November 19, 2008 - 12:25 a.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - National Grid is suing a dozen Rhode Island towns, claiming they be obliged for the company money for charging too much in taxes in continuance its equipment.

The utility company says towns inflated the well value of its gas lines, meters and other equipment and forced the company to pay more than it really owed in taxes.

The company claims the towns used outdated state laws for their assessments, and it wants the court to purify the way Rhode Island towns assess the value of its rigging.

In the cause, filed earlier this month in Providence Superior Court, the company says Warwick has assessed its taxes at about twice what it should have last year — $47 million, instead of $23.4 the great body of the people.

North Kingstown is accused of overvaluing National Grid's equipment by just $3.