HELSINKI (AFP) Finnish energy company TVO said Tuesday it had asked police to investigate whether environmental group Greenpeace had committed a crime by distributing fake electricity bills bearing its name.

Greenpeace activists distributed some 20,000 leaflets resembling electricity bills around Finland to raise awareness about the ballooning costs of a delayed nuclear reactor project in southwestern Olkiluoto.

In the leaflet, Greenpeace said Finns' electricity bills would increase by more than 3.0 billion euros (more than 4.0 billion dollars) because of TVO's "failed" Olkiluoto project.

The environmental group claimed TVO and other companies would raise prices to cover the cost of the delays.

"We asked police to look into the matter on Monday. They have used our name and logo in a campaign that has confused people," TVO spokeswoman Anne Lehtiranta told AFP.

Police said they would find out how many complaints had been received around the country before deciding whether to launch an investigation.

"We have not yet decided if a probe will be launched," police spokesman Olavi Saunamaeki said.

A consortium led by French firm Areva and Germany's Siemens is building the world's first third-generation pressurised water nuclear reactor for TVO at Olkiluoto.

The project has been plagued by problems and delays and the reactor is not expected to start producing energy in 2012, three years behind schedule.

Lauri Myllyvirta, Greenpeace's energy campaign manager in Finland, said the organisation had received both positive and negative feedback about its campaign.

Some people were angry about the way it was carried out, but others were more annoyed that energy companies would be forced to hike electricity prices, he said.