All manner of people, policies and practices are being blamed for the near-collapse of Solid Energy, the state-owned coal company that is burdened with $389 million in debt.

The Government was worried about Solid Energy's ambitious investment plans and rosy view of coal prices as far back as 2009.

Genesis Energy chair Jenny Shipley says the state owned enterprise is ready for partial sale but is coy on whether she will be leading the company on the sharemarket.

Genesis Energy has turned in a tidy-looking result for the six months to December 31, with net profit after tax up 85 per cent to $71 million.

The state-owned electricity generator and retailer yesterday reported an underlying net profit after tax of $88 million for the latest half-year after non-cash items

Meridian Energy says it's ready for partial privatisation and expects a significant uplift in operating earnings after transmission outages knocked its performance.

The Government and Treasury missed the chance to step in and force change at troubled state-owned coal company Solid Energy when problems became apparent to officials and ministers about 18 months ago, the Opposition says.

Mighty River Power says the driest summer in at least five years will affect its full-year result as it cuts back on generating power from its Waikato River dams.

Solid Energy is in crisis, with a Government bailout almost inevitable, mine closures possible and further job cuts likely in another restructure to try to salvage it.

Twice in the past decade, Solid Energy has enjoyed revenue close to $1 billion, and aside from last year has returned some healthy profits - and dividends for the Government.

Solid Energy, the state-owned coal miner whose chief executive quit this month, is in talks with its banks because of its deteriorating financial position.

Contact Energy says it's "not fixated" on the number of redundancies it will make but is still on track to shed 10 per cent of staff.

Economic modelling based on ethanol, which has its limitations as a fuel, may underestimate the potential yields and value added, writes Brian Fallow.

Fallout from the Mainzeal receivership is hitting listed lines company, Horizon Energy.

Don Elder has resigned as chief executive of troubled coal company Solid Energy, effective immediately.

This year is shaping up to be a very busy one for new sharemarket listings...

Electricity retailer Mercury Energy has announced its first across the board price cuts in a decade.

The government's drive for new investment in oil and gas development in New Zealand has suffered another blow.