Some power customers could be in for a nasty jolt if proposed changes to national electricity grid costs go ahead.

COMMENT: The Royal Society has called for urgent action in NZ on carbon emissions. But the transition to renewable energy won't be quick or easy.

The company said earnings had been impacted by the settlement of its dispute with Customs.

The former state owned enterprise will soon be known as Mercury.

COMMENT: If we have the natural resources like wind, rain, sun and underground heat that can produce renewable electricity, we should harness it in the best way possible, writes Sam Judd.

New Zealand shares fell as demand dried up ahead of a Reserve Bank update, with Meridian Energy and Vector hit hardest.

New Zealand shares were mixed. The NZX 50 Index reached a record high but more companies fell.

Z Energy will get back $9.5 million of the amount it paid last year to settle a dispute with New Zealand Customs.

Leafy suburbs like Parnell might be seen as Auckland's elite neighbourhoods but more affordable areas have the upper hand in something, it seems.

Electric vehicles are far more useful to New Zealand for reducing carbon emissions than rooftop solar power, says a new study

New Zealand could become a major exporter of gas to Asia, Energy and Resources minister Simon Bridges says.

NZ Aluminium Smelters will go to the Supreme Court in a bid to overturn earlier decisions on the payment for statutory holidays that fell on a weekend.

WATCH: On the latest extra episode of The Economy Hub, guest panelists Bernard Doyle and Aaron Quintal discuss markets rebound.

Julian Kardos, managing director of Electric Kiwi, talks five things every Kiwi should know about electricity.

Even if Saudi Arabia wins its struggle with US shale producers over market share, it will face a new billion-barrel adversary.

It could soon be easier on the environment to have a shower or use the toilet in Auckland.

Global equity markets have received a boost from an upturn in crude oil as the market focused on a forthcoming meeting of major oil producers.

Saudi Arabia - Stung by falling oil prices, Saudi Arabia has cut spending and subsidies as part of harsh austerity measures that threaten the lavish welfare programs underpinning its stability.

The departing chief of Royal Dutch Shell's U.S. division says the failed quest to find crude in Arctic waters off Alaska is still a point of pride because it demonstrated the company's technical expertise.

'Liquid American Freedom' - the first US crude bound for overseas markets in 40- years has left the Gulf coast headed for France.

The extent of Solid Energy's cutbacks is revealed in the company's evidence to Parliament's commerce select committee.

Petrol prices have been fluctuating over the last couple of months, but it is hard to say whether pump prices will keep falling.

Historically high refining margins, a weaker kiwi dollar and high plant reliability combined to give New Zealand Refining one of its best annual results on record.

All-renewables electricity generator and retailer Meridian Energy announced an 11 per cent fall in net profit after tax of $104 million for the six months ended December 31.

Earnings are flat at our biggest electricity retailer - which says it still hasn't decided whether to can the Huntly Power Station.