BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Gas company Eversource said it will take legal action against an environmental group if that group does not stop accusing it of unfair energy practices.
A 74-page report from the Environmental Defense Fund claims Eversource ties up pipeline capacity on cold days, and drives up electricity costs since about half the region's energy comes from natural gas.
You can read that report here.
When Eversource ties up pipeline capacity on the region's coldest days, it ends up going unused.
Eversource spokesperson Caroline Prettyman tells WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl that, by holding some pipeline capacity in reserve, the company is just doing what it is legally bound to do.
"The truth of the matter is that, as a local gas company, we are required to make sure our customers have enough gas for heating their homes, particularly on cold New England nights," she said.
She cited third-party analysts that have said Eversource is not guilty of the manipulation the EDF is charging it with.
"The Northeast Gas Association, the American Gas Association, the Petroleum Institute have all sided with Eversource and Avangrid, saying that this is not true, that we are operating in the best interest of our customers and abiding by all rules and regulations," Prettyman said.
Eversource's cease-and-desist letter says the EDF will face legal action if it does not immediately drop the claim.
An EDF spokesperson promised WBZ NewsRadio a response to the letter, but the group did not meet a deadline to comment on this report.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kendall Buhl reports