A wet spring and early summer is good news for the energy market - for 2026

Meridian Energy's recent operating report shows generation volumes are up 13 percent - and retail sales 12 percent higher than the first half of the last financial year

Storage is above the long-term average, leading to extended spilling into hydro-storage catchments.

CEO Mike Roan says this means savings for commercial customers - but not for residential, whose bills will increase - driven by Commerce Commission-approved lifts to distribution charges.