BOSTON — A company that sold electricity to Massachusetts customers has paid more than $1.65 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly failed to make payments to the state under three state environmental programs, Attorney General Maura Healey and Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha announced.
In a complaint and consent judgment filed in Suffolk Superior Court, the Attorney General and the Inspector General allege that New York-based company Utility Expense Reduction, LLC, (UER) violated the Massachusetts False Claims Act when it knowingly avoided its obligation to make required payments under the state’s renewable and clean energy programs. In addition, UER’s conduct also violated the Consumer Protection Act and several environmental statutes, including the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, the Alternative Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and the Clean Air Act.
“As the existential threat of climate change grows, our electricity markets must support all the clean energy resources we need,” said AG Healey. “Massachusetts consumers have a right under our laws to access clean energy, which is why we’re holding this company accountable for evading its obligations to contribute to the state’s clean energy and climate change mitigation programs.”
“It is vitally important that companies that obtain the benefits of operating in the state pay the money they owe to the Commonwealth,” said Inspector General Cunha. “In failing to do so, UER gained an unfair financial...
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