Meridian Energy (ASX:MEZ, NZE:MEL) retail sales volumes rose 0.4% to 738 gigawatt hours (GWh) in April from 735 GWh a year earlier, according to a Thursday filing with the Australian and New Zealand bourses.

By segment, agricultural sales plunged past 26%, large business sales were over 15% higher, corporate sales were up 4.6%, and small and medium business sales were up 4.7%, the filing said.

National electricity demand fell 3% in April. National hydro storage increased to 88% from 77% of the historical average. Total inflows for January reached 91% of the historical average.