BOSTON – Federal energy regulators say Eversource Energy did not withhold pipeline capacity in New England after an environmental group claimed the company was involved in a plan to drive up prices for consumers.
A staff inquiry by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission found no evidence that Eversource was involved in any wrongdoing. The Commission will not take any additional action on the matter.
In October, the Environmental Defense Fund issued a report saying 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 rejected the allegations and threatened to sue the EDF for what Eversource described as “false and defamatory statements.”
On Tuesday, Eversource also touted a report by Levitan & Associates Inc., a Boston-based energy consulting firm, that disputed the EDF’s claims.
“This report validates what we’ve said all along, which is that our gas supply management practices are carried out on a day-to-day basis in line with industry practices to fufill our core public service obligation to customers,” said Bill Akley, the President of Gas Operations for Eversource.
Eversource is the electricity provider for Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard.
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