Compare Power & Gas Providers NZ
Power and gas in NZ is tricky — the right plan depends on how you use energy. Use Powerswitch to compare, then follow our guide to make sure you're on the cheapest option.
Start Here: Powerswitch
Powerswitch is the government-backed, independent comparison tool for electricity and gas in NZ. Enter your address and usage to see which plan is actually cheapest for your household — not just the headline rate.
Which Plan Is Right for You?
The "cheapest" plan depends on your household. Work through these questions to find the right type of plan before you compare prices.
Step 1: Are You a High Energy User?
Ask yourself two questions:
A) Do you heat your shower and cook with gas?
If yes, your electricity usage is lower because gas handles the heavy stuff.
B) Do you charge an electric car?
EV charging adds significant overnight electricity usage.
If You Charge an EV → Consider a Night-Free Plan
Many EV owners jump straight to a night-free power plan (e.g. Contact Good Nights, Electric Kiwi MoveMaster). This makes sense because you save on fuel costs by charging overnight for free — even though the daytime rate on these plans is higher than a standard plan.
The trade-off: your non-free hours will cost more per kWh than a normal plan. But if your EV charging is a big chunk of your usage, the overnight savings far outweigh the higher daytime rate.
If You Use Gas for Shower & Cooking → Get the Cheapest Electricity Rate
If gas handles your hot water and cooking (the biggest energy guzzlers), your electricity usage is relatively low. In this case, skip the fancy night-free plans and go for the cheapest standard electricity rateyou can find. A night-free plan won't help much because you don't have enough overnight usage to benefit from the free hours.
The Golden Rule: Switch Providers Regularly
New Customer Offers Beat Renewal Offers Every Time
This is the most important thing to understand about power and gas in NZ: providers don't reward loyal customers. A renewal offer might give you $50 off, but a new customer offer from a competitor could be $100 off + 1 free gas bottle. The math is simple — switch regularly.
Bundles Sound Good — But Don't Get Trapped
Bundling gas and electricity with one provider seems convenient and might offer a small discount. But if bundling stops you from switching, you're likely losing more than you save. The new-customer discounts you miss by staying put are usually worth far more than the bundle saving.
Gas Switching: Know the Bottle Trick
Switching gas providers can be annoying because your old provider won't refund you for a half-used bottle. This is the main friction that stops people switching. But here's the thing: when you sign up with a new provider, you typically get 1 free gas bottle delivery + a sign-up discount (often around $100).
Even if you "lose" half a bottle worth ~$50–60, the free bottle + $100 discount means you still come out ahead. Time your switch when your current bottle is as empty as possible to minimise the loss.
Use Powerswitch With Your Actual Bills
Don't just guess your usage. Grab a recent power bill (it shows your kWh usage) and plug it into Powerswitch. The results are based on your real consumption, so the savings estimate is accurate — not a marketing number.
Quick Summary: Which Plan Type?
| Your Situation | Recommended Plan Type | Why |
|---|---|---|
| EV owner | Night-free plan | Free overnight charging outweighs higher daytime rates |
| Gas for hot water & cooking | Cheapest standard rate | Low electricity usage — no benefit from night-free hours |
| All-electric home | Compare both on Powerswitch | Depends on your usage pattern — run the numbers |
Find Your Cheapest Plan
Enter your address and usage on Powerswitch to see exactly how much you could save.
Compare on PowerswitchPrices and promotions change frequently — always check the provider's website for the latest pricing. Powerswitch is an independent service run by Consumer NZ. Last updated: January 2026.