Vector has taken a swipe at electricity retailers for not passing on cuts in line charges this year.

Profits are up a notch at Vector, as its technology unit bolstered sagging earnings from traditional energy streams.

Meridian Energy - the jewel in the Government's portfolio of crown assets - may be worth nearly $2 billion less than it was valued at a year ago when it is finally listed.

A big questionmark remains as to the wisdom of rushing another and bigger float in a state-owned generator so soon after Mighty River Power, writes John Armstrong.

The Government has turned up the sweeteners to attract retail investors to the Meridian Energy sharemarket float but analysts say punters need to remain wary of the potential downsides.

Markets writer Tamsyn Parker says details for Meridian Energy's share market float provide both a huge incentive and the potential for a huge disaster for investors, writes Tamsyn Parker.

Details of the Meridian Energy share float have been released, and new shareholders will only have to pay 60 per cent up front for a stake in our biggest power company.

Funding generated by the Government's asset sales programme now extends to the $40 million bill for the Mighty River share loyalty bonus scheme.

Meridian's deal with Rio Tinto to keep the Tiwai Point smelter open until January 2017 has cleared the way for its sharemarket listing.

Meridian Energy's renegotiated contract with the owners of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter includes lower electricity prices and a potentially more abrupt closure.

Meridian Energy could be listed on the sharemarket before the end of October after clearing a big hurdle by finalising contract talks over the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter.

Meridian's deal with New Zealand Aluminium Smelters is a good short term solution to create certainty around its share market listing, says one analyst.

Big projects protect people (and the environment). They deliver to communities and build infrastructure, writes Antonios Papaspiropoulos.

Infratil and the New Zealand Superannuation Fund stand to at least triple their money on Z Energy in next month's IPO.

Z Energy has set an indicative price range of between $3.25 and $3.75 a share for its initial public offering next month.

Solid Energy is planning further job cuts at its Stockton mining operations, the company announced today.

The New Zealand government posted a smaller operating deficit than forecast in the 11 months ended May 31.