there was one clear winner this year, there were some other notable results in this year’s review:
Value for money was found to be the greatest driver of satisfaction identified from the survey, followed by bill and cost clarity and customer service. These results suggest that Kiwis are looking for a retailer with more to offer than just cheap rates. While we believe the real-world insight of our ratings provides a fantastic starting point, below we walk you through what else you need to know when shopping for a dual fuel retailer.
There are eight dual fuel retailers in New Zealand, however only six received the sufficient sample size to feature in this year’s dual fuel ratings. The retailers that offer both electricity and gas are:
Keep in mind, however, that some retailers only operate in certain parts of the country. This means that not all retailers listed will be available to you. You may also find that some retailers will only sign you up for gas if you already receive your electricity with them.
Nova Energy sells electricity, gas and internet. You don’t need to sign up with Nova electricity in order to access its gas service, however there are no special dual fuel discounts for customers that do. Nova has two electricity and gas plans: The Home Advantage and the Home Freedom. The former comes with fixed rates until March 2021 and $150 account credit, however early termination fees may apply. The Home Freedom is more flexible and has no exit fees, however there are no special perks.
Mercury customers that sign up to both electricity and natural piped gas receive a Dual Fuel Discount of 15c off power and gas usage each day. Dual fuel customers can earn Airpoints on both electricity and gas faster, helping toward your next getaway.
Energy Online offers electricity, gas and LPG as separate services. Energy Online says that no contracts or exit fees are included, meaning you can switch without having to pay a penalty. Customers also receive an ongoing 20% prompt payment discount.
Genesis offers its dual-fuel customers who sign up to both electricity and piped or bottled gas a 5% discount off every bill. Dual Fuel customers on an Energy Plus Plan also enjoy double Fly Buys points and double Power Shouts.
Genesis offers both a no fixed term plan and a 12-month plan for customers that sign up for both electricity and piped gas. The no fixed term plan offers flexibility, no contracts and no exit fees. In addition, customers are eligible for a 15% prompt payment discount, double Fly Buys points as well as power shouts as part of their reward.
The 12-month plan offers customers a $200 dual fuel credit, as well as a bonus $100 credit for signing up. On top of that, like the no fixed term plan, customers will also receive a 15% prompt payment discount, double Fly Buys points as well as power shouts.
Genesis also offers a no fixed term plan and a 12-month plan for customers that sign up for both electricity and LPG. The no fixed term plan comes with the flexibility of no contracts or exit fees, a $128 45kg gas bottle for free, 6 months fixed bottle gas pricing, 15% prompt payment discount, double Fly Buys points and double power shouts.
The 12-month plan, on the other hand, provides customers with a $200 credit, a $128 45kg gas bottle for free, 6 months fixed bottle gas pricing, 15% prompt payment discount, double Fly Buys points and double power shouts.
Trustpower is your all-in-one utility company, offering electricity, gas, broadband and more. Customers who bundle their electricity with gas, broadband and/or phone are entitled to special discounts. It also offers a $50 account credit when you sign up online, as well as a joining reward
Contact offers a range of electricity, gas (bottled & piped) and broadband services. Its energy plans include the Bundle Plan, Simple Plan, Plans with Rewards and AA Smartfuel Plans.
Each deal comes with a different benefit. Bundling electricity and gas with broadband offers customers a cheaper broadband monthly rate. The Simple Plan provides for no fixed terms or break fees. The Plans with Rewards vary in terms of offers, from a free month’s energy to $150 off the first bill. The AA Smartfuel Plans offer either 15c off per litre of fuel each month on a no fixed term plan or 30c off per litre of fuel each month for a fixed term plan.
Bundling electricity and gas is convenient, but is it cheaper? Unfortunately, the answer to that question is not straightforward. While some companies offer special ‘dual fuel’ discounts, be mindful that these discounts may really just mask inflated rates. For this reason, it’s important to look past the perks and discounts and focus on the basic rates.
For example, if you see a deal with very low gas rates, but high electricity rates, then it could be worth signing up to gas, but not electricity. Keep in mind that there are over 40 electricity retailers in the market, meaning there is likely a better electricity deal out there for you somewhere. That said, some retailers will only offer their gas plans if you sign up to their electricity as well.
Comparing electricity providers can be tricky, let alone comparing dual fuel retailers. Buying electricity and gas from the same provider certainly makes life a little easier, but you should only do so if you’re getting a good deal.
Like signing up for any energy plan, be sure to read the small print, including any details of conditional discounts that may be available for getting a dual fuel package from the same provider. It’s pretty common for retailers to offer sign-up bonuses with dual fuel packages, but again, check the rates to ensure that you’re getting genuine value.
Interested in learning more about Canstar Blue’s ratings methodology?
Here’s our Frequently Asked Questions.
Canstar Blue surveyed 2,500 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 customers who have bundled electricity and gas account and pay the bills – in this case, 679 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 criteria.
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