Utility costs are a significant and often underestimated household expense. MBIE figures show average household spending on electricity rose from $2,121 a year (year to March 2021) to $2,426 (year to March 2025). This page gives the official electricity figures and explains how gas, internet and phone costs vary.
The average NZ household spent $2,426 a year on electricity (about $202 a month) in the year to March 2025, using about 7,050 kWh (MBIE). Gas, broadband and mobile plans are priced by each provider, so compare current plans for those. Average power prices vary by region: in May 2026 they ranged from 37.0c/kWh in Wellington City to 52.5c/kWh in Balclutha.
Average Electricity Bills by Household Size (2026)
Estimates, assuming an average price of about 45c/kWh including daily charges (May 2026 averages ranged from 37c to 52.5c/kWh by town):
| Household | kWh/year (estimate) | Monthly bill (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person, apartment | 2,500 – 3,500 | $90 – $130 |
| 2 people, apartment / small flat | 4,000 – 5,500 | $150 – $205 |
| 2–3 people, house | 6,000 – 8,000 | $225 – $300 |
| Family of 4, house | 8,000 – 11,000 | $300 – $410 |
| Family of 5+, large house | 11,000 – 15,000 | $410 – $560 |
These estimates assume a standard residential power plan. Electricity costs vary by:
- Retailer pricing (Genesis, Contact, Mercury, Meridian, Nova, Electric Kiwi and others; Meridian took over Flick’s customers in 2025)
- Region (spot prices, line company rates, and climate)
- Heating method (electric vs gas vs heat pump)
Power Prices by City (May 2026)
Power prices vary by region because of different lines (network) charges. MBIE’s Quarterly Survey of Domestic Electricity Prices gives the average price across retailers for a modelled household using about 8,000 kWh a year:
| City | Average price (c/kWh), May 2026 | Annual cost at 8,000 kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Whangārei | 44.4c | $3,550 |
| Auckland Central | 41.2c | $3,294 |
| Hamilton | 39.8c | $3,181 |
| Tauranga | 45.0c | $3,602 |
| Wellington City | 37.0c | $2,961 |
| Nelson | 38.8c | $3,102 |
| Christchurch | 38.5c | $3,082 |
| Dunedin | 42.4c | $3,395 |
| Invercargill | 38.8c | $3,105 |
Among the main centres, Tauranga and Whangārei had the highest average prices and Wellington City the lowest. How much you actually pay also depends on how much power you use.
Gas Bills — Piped and LPG
About 290,000 North Island homes are connected to piped natural gas (GasNZ, 2025). Homes elsewhere that use gas mostly rely on LPG. Gas is priced by each retailer (piped gas as a daily charge plus a per-unit rate; LPG per bottle), so compare current prices: Powerswitch compares electricity and gas plans from participating NZ power companies.
Internet (Broadband) Bills
Broadband is priced by each provider and changes often, so compare current plans for your address.
Fibre is available to about 87% of New Zealanders since the Ultra-Fast Broadband rollout finished at the end of 2022. Main providers include Spark, One NZ (formerly Vodafone), 2degrees, Slingshot and Skinny.
Mobile Phone Plans
Mobile plans are priced by each network and brand; see mobile plans compared by price and data for current plans.
How to Reduce Your Utility Bills
Power
Switch retailers: Powerswitch (powerswitch.org.nz), the Consumer NZ comparison tool, can find cheaper plans. Powerswitch says its users save around $450 a year on average.
Install a heat pump: EECA says the average heat pump in New Zealand puts out three times more heat than the electricity it uses, so it costs roughly a third as much to run as a plug-in resistive heater for the same heat.
Solar panels: EECA puts typical costs at $8,500 to $11,500 for a small-to-medium system. There’s no government solar rebate, but most major banks offer 0% to 1% home energy loans. EECA’s solar calculator estimates payback for your home.
Low-user plan: If you use under 8,000 kWh/year (9,000 kWh in the lower South Island), check whether your retailer’s low-user plan (lower daily charge, higher per-unit rate) is cheaper than the standard plan. The low fixed charge regulations are being phased out: the cap on low-user daily charges has risen each April and the regulations end in 2027, after which retailers won’t have to offer these plans.
Internet
Compare plans across providers (One NZ, formerly Vodafone; Spark; 2degrees; and smaller providers). New-customer promotions are common, so check the price after any promotional period ends.
Mobile
Compare prepay and on-account plans from the networks and their budget brands. If you’re on an older Spark or One NZ (Vodafone) plan, compare it with current plans.