Power, Broadband, Gas Bundle Deals

LIn2thewild on 18/01/2023 - 11:29

Hi, we are moving shortly into our new home and need to sign up to Power, Broadband and Gas bottles.

Looking at Contact as they have all 3, and package deals seems pretty decent, though I’ve heard that they increase power rate if bundled together, which is concerning. Is this true?

Slingshot is another one that has a good deal for power and broadband. Though rate seems to increase a lot at end of 12 months and router not supplied.

Is bundling these items the way to go? or is it best to split each utility? Thoughts please

Cheers!

General Discussion

Comments

  • spam on 18/01/2023 - 15:43

    Looking at Contact as they have all 3, and package deals seems pretty decent, though I’ve heard that they increase power rate if bundled together, which is concerning. Is this true?

    I had a look on my address since I'm with Contact. Adding broadband to the plan didn't change the power price. If you are signing the fixed price contract they won't be able to change the rate anyway.

    I'd say play around and get quote from some provider and see where you get better price from. Bundling might work as that gives leeway for the provider to give discount

  • nigglej on 18/01/2023 - 19:11
    +3

    My thoughts are just get the best value offer for each service and don't worry about bundling unless it is the best price.

  • konfusd on 19/01/2023 - 08:12

    Don’t forget to check the cost of bundling broadband with your mobile provider.

    If I wasn’t employed by a telco (i.e. ignoring staff discounts) then in my situation bundling broadband with mobile would be $6 less per month compared to bundling with energy.

    We’re also with Contact for power and gas, they have been great to deal with. As with @spam I checked that adding broadband to my Contact account wouldn’t change my power or gas rates.

    When you do make a decision don’t forget to check if there’s a referral button on here ;)

  • Zyo on 19/01/2023 - 08:55

    With contact some of the packages are mutually exclusive
    E.g. you can't choose good night plan with 60 dollar broadband plans.

  • akrotohur on 19/01/2023 - 09:11

    I've sort of given up, will just look at some reasonably good deals and take them out, then repeat the process after the contractual period. Eg. I took the $300 offer by Contact to switch my broadband to them (existing power customers). I was with Stuff Fibre but didn't like it after they merged with Slingshot.

  • gcnz on 19/01/2023 - 15:04
    +1

    We're with Contact for power, bb and gas bottles. The gas bottle seem to have gone up lots over the last year or so, currently $144 per bottle and $128.8 rental. I've just found Frank would be the cheapest at $140 a bottle and no rental fee if you have power with them too…but they can't recognise my smart meter so won't take me on until it's "fixed", it's been looked at recently and was replace, issue is the poor signal.
    Best deal for me was to change power and internet to Slingshot for a year to get the internet at $37.95 a month, then use Frank for gas (paying the $150 annual fee) or stick with Rockgas for $10 more (if we use 8 bottles again this year).
    Genesis for power and gas plus 2 Degrees for internet wasn't too bad. Trustpower look good with low gas prices and half price internet for 6 months but it's $94 to start with so doesn't come out well over a year.
    Even with all the comparision sites, it's not simple aye.

    • Bill on 19/01/2023 - 16:18

      Have you taken a look at matagas? They seem to be pretty cheap.

      • gcnz on 20/01/2023 - 10:54
        +1

        Thanks, I hadn't and yes the "from" price looks great ($115) but they don't service Dunedin :(

  • lukenz on 19/01/2023 - 15:31
    +1

    Working in the telco space, my opinion is to keep them seperate so you can shop around for the best deal for each service as the time comes. Nothing worse than being locked in for all your services

  • Everettpsycho on 19/01/2023 - 20:22

    Personally I don't bundle them, if the price was right I'd consider it but I feel like between the meridian ev plan and the 2degrees offer I'm paying fair less for power and internet than any bundle will offer me.

    I'd just compare expected pricing over a 12 month period of the best value of each and then a bundle as well and that will give you the answer. I'd say unless the bundle works out a decent amount cheaper stick with separate services as you have the freedom fk switch out each one if something better comes along.

  • In2thewild on 20/01/2023 - 09:13

    Thanks all, Going off all the above I think I will separate them. Probably 2 degrees for broadband, and will check Power switch for cheapest power and gas

  • F armer on 21/01/2023 - 19:44

    For me it was cheaper to bundle though trust power, switched over from EK for power and vodafone for mobile and broadband

    12 month contract for fibre, power, mobile
    6 months fibre free
    3 months mobile free
    $50 credit for online sign up
    $15 discount/month after the first 6 free months for fibre
    $5 discount/month for mobile

    • gooddeals on 22/01/2023 - 16:11
      +1

      It is worth checking the power prices of trust power before committing a 12 month contract on them. Based on my prior checks at no stage were Trustpower ever offered the best bundle deals. often ended up paying much more overall despite the discounts.

      • F armer on 22/01/2023 - 20:30

        price of power is frozen for the term of the contract and i compared the price with my EK price before commiting, my monthly bill for power was similar/slightly lower in the last month

        • gooddeals on 22/01/2023 - 20:48

          Thanks. Worth comparing the best price at the time from all electricity providers via the 3 comparison website not just the prior provider. Would be good for me to be proven wrong though to potentially have an alternative option. From all the comparison I made at no point Trustpower ever offered the best price as a package overall. Hence, some people call the free stuff like TV appliance as hire purchase. Trustpower had sold all their retail customers to mercury for about $2000 each may also suggest they are highly profitable. Some of the EK plan are high not all of the plans are good value.
          Also my power cost this month is lower than the prior month with the same company with warmer weather.

  • Wakrak on 17/04/2023 - 11:23
    +2

    Join on an eligible power and broadband bundle for a 12 month term you'll get your first 6 months broadband FREE

    Trustpower
    https://www.trustpower.co.nz/promotion/6monthsfree?lcsp=12M#…

    $94 a month thereafter for standard speed (300/100) = $564 (second 6 months)

    Slingshot broadband $37.95 /month when combine with power

    • justaddwater on 17/04/2023 - 11:28

      Fyi Average fibre 300 deal is $60-65 dollar per month in auckland historically (usually 1 year contract)

      • Joshyss on 18/04/2023 - 21:03

        Who are you getting that through? Or do you mean if you bundle with mobile or power?

          • Joshyss on 19/04/2023 - 20:48

            @justaddwater: I have skinny now and it’s been by far the worst fibre I’ve had since fibre was invented. I’ve never had so many dropouts like this before. Dreadful, would steer clear at all costs.

            • justaddwater on 19/04/2023 - 21:13

              @Joshyss: Cant say the same. I use. Aftermarket router though not the supplied one

              • Joshyss on 20/04/2023 - 13:30

                @justaddwater: I tried to use my aftermarket router but couldn’t get it to work. Think it’s an ASUS RT-AC66U from memory. I’m not so tech savvy anymore though.

                • justaddwater on 20/04/2023 - 13:59

                  @Joshyss: Vlan 10

                  • Joshyss on 20/04/2023 - 20:16
                    +1

                    @justaddwater: After a google, I don’t believe my router supports vlan. It’s hardware version a2

                    • justaddwater on 21/04/2023 - 07:51

                      @Joshyss: i think you can flash tomato or dd-wrt on most asus routers, this will normally allow vlan capability

                      dont quote me on your particular model though, you'ld have to google model + vlan tagging/802.1Q + dd-wrt etc

                    • ace310 on 21/04/2023 - 08:43

                      @Joshyss: My suggestion, if you are not that tech savvy don't bother with firmware. Just get a decent router from marketplace preferably an asus AX model or some deal. These won't cost you much, but will save you tons of headache.

                      To be frank, the router provided by skinny is not that bad either if you have less than 20 devices connected and if it can cover the whole house.

                      Do invest in a decent router for the long term use.

            • ace310 on 19/04/2023 - 22:41

              @Joshyss: Might be your router giving you grief. Been with skinny for more than 6 months and using my asus router. Not a single dropout or connection issue. Also speed has been consistent throughout this period.

    • boovohh on 17/04/2023 - 17:03

      Recently got a deal with 2degrees. $77pm for Fibre 300 with a $250 credit. Gets it to $56. Been with them for 4 years. Thought of considering slingshot but 2degrees never gave me any issues.

      • Joshyss on 19/04/2023 - 20:51

        How did you swing that deal?

        • boovohh on 19/04/2023 - 21:23

          Was on an open term. Told them I want to cancel. They asked who i am switching to and i said slingshot for $56. They gave me this after that

  • justaddwater on 19/04/2023 - 21:15

    Any power company hasnt raised their low user daily charge?

    • bigcheese on 19/04/2023 - 21:19
      +1

      Genesis according to this article

    • nzmax on 20/04/2023 - 16:04

      Some seem to have raised it twice, as I saw one with a low user rate over $1 a day. It is ridiculous as it is going to increase low power user peoples bill significantly as a %. There should be incentives to save power, as it reduces the need for extra generation. T

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