Four independent power companies are taking a stand against wholesale electricity market conditions in the country.

Pulse Energy, Electric Kiwi, Flick Electric and Vocus Communications have written to the electricity authority demanding urgent action to stop Kiwi families being ripped off.

They say current high spot prices are neither transparent or justified.

Vocus Communications spokesperson Jonathan Eele told Mike Hosking prices are five times the price they would ordinarily would be.

"We are somehwhat staggered that this has been looked into seriously, imagine if our petrol prices had increased five-fold."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JONATHAN EELE SPEAKS TO MIKE HOSKING