Battery frenemies Telsa, Panasonic poised for Solar power fight in Europe.

Z Energy is warning it's facing a potential multi-million dollar bill from NZ Customs - backdated to 1986.

Energy trust would be more loveable if its annual payout wasn't used to benefit individuals ... or to promote re-election of trustees, writes Brian Rudman.

Mighty River Power has become the latest electricity generator-retailer to announce a special dividend in the current earnings season.

Hundreds of thousands of Auckland households can expect an increased dividend payment of $345 in late September from the community trust that owns most of Vector.

Auckland households are set to get a bigger dividend payout from Vector next month.

Mighty River will spring another 2.5 cents per share special dividend for shareholders, having already given 5c in December.

Solid Energy creditors yesterday voted to retain the company's existing administrators and not to set up a creditors' committee.

Meridian Energy shares closed up almost 3 per cent yesterday after the company delivered better-than-expected earnings and foreshadowed a long-term return of capital to shareholders.

Our biggest power generator, Meridian Energy, says power prices are likely to stay flat in the coming year.

Contact Energy chief executive Dennis Barnes says the firm now has the chance to steer its own course.

It's been a tough year for Contact Energy, with profits falling 43 per cent. But CEO Dennis Barnes says improvements are expected across all parts of the business next year.

Of the 33 employees based at the site, 26 roles will be disestablished and seven employees will moved within the company.

Contact Energy's decision to close its Otahuhu power station is the latest in an industry-wide move away from gas.

Two major factors - falling international coal prices and a $320 million mountain of debt - proved the undoing of state-owned coal company Solid Energy.

Solid Energy acting chairman Andy Coupe admitted it was "unlikely" that any sale, or sales, would cover its outstanding debt.

Contact Energy will have more New Zealand shareholders on its register after Australia's Origin Energy sold its controlling stake for $1.8 billion.

Australia's Origin Energy has sold is Contact Energy shares to underwriters Macquarie Capital for $1.8 billion, ending months of speculation.

Mr Key said Solid Energy had $300 million of outstanding debt and was in a "precarious position".

A revised contract between Meridian Energy and the owners of the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter extends the smelter's operating life for at least another year from 2017.

More than 100 solar power and state of the art battery systems are being offered free by Vector to individuals, families, community groups and schools in the Auckland region.

Labour leader Andrew Little said it was "good news" for the 800 workers at the plant, and the Green Party described it as a "relief".

Tiwai Point smelter looks set to stay open after the announcement of a new power deal with Meridian Energy.

The world's big energy groups have shelved US$200 billion ($298 billion) of spending on new projects in an urgent round of cost-cutting to protect dividends as the oil price slumps for a second time this year.

Meridian Energy has joined with charity KidsCan to raise awareness of child poverty in NZ and help to provide food, clothing and basic healthcare.

Speculation is building that a block sale of ASX-listed Origin Energy's 53pc stake in New Zealand's Contact Energy may be imminent.

Australia's largest integrated off-the-grid solar power system will be up and running in 2016 at a copper mine in remote Western Australia.