Seven small electricity retailers have accused two of the country's biggest generators - Contact and Meridian - of price gouging by spilling water from their dams instead of using it to generate power.
They say that lets the two companies charge for more costly generation, earning them "excess profits" of more than $60 million in just the past month.
Electric Kiwi is one of the companies who have complained to the Electricity Authority, and its chief executive Luke Blincoe speaks to Corin Dann.
Neither Meridian nor Contact was willing to talk to Morning Report today, but in statements they say they disagree with the claims and spill water only when they have to.
Both say they would be happy to supply details of their operations to the Electricity Authority if requested.
