Power and Broadband Bundles - Do They Actually Save You Any Money?
Bundles of Power and Broadband offer sign-up discounts, special energy rates and free or discounted months of broadband, but are they cheaper than getting separate contracts for internet and power? In this guide, we analyse the offers available in New Zealand and find out if bundling power and broadband through a single provider can save you money.
Updated 7 November 2024
Summary
Our guide covers the following:
Summary
- Contact, Mercury, Slingshot, Electric Kiwi and 2degrees offer Power and Broadband Bundles in New Zealand. We evaluate them side by side and compare the prices of their bundles versus getting separate contracts for the lowest-priced energy and lowest-priced broadband available according to our existing energy comparison and broadband comparison guides.
- Despite the enticing discounts and the potential for savings, we found that, in most cases, bundles don’t deliver lower prices than contracting power and broadband services separately. Only a handful out of the 70 bundle options we evaluated for cities across New Zealand produced savings, We found many instances of bundles being more expensive than individual contracts by hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year.
- Months of free broadband, a regular discount, or a generous joining bonus can be very appealing, but we argue you can save more by researching and selecting the best-value energy and broadband providers available in your area.
- Our comprehensive spreadsheet which is the basis for our research can be downloaded here.
Our guide covers the following:
Know this first – What are energy and broadband bundles?
- A power and broadband bundle is a package offered by service providers that combine both internet broadband services and electricity supply into a single subscription.
- With a power and broadband bundle, you receive both your internet connection and electricity supply from the same provider, allowing for simplified billing and potentially discounted pricing. You will often be presented with one energy plan with special prices and various internet options, like ADSL/VDSL, Wireless (4G), Fibre, Ultra Fast Broadband, or Max Fibre.
- Besides the advantage of having just one bill to pay for both services, you would expect to receive a lower price for bundling energy with broadband and committing to a fixed term with a particular provider, but we found this is rarely the case.
MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh shares his views on power and broadband bundling:
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"Our research reveals a startling truth: bundling power and broadband services doesn't necessarily lead to significant savings. Out of 190+ cases evaluated in our research below, only a handful confirmed bundle services would be cheaper and the savings were not too significant. In contrast, we discovered numerous situations where bundle options led to overpayments amounting to hundreds and even thousands of dollars annually".
The lure of bundling, with its promise of convenience and streamlined service, may initially seem appealing. However, committing to a single provider for both power and broadband immediately limits your flexibility as a consumer. Special offers or discounted pricing become unreachable if you're locked into a contract". "Power companies excel in generating and distributing electricity at competitive prices due to their market expertise. Similarly, broadband providers are specialists in providing high-speed connectivity and attractive plans. When one company tries to offer both services, achieving a win-win in terms of cost and quality becomes a monumental task, and I believe they fall short". "Remember, the convenience of bundling often comes with a premium price tag without necessarily delivering the best of either service. As a customer, it's crucial to maintain flexibility and ensure you're getting the best deal". "While the market is always changing, one thing remains the same: always compare before agreeing to any bundle. Be savvy, scrutinize your options, and choose the best individual solutions for your power and broadband needs". Video Overview: In the video below, MoneyHub's founder, Christopher Walsh, explains our research process and highlights why it's so important to compare power and broadband deals to get the best value: |
Christopher Walsh
MoneyHub Founder |
Our Price Leading Power Company - Fixed Term
Getting quotes is an essential step before you switch. Our pricing tables and power comparison research look at average uses, and for many New Zealanders, Genesis leads with fixed-term offers:
Fixed Term: Special Offer With Our Partner Genesis - Rewarding New Zealanders Who Commit to a Great Value Genesis 12-Month Contract:
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Power and Broadband Bundle Providers
There are a handful of companies in New Zealand that offer broadband and power bundles. Below we provide an overview of the plans we considered for our analysis:
Contact is one of New Zealand’s largest providers and offers the option to bundle energy, internet and gas (We only bundled energy and internet for our example).
- Offer summary: Special prices for energy and discounts when you bundle energy and broadband, and further discounts if you include gas in the bundle. At the time of writing, Contact was offering a $300 credit for bundling power and broadband.
- Contract Term: Open
- Break fees: No
- Broadband options: Wireless (4G capped at 300GB), Fast Fibre (315 Mbps, Unlimited data)
- Full details can be found on Contact’s Broadband bundle page
Mercury is another important provider in New Zealand, and it has recently acquired Trustpower. They offer standalone electricity, broadband, gas and mobile services, and they also offer them in bundles with additional discounts. In this guide, we focus only on their broadband and power offerings.
- Offer summary: There are two distinct bundles for power and broadband, with different contract terms. A 12-month bundle and a 24-month bundle, which can offer good value. Check their website for details on both these plans.
- Contract Term: Fixed at 12 or 24 months
- Break fees: $250 termination fee for the 12-month contract; the termination fee for the 24-month contract depends on the chosen joining reward
- Broadband options: Wireless (4G), Fibre Classic (315 Mbps, Unlimited Data), Max fibre (900Mbps)
- Full details can be found on Mercury’s bundle pages for 12-month and 24-month plans.
- Mercury also offers a very elaborate rewards plan that could potentially deliver additional benefits
- Please note we did not include Mercury in our comparison but have included them in this list of providers.
Slingshot is a broadband provider and offers the option to bundle energy, internet and mobile services into one contract. (We only bundled broadband and internet for our example).
- Offer summary: $20 off per month on broadband.
- Contract Term: Fixed at 12 or 24 months.
- Break fees: $250 termination fee for the 12-month contract
- Broadband options: ADSL/VDSL, Unlimited [UFB Fibre](321 Mbps), Unlimited Gigantic [Max fibre] (896Mbps)
- Full details can be found on Slingshot’s TooEasy page.
2degrees is one of the largest internet providers and has recently started offering the option to bundle energy services with certain internet plans; you can also add mobile services into one contract.
- Offer summary: $20 off per month on broadband when bundling with power
- Contract Term: Fixed at 12 months.
- Break fees: an exit fee of up to $299 might be charged if terminating the 12-month contract early
- Broadband options: Fibre Starter Unlimited (50 Mbps), Unlimited [UFB Fibre](321 Mbps), Unlimited Gigantic [Max fibre] (896Mbps), and Hyperfibre plans. Please note they offer more plans than these, but these are the only ones that let you include power services.
- Full details can be found on the 2degrees Offer summaries page.
Electric Kiwi is an independent energy provider that has recently started offering broadband services to their customers. Like in the case of Contact, you can only sign up to their broadband if they are already providing your power.
- Offer summary: Electric Kiwi doesn’t believe in joining credits and is not currently offering.perks or discounts for bundling broadband and power
- Contract Term: Open.
- Break fees: None
- Broadband options: Sweet Fibre [UFB] (321 Mbps), Sweet As Fibre [Max] (891 Mbps).
- Full details can be found on the Electric Kiwi broadband page.
Price Comparison of Power and Broadband Bundles
Know This First: Our Research Process:
- We compared the broadband and power bundles offered by Contact, Mercury, Slingshot, Electric Kiwi and 2degrees versus what we found to be the lowest-priced standalone energy and broadband plans according to our previous research on energy comparison and broadband comparison.
- We did this based on the type of energy user (Standard or Low), the type of internet connection offered (ADSL, Ultra Fast Broadband, 4G Wireless and Fibre Max) and the city (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin) for addresses with Inclusive meters installed.
- We used the Electricity Authority’s residential consumption data per region as a base for our power quotes, assuming the following standard user and low user annual energy consumption per city:
| City | Low user | Standard user |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 7108 kWh | 9108 kWh |
| Hamilton | 6900 kWh | 8900 kWh |
| Wellington | 7094 kWh | 9094 kWh |
| Christchurch | 8210 kWh | 10210 kWh |
| Otago | 7916 kWh | 9916 kWh |
We have categorised the types of broadband offered in bundles and standalone packages as follows :
We calculated the price of the bundle as follows:
We calculated the “standalone prices” as follows:
Clarifications on bundles:
Clarifications on best-value standalone broadband:
Our Findings:
- ADSL - This category includes ADSL and VDSL, as providers usually charge the same price even if VDSL is much faster than ADSL. The speed for ADSL connections is about 9 Mbps and for VDSL is around 42 Mbps
- 4G - This includes Wireless 4G connections, speeds are of about 30 Mbps
- Fibre UFB - These are fibre connections known as 'Ultra Fast Broadband' and have speeds of about 300 Mbps
- Max - These are fibre connections of about 900 Mbps
We calculated the price of the bundle as follows:
- We took the monthly broadband price, multiplied it by 12 to get the annual price, added the cost of the modem and shipping (if applicable) and deducted all the relevant discounts (joining bonus / monthly reductions or free months of broadband); this gave us the annualised bundled broadband price after discounts.
- Then we calculated the annualised price for energy for the household with the same criteria we used on our energy comparison analysis (inclusive meters in the cities of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with the average kWh consumptions for those cities, for low and standard users).
- Finally, we added the annualised prices for energy and broadband minus any discounts to arrive at the “bundled price”.
We calculated the “standalone prices” as follows:
- We took one of the lowest-priced energy provider from our energy comparison for that particular city and the type of energy user. Please note all publicly available discounts published on the provider's website have been applied already.
- We took one of the lowest-priced broadband provider from our broadband comparison for the type of internet connection offered in the bundle we were analysing. We added any modem, connection and shipping costs where applicable. We deducted any joining credits or free months of broadband offered, but we did not include discounts for bundling with mobile services.
- We added these two prices and arrived at the annualised “standalone combination price.”
- Finally, we calculated the price difference: We subtracted the “standalone combination price” (having separate contracts for energy and broadband) from the “bundled price” - a positive result means that you would save money by having separate contracts, and a negative result means that you would save money by having a bundled contract with a single provider. This is also specified in the last column of the tables below, which indicate what option is cheaper, to have a bundle or separate contracts for these services.
Clarifications on bundles:
- Some companies also offer gas and mobile services that can be added to the bundle, which could potentially lower the prices, but for our example, we only bundled power and broadband.
- We chose to compare plans on 12-month contracts (except Contact, whose bundle plan is open-term)
- In most instances, we compared the broadband of the bundle to the same broadband package offered independently, but sometimes we had to choose a close but not an exact match. For example, where Contact offers a 4G plan capped at 300GB, we compared it against Skinny’s 4G Unlimited plan.
Clarifications on best-value standalone broadband:
- There are further discounts to be obtained on standalone providers by bundling broadband with mobile, and benefits like joining bonuses, subscriptions to Netflix or amazon prime, etc. which we didn’t deduct from the broadband price but that can be valuable to customers.
Our Findings:
- We only found a handful of cases (out of 70 evaluated) where having a power and broadband bundle was cheaper than having separate standalone contracts, and even then, the savings weren’t too significant. On the other hand, we found many instances where opting for a bundle could represent overpaying by hundreds and even thousands of dollars per year.
- We started analysing broadband and power bundles in 2023, and found that while these kinds of bundles deliver convenience to consumers by only having one provider and one bill to pay, they rarely provide significant savings.
Table 1 - Auckland Standard Power Users Bundling vs Separate Plans (at October 2024)
Standalone Power Provider: Please be aware we have used Powershop as this was the lowest published price for Auckland, but our pricing comparison places Flick as one of the cheapest in a number of cities should you use their exclusive MoneyHub discount
| Bundle Company | Broadband speed | Bundle power plan name | Bundle Broadband Plan | Bundled price after discount | Standalone power plan name | Standalone broadband plan name | Standalone Combination Price | Difference bundle - Standalone combination | Cheaper option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | 4G | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | 4G Unlimited | $3,655.40 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,255.74 | $399.65 | Separate |
| 2degrees | 4G | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Unlimited Wireless 4G | $3,877.75 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,255.74 | $622.01 | Separate |
| Slingshot | ADSL | Slingshot (Standard) | Standard Broadband Unlimited [ADSL] | $4,275.75 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - VDSL Unlimited | $3,545.74 | $730.01 | Separate |
| 2degrees | Fibre | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Starter Unlimited | $4,117.75 | Powershop (Standard) | Sky - Fibre starter | $3,305.74 | $812.01 | Separate |
| Contact | MAX | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Max Fibre | $3,955.40 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,920.74 | $34.65 | Separate |
| Slingshot | MAX | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited Gigantic [MAX] | $4,395.75 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,920.74 | $475.01 | Separate |
| 2degrees | MAX | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Ultimate Unlimited | $4,537.75 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,920.74 | $617.01 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,114.64 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,920.74 | $1,193.89 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,383.89 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,920.74 | $1,463.14 | Separate |
| Contact | UFB | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Fast Fibre | $3,775.40 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,776.74 | $-1.35 | Bundle |
| Slingshot | UFB | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited [UFB] | $4,251.75 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,776.74 | $475.01 | Separate |
| 2degrees | UFB | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Unlimited | $4,357.75 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,776.74 | $581.01 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,006.64 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,776.74 | $1,229.89 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,275.89 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,776.74 | $1,499.14 | Separate |
Table 2 - Hamilton Standard Power Users Bundling vs Separate Plans (at October 2024)
Standalone Power Provider: Please be aware we have used Contact as this was the lowest published price for Hamilton, but our pricing comparison places Flick as one of the cheapest in a number of cities should you use their exclusive MoneyHub discount
| Bundle Company | Broadband speed | Bundle power plan name | Bundle Broadband Plan | Bundled price after discount | Standalone power plan name | Standalone broadband plan name | Standalone Combination Price | Difference bundle - Standalone combination | Cheaper option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | 4G | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | 4G Unlimited | $3,115.75 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,191.75 | $-76.00 | Bundle |
| 2degrees | 4G | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Unlimited Wireless 4G | $4,362.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,191.75 | $1,171.22 | Separate |
| Slingshot | ADSL | Slingshot (Standard) | Standard Broadband Unlimited [ADSL] | $4,770.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | Skinny - VDSL Unlimited | $3,481.75 | $1,289.22 | Separate |
| 2degrees | Fibre | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Starter Unlimited | $4,602.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | Sky - Fibre starter | $3,241.75 | $1,361.22 | Separate |
| Contact | MAX | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Max Fibre | $3,415.75 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,856.75 | $-441.00 | Bundle |
| Slingshot | MAX | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited Gigantic [MAX] | $4,890.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,856.75 | $1,034.22 | Separate |
| 2degrees | MAX | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Ultimate Unlimited | $5,022.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,856.75 | $1,166.22 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,060.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,856.75 | $1,204.22 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,395.75 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,856.75 | $1,539.00 | Separate |
| Contact | UFB | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Fast Fibre | $3,235.75 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,712.75 | $-477.00 | Bundle |
| Slingshot | UFB | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited [UFB] | $4,746.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,712.75 | $1,034.22 | Separate |
| 2degrees | UFB | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Unlimited | $4,842.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,712.75 | $1,130.22 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $4,952.97 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,712.75 | $1,240.22 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,287.75 | Contact Basic Plan (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,712.75 | $1,575.00 | Separate |
Table 3 - Wellington Standard Power Users Bundling vs Separate Plans (at October 2024)
Standalone Power Provider: Please be aware we have used Powershop as this was the lowest published price for Wellington, but our pricing comparison places Flick as one of the cheapest in a number of cities should you use their exclusive MoneyHub discount
| Bundle Company | Broadband speed | Bundle power plan name | Bundle Broadband Plan | Bundled price after discount | Standalone power plan name | Standalone broadband plan name | Standalone Combination Price | Difference bundle - Standalone combination | Cheaper option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | 4G | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | 4G Unlimited | $3,522.34 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,060.96 | $461.38 | Separate |
| 2degrees | 4G | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Unlimited Wireless 4G | $3,760.06 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,060.96 | $699.10 | Separate |
| Slingshot | ADSL | Slingshot (Standard) | Standard Broadband Unlimited [ADSL] | $4,168.06 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - VDSL Unlimited | $3,350.96 | $817.10 | Separate |
| 2degrees | Fibre | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Starter Unlimited | $4,000.06 | Powershop (Standard) | Sky - Fibre starter | $3,110.96 | $889.10 | Separate |
| Contact | MAX | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Max Fibre | $3,822.34 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,725.96 | $96.38 | Separate |
| Slingshot | MAX | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited Gigantic [MAX] | $4,288.06 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,725.96 | $562.10 | Separate |
| 2degrees | MAX | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Ultimate Unlimited | $4,420.06 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,725.96 | $694.10 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $4,801.45 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,725.96 | $1,075.49 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,390.01 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,725.96 | $1,664.05 | Separate |
| Contact | UFB | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Fast Fibre | $3,642.34 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,581.96 | $60.38 | Separate |
| Slingshot | UFB | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited [UFB] | $4,144.06 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,581.96 | $562.10 | Separate |
| 2degrees | UFB | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Unlimited | $4,240.06 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,581.96 | $658.10 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $4,693.45 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,581.96 | $1,111.49 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,282.01 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,581.96 | $1,700.05 | Separate |
Table 4 - Christchurch Standard Power Users Bundling vs Separate Plans (at October 2024)
Standalone Power Provider: Please be aware we have used Powershop as this was the lowest published price for Christchurch, but our pricing comparison places Flick as one of the cheapest in a number of cities should you use their exclusive MoneyHub discount.
| Bundle Company | Broadband speed | Bundle power plan name | Bundle Broadband Plan | Bundled price after discount | Standalone power plan name | Standalone broadband plan name | Standalone Combination Price | Difference bundle - Standalone combination | Cheaper option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | 4G | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | 4G Unlimited | $3,901.11 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,245.42 | $655.70 | Separate |
| 2degrees | 4G | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Unlimited Wireless 4G | $4,318.69 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,245.42 | $1,073.27 | Separate |
| Slingshot | ADSL | Slingshot (Standard) | Standard Broadband Unlimited [ADSL] | $4,726.69 | Powershop (Standard) | Skinny - VDSL Unlimited | $3,535.42 | $1,191.27 | Separate |
| 2degrees | Fibre | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Starter Unlimited | $4,558.69 | Powershop (Standard) | Sky - Fibre starter | $3,295.42 | $1,263.27 | Separate |
| Contact | MAX | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Max Fibre | $4,201.11 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,910.42 | $290.70 | Separate |
| Slingshot | MAX | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited Gigantic [MAX] | $4,846.69 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,910.42 | $936.27 | Separate |
| 2degrees | MAX | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Ultimate Unlimited | $4,978.69 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,910.42 | $1,068.27 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,395.67 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,910.42 | $1,485.25 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $6,194.34 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $3,910.42 | $2,283.92 | Separate |
| Contact | UFB | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Fast Fibre | $4,021.11 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,766.42 | $254.70 | Separate |
| Slingshot | UFB | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited [UFB] | $4,702.69 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,766.42 | $936.27 | Separate |
| 2degrees | UFB | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Unlimited | $4,798.69 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,766.42 | $1,032.27 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,287.67 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,766.42 | $1,521.25 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $6,086.34 | Powershop (Standard) | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,766.42 | $2,319.92 | Separate |
Table 5 - Dunedin Standard Power Users Bundling vs Separate Plans (at October 2024)
Standalone Power Provider: Please be aware we have used Z Energy as this was the lowest published price for Dunedin, but our pricing comparison places Flick as one of the cheapest in a number of cities should you use their exclusive MoneyHub discount.
| Bundle Company | Broadband speed | Bundle power plan name | Bundle Broadband Plan | Bundled price after discount | Standalone power plan name | Standalone broadband plan name | Standalone Combination Price | Difference bundle - Standalone combination | Cheaper option? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contact | 4G | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | 4G Unlimited | $4,102.88 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,447.04 | $655.84 | Separate |
| 2degrees | 4G | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Unlimited Wireless 4G | $4,536.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | Skinny - Wireless Unlimited [4G] | $3,447.04 | $1,089.19 | Separate |
| Slingshot | ADSL | Slingshot (Standard) | Standard Broadband Unlimited [ADSL] | $4,944.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | Skinny - VDSL Unlimited | $3,737.04 | $1,207.19 | Separate |
| 2degrees | Fibre | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Starter Unlimited | $4,776.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | Sky - Fibre starter | $3,497.04 | $1,279.19 | Separate |
| Contact | MAX | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Max Fibre | $4,402.88 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $4,112.04 | $290.84 | Separate |
| Slingshot | MAX | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited Gigantic [MAX] | $5,064.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $4,112.04 | $952.19 | Separate |
| 2degrees | MAX | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Ultimate Unlimited | $5,196.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $4,112.04 | $1,084.19 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,539.74 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $4,112.04 | $1,427.70 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | MAX | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet As Fibre | $5,670.90 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Ultimate Unlimited [Max] | $4,112.04 | $1,558.86 | Separate |
| Contact | UFB | Contact Broadband Bundle (Standard) | Fast Fibre | $4,222.88 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,968.04 | $254.84 | Separate |
| Slingshot | UFB | Slingshot (Standard) | Fibre broadband Unlimited [UFB] | $4,920.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,968.04 | $952.19 | Separate |
| 2degrees | UFB | 2degrees Bundle (Standard) | Fibre Unlimited | $5,016.23 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,968.04 | $1,048.19 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - MoveMaster (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,431.74 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,968.04 | $1,463.70 | Separate |
| Electric Kiwi | UFB | Electric Kiwi - Kiwi (Standard) | Sweet Fibre | $5,562.90 | Z Energy - EV at Home Plan | 2degrees - Unlimited [UFB] | $3,968.04 | $1,594.86 | Separate |
Our Price Leading Power Company - Fixed Term
Getting quotes is an essential step before you switch. Our pricing tables and power comparison research look at average uses, and for many New Zealanders, Genesis leads with fixed-term offers:
Fixed Term: Special Offer With Our Partner Genesis - Rewarding New Zealanders Who Commit to a Great Value Genesis 12-Month Contract:
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Bundle Pros and Cons
Pros of broadband and power bundles:
Cons of broadband and power bundles:
What makes a good power and broadband bundle:
Remember to compare different providers and their offerings to find the bundle best suits your requirements and budget. It's important to weigh the pros and cons and decide based on your needs.
- Convenience: Bundles offer a single point of contact for internet and electricity services, simplifying billing and support.
- Cost Savings: Providers typically offer discounts and promotional pricing for bundled services, which can save you money compared to separate subscriptions (but this is not the norm, as we found in our analysis).
- Streamlined Management: With a single provider, you'll have consolidated bills and may be able to manage your services through a unified online portal or app.
- Additional Benefits: Bundles sometimes come with added perks like free installation, joining bonuses, consistent discounts, free months of broadband, or energy-saving tools.
Cons of broadband and power bundles:
- Limited Choices: Bundles may restrict your options, as you have to choose from broadband and power providers who bundle. This limits your ability to find the best deal for each service.
- Contract Commitments: Bundles usually require signing a contract, which can result in early termination fees if you need to switch providers or services during the contract period.
- Service Quality: While bundling may offer convenience, ensuring the quality of both broadband and power services meets your expectations is important. Make sure to research the provider's reputation and reliability in your area.
What makes a good power and broadband bundle:
- Competitive Pricing: Look for a bundle that offers a reasonable price compared to separate subscriptions for broadband and power.
- Suitable Internet Speeds: Ensure the broadband speeds provided are sufficient for your needs, whether it's basic browsing, streaming, or online gaming.
- Flexible Power Plans: Choose a power plan that aligns with your electricity usage patterns and offers competitive rates.
- Responsive Customer Service: Opt for a provider with good customer service ratings and prompt technical support.
- Contract Terms: Check the length of the contract and ensure the terms and conditions are suitable for your needs. Look for any early termination fees or penalties that would apply if you decide to switch providers before the contract ends.
- Added Benefits: Consider additional perks such as bonus data, energy-saving tools, or other incentives that enhance the bundle's value.
Remember to compare different providers and their offerings to find the bundle best suits your requirements and budget. It's important to weigh the pros and cons and decide based on your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a power and broadband bundle?
A power and broadband bundle involves providers offering a combined subscription that includes internet broadband services and electricity supply.
How does a power and broadband bundle work?
When you subscribe to a power and broadband bundle, you receive your internet connection and electricity supply from a single provider. This arrangement enables streamlined billing processes and the potential for discounted pricing.
Can I choose different providers for broadband and power within a bundle?
No - you must select a provider offering broadband and power services to access the bundle.
What are the advantages of a power and broadband bundle?
The benefits include convenience, potential cost savings through bundled discounts, streamlined management, and additional perks like free installation or bonus data. However, our research suggests you're unlikely to save money on most bundles assuming average power use.
Can I switch providers if I have a power and broadband bundle?
Yes, you can switch providers; however, you may face early termination fees or penalties if you're still within the contract period.
Can I customize my bundle to fit my specific needs?
Bundles often have predefined packages, but you may have some flexibility to choose different internet speeds and contract lengths within the available options.
Are power and broadband bundles available in every town and city?
Availability may vary based on location and the providers operating in your area. While the providers offer services in every city, if you are rural, you'll need to check to determine if bundles are available.
Are there any data caps or restrictions on internet usage in bundles?
Some bundles may have data caps or fair usage policies. Review the terms and conditions to understand any limitations on your internet usage.
Can I get a bundle if I'm an existing customer of one of the services?
Generally, bundles are available to both new and existing customers. Existing customers may need to contact their provider to inquire about switching to a bundle.
What should I do if I experience issues with my bundle services?
Contact your provider's customer support team to report issues or seek assistance. They should be able to help troubleshoot and resolve the problem.
Is a power and broadband bundle cheaper than separate subscriptions?
Bundles sometimes offer discounted pricing compared to separate subscriptions. However, it's important to compare costs and consider your usage patterns to determine if it's cost-effective for you. Our research found that, in most cases, it was better to have standalone contracts for power and broadband with the best providers in your area; our guides to energy comparison and broadband comparison can be a good starting point for evaluating providers.
How long is the contract period for a power and broadband bundle?
Contract lengths can vary but typically range from 12 to 24 months. Review the contract terms before signing up to understand the duration of the commitment.
Remember, specific details and policies may vary among providers, so it's always a good idea to consult with the provider directly or check their website for accurate and up-to-date information.
Remember, specific details and policies may vary among providers, so it's always a good idea to consult with the provider directly or check their website for accurate and up-to-date information.
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