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.

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.

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.

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.

Shares in Z Energy debuted on the NZX at $3.73, a 23-cent (6.6 per cent) premium to their $3.50 issue price today.

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

A $30m subsidy from the government has helped Meridian resolve its negotiations with Rio Tinto to keep the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter running until 2017.

With widespread use of smart meters it should be possible to make the demand side of the wholesale market more price-elastic, writes Brian Fallow.

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

Forest and Bird says efforts to rehabilitate the Stockton Plateau after open-cast coalmining has missed the point, with bright green grass sown rather than restoring the natural tussock landscape.

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.

I see our environmental strategies as irrational. As a mother and grandmother, I consider them a betrayal of future generations, writes Dame Anne Salmond.