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.

Genesis Energy announced its last two coal-burning electricity generators at Huntly Power Station will be shut down.

Origin Energy will book a A$270m impairment from selling out of Contact Energy.

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

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.

Government spends up to 20 times more money on wooing oil and gas companies to New Zealand than it does on promoting renewable energy, newly released figures show.

BP New Zealand generated its smallest earnings in more than a decade due to falling oil prices.

The Commerce Commission has indicated a timeframe on when it expects to make a decision the acquisition.

The NZ-founded carbon recycling company is shifting into commercialisation from its previous development phase.

Rising power bills are driving down satisfaction with big energy retailers, a Consumer New Zealand survey has found.

Blenheim-based power company Marlborough Lines has bought an 80pc stake in Yealands Wine Group for $89 million.

A decision on the future of Tiwai Point's massive electricity contract, due today - has been delayed by a month.

Genesis Energy, the country's biggest energy retailer, will permanently retire a coal/gas-fired unit at the Huntly Power Station.

More than half a billion dollars has been wiped off the value of NZX-listed electricity firms today.

Aucklanders are being warned they could face fines of up to $10,000 and daily penalties for not keeping their trees and other vegetation away from power lines.

Contact Energy's 70,000 shareholders will get a 50c-a-share special dividend tomorrow as its majority owner examines options to quit its stake in the company.

A decade-long project to save endangered giant snails from a West Coast coal mine will finish next year.

Auckland households could face an increase of 4.5 per cent in their power bills under changes the Electricity Authority is considering.