Utilities in New Zealand

The price of utilities in New Zealand varies according to a lot of factors, one of the most important of them being the region where you choose to live.

On average, you can expect to spend at least $250 per month in utilities, such as power, water, gas, phone and internet in New Zealand. So, when planning your annual budget, you can put a minimum of $3000 aside for these expenses.

Electricity

Electricity is supplied throughout New Zealand at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz.

Energy prices fluctuate constantly and aren’t easy to predict. They are also dependent on the particular region of New Zealand where you live.

You have a number of options available when choosing your power supplier. Below are some examples of companies that provide power to households in New Zealand:

Recently, a new option has been made available to New Zealanders who prefer to “top up” their power account, rather than paying a monthly bill. Powershop, backed by Meridian Energy, allows consumers to “pay as they go” so can be a good option to keep your budget under control.

Consumer.org’s free Powerswitch website allows consumers to compare New Zealand electricity and gas prices to work out which energy company and pricing plan best suits their needs.

Water

Like power, your water supplier will often depend on which region of New Zealand you move to. In Auckland, for example, the supplier is Metrowater, a company fully owned by the Auckland City Council.

As of 1 July 2009, Metrowater charges $79.92 per year as a service charge that goes towards maintaining your account. Residential charges are currently sitting at $1,562 per m3 for water and $3,745 per m3 for wastewater. According to Metrowater, usage of wastewater is calculated based on a quarter of household water not going into the wastewater, e.g. used for gardening. This means that your wastewater charge is based on 75% of your water usage.

Gas

Gas is provided by many of the companies that supply power. Genesis, Mercury, Novagas and Contact Energy are examples of gas retailers you that may be able to supply gas to your home.

Bottled LPG can be found throughout the country from local LPG providers (petrol stations, for example).

Phone

Setting up a landline at your home is easy. You will be charged a connection fee that is likely to be included in your first bill.

Below is a list of companies that provide home phone services in New Zealand:

Local calls are free in New Zealand and, every year, Telecom releases updated versions of both the White Pages and the Yellow Pages for each district.