Former top utilities regulator Marissa Gillett is appealing a $2,500 fine issued by the state’s Freedom of Information Commission in December, arguing it’s excessive and unwarranted given her indirect role handling public records requests.

The fine stems from a complaint by the utility Eversource, which accused Gillett and her staff of “stonewalling” the company’s efforts to obtain records from the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority during Gillett’s tenure as its leader. Gillet stepped down from that position in October.

Following an investigation into Eversource’s complaint, an FOIC hearing officer recommended fining Gillett $1,000 for what was described as her agency’s mishandling of the records request.

During a meeting in December, however, the full commission voted to increase that fine to $2,500 after several members raised concerns about state agencies failing to comply with the Freedom of Information Act.

Gillett appealed that fine in New Britain Superior Court on Friday. In addition to arguing the fine was excessive, her appeal says Eversource’s records request was handled directly by PURA General Counsel Scott Muska, who eventually turned over roughly 750 pages of documents to the company.

“There is no evidence that Gillett personally directed any aspect of the FOIA response, instructed Muska or other staff to withhold documents, or otherwise personally failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act,” the complaint, which was filed by a lawyer for Gillett, reads.

Gillett is being represented in the appeal by Trumbull attorney Alexander Copp, according to court records. Copp could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

A spokesperson for Eversource declined to comment on the appeal Monday.

The FOIC also declined to comment on Gillett’s appeal. The commission’s final decision in the matter faulted PURA General Counsel Muska for failing to conduct a “reasonable and diligent” search for records sought by the company, specifically two emails that surfaced after months of prodding.

The report also found that Gillett, as PURA chair, was the person ultimately responsible for overseeing records requests. Muska was not fined by the FOIC.

The Hartford Courant reported Monday that PURA — now under new leadership — released more than 100 additional pages of records that had been sought by the utility companies in a separate complaint before the FOIC. That complaint was settled as part of the release, the paper reported.

A group of Republicans in the state Senate, who protested Gillett’s renomination last year, took a victory lap at the release of that news Monday.

“Better and better. That’s how we continue to feel about our Senate Republican caucus’s decision to get up and walk out on the vote on Gillett’s nomination,” the statement said. “It now appears that PURA under Gillett did not act transparently, inclusively, or lawfully.”