A letter signed by six state legislative leaders seeks the immediate resignation of the chief executive officer of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative and for him to apologize for what they called an “offensive and inaccurate” attack on state Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton, who led a campaign to pass laws to tighten controls on the cooperative.

Drew Rankin, CEO of the Norwich-based energy cooperative owned by six municipally owned utilities in the state, said in an email response to questions Thursday night: “I am not aware of, nor had received said letter.”

Rankin sent a strongly worded email late Tuesday to state Sens. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, criticizing proposed legislation he said would severely damage the energy cooperative and accusing Somers of having a personal agenda against CMEEC and Groton Utilities.

“Your words were hurtful and inaccurate and show you are unfit to remain as Chief Executive Officer of CMEEC,” the legislators' letter stated.

The Senate unanimously approved two bills Wednesday calling for stricter oversight of CMEEC in the wake of a controversy that has erupted over CMEEC-hosted trips from 2013 to 2016 to the Kentucky Derby for board members, top agency staff and dozens of invited guests.

“Please know that we will act in concert for our constituents and communities,” the letter signed by the six legislators stated. “We will represent all that is important for them. The business you represent is a valued entity which is why we have worked hard to protect it and restore the public confidence in it. In summary, we expect an apology for our colleague and for you to tenure [sic] your resignation immediately.”

Ken Sullivan, director of utilities at Jewett City DPU, said in an email late Thursday, "As Chairman of the CMEEC Board, I can say that we take this matter very seriously and we will be discussing it (as a Board), very shortly."

Chris Riley, spokesman for Norwich Public Utilities, said NPU General Manager John Bilda, vice chairman of the CMEEC Board of Directors, had not yet seen the legislators' letter.

“Mr. Bilda has indicated that he would like to read the letter and discuss it with his fellow CMEEC board members before making any public comment,” Riley said Thursday evening.

In addition to Osten and Formica, the letter was signed by Senate Republican President pro tempore Len Fasano, North Haven, state Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, co-chairman of the Energy and Technology Committee, state Rep. Lonnie Reed, D-Branford, co-chairwoman of the Energy and Technology Committee, and state Rep. Laura Hoydick, R-Stratford, ranking member of the Energy and Technology Committee.

Osten said the legislation was aimed at restoring the public trust in CMEEC, and Rankin's resignation would help restore that trust. She said legislators had met with Rankin and heard his testimony at the public hearing on the bills and conveyed their expectations to him.

Somers said she saw the letter Thursday morning. She did not sign it, but said she found Rankin's Tuesday email to Osten and Formica “shameful and disappointing.” Somers said she worked with fellow legislators to ensure that the proposed bills had “teeth” to rein in CMEEC and ensure that the cooperative properly was serving its utility customers.

“It's unfortunate that a letter like that has to be sent to someone who is supposed to be a professional and represents a business that does $300 million in business and is supposed to represent the public,” Somers said.

c.bessette@theday.com