BOSTON – Eversource has threatened to sue an environmental group that accused the power company of driving up prices for consumers.
The utility, which provides electricity to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, has sent a cease and desist letter to the Environmental Defense Fund over a report the group issued in October.
The EDF says Eversource’s gas purchasing practices unnecessarily raised costs for customers in the region. The group accused Eversource and Connecticut-based utility Avangrid of withholding the capacity of the Algonquin natural gas pipeline system, causing prices to rise by $3.6 billion over a three-year period.
The company rejects those allegations.
“We are outraged by the reckless claims that EDF continues to perpetuate and are shocked at how aggressively they continue to look for opportunity to spread these incredibly false narratives,” said Bill Akley, the President of Gas Operations for Eversource.
“Your false and misleading statements are immediately actionable and expose you and those acting in concert with you to liability for substantial damages,” Eversource officials wrote in the cease and desist letter. “If you do not cease and desist from all further publication of such statements, Eversource will take all appropriate action.”
The company has hired outside legal counsel and says it is prepared to sue, if necessary.
“The company will pursue legal action if EDF doesn’t halt its false and defamatory statements regarding Eversource’s gas purchasing practices,” Eversource said in a statement.
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