Federated Farmers is accusing Meridian Energy of stonewalling on their power station swap deal with Genesis Energy.

As part of the Electricity Industry Bill, Meridian is transferring its Tekapo A and B hydro power stations to Genesis in exchange for the Whirinaki gas turbine station.

The bill is designed to increase competition in the electricity market, but some farmers are concerned Meridian will use old legislation to back out of already allocated water concessions.

Federated Farmers  electricity spokesperson Philip York says farmers saw straight away the threat to their irrigation systems when the swap was announced.

 The bill is before Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. Federated Farmers wants the committee to understand that the old 2004 law needs to be honoured.