Elemental Energy LLC, the parent company of Sunetric, the state's largest locally owned solar energy systems company, has filed a response to a former worker and three vendors trying to put it into bankruptcy.

The Kailua-based company is asking the Bankruptcy Court in Honolulu to dismiss the involuntary petition filed by the four parties, along with requesting punitive damages be levied.

The response filed by attorney Jerrold Guben says the petition's dismissal is warranted based on a number of factors, including Sunetric's payment of debts as they come due. It also disputed the four petitioning creditors' allegations that they are owed money.

It also alleges Joshua Powell, a former worker who went on to form another company, Distributed Energy Partners, is engaged in anti-competitive conduct.