Power and Broadband Bundles NZ: When the Discount Is Real

Bundling power and broadband with one company promises one bill and a discount. Sometimes that discount is real. Sometimes it hides a higher base price or a contract that stops you switching when a cheaper deal comes along. Consumer NZ’s July 2026 verdict on whether bundles are cheaper was “maybe, but be careful” — this guide explains how to tell which you are being offered.

Who sells power and broadband bundles

Consumer NZ names two groups of sellers in New Zealand.

What two of the bundles look like

Contact lists its Broadband Bundle from NZ$54 a month for fibre when you also take its energy, gives NZ$5 a month off broadband when bundled with electricity (NZ$10 with electricity and gas), and has run promotional credits on the power bill for adding broadband and mobile. Its bundle has no fixed term and no break fees, but broadband is only available if Contact also supplies your electricity at the same address. A modem costs NZ$4 a month or NZ$99 upfront, plus a NZ$14.99 delivery fee.

Mercury lists fibre plans at NZ$70 a month (FibreLite, about 106/25 Mbps), NZ$99 (FibreClassic, about 508/113 Mbps) and NZ$115 (FibreMax, about 864/490 Mbps), plus wireless plans, with open-term and two-year options and promotions such as half-price broadband for 12 months. Mercury is also closing its Now broadband brand at the end of 2026 and moving Now’s home fibre customers across.

Both sets of figures were taken from the companies’ own pages in September 2026 and change often.

When a bundle discount is not a discount

• The base price is higher. Consumer NZ found 2degrees advertising 10% off power for broadband customers, but 2degrees power is only sold with broadband, and its rates were at least 10% higher than other options — so the “discount” left customers no better off.
• The contract locks you in. Many bundles run for a year or longer. If a cheaper power or broadband deal appears, break fees can wipe out the saving.
• The credit expires. Sign-up credits for the first year disappear at renewal, and the ongoing price is what matters.
• One service drags the other. A good broadband price can hide an expensive power rate, which is usually the larger bill.

How to check a bundle properly

1. Price the power on its own with Powerswitch, Consumer NZ’s comparison tool, using your actual usage.
2. Price broadband on its own from a specialist provider at the same speed tier.
3. Add the two, then compare with the bundle’s ongoing price — not the first-year promotional one.
4. Check the term, break fees and modem charges.
5. Set a yearly reminder to repeat the comparison, as Consumer NZ recommends.

Choosing the broadband half

Whoever you buy from, the fibre underneath is the same: Chorus or your local fibre company runs it, and measured speeds depend on the plan tier rather than the retailer. The Commerce Commission’s April 2026 tests put Fibre 100 at about 106 Mbps, Fibre 500 at 508 Mbps and Fibre Max at 877 Mbps. Our internet speed calculator helps pick the right tier, and the fibre speeds guide explains each one.

What does differ between retailers is support, the modem supplied and how they handle faults. Energy companies resell broadband like any other provider, so faults still go through them to the fibre company. Our guide to New Zealand internet providers covers how the market fits together, and the outage guide lists each provider’s status page — including energy retailers such as Mercury and Contact.

Power cuts and your connection

Bundling does not change what happens in a power cut: the fibre box and modem stop, and so does the internet. If you work from home or rely on a medical alarm, a small battery backup keeps both running through short outages. Our Auckland outage guide explains how to check power and broadband faults side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Are power and broadband bundles cheaper in NZ?

Sometimes. Consumer NZ’s July 2026 answer was “maybe, but be careful”: compare the bundle’s ongoing price with buying each service separately.

Which companies sell power and broadband together?

Contact, Genesis, Mercury, Nova and Electric Kiwi sell internet with power, and 2degrees and Slingshot sell power with internet.

Do bundles have contracts?

Many do, often for a year, with break fees. Some, such as Contact’s bundle, are open term. Check before signing.

Is bundled broadband slower?

No. Energy retailers use the same fibre networks as other providers; the plan tier sets the speed.

How do I compare power prices?

Use Powerswitch, run by Consumer NZ, with your actual power usage, then price broadband separately and compare the total.

What happens to Now broadband customers?

Mercury is closing the Now brand at the end of 2026 and moving its home fibre customers to Mercury.