After the announcement of the 17 percent electric rate hike, my family is going to have to suffer in March. I remember hearing this was for the standard option only. The standard option is the default option for those who do not choose a supply company.

Great competition, and the ability to get cheaper electricity. So recently I waded through state information on the competitive electric law and and eventually found information at the state of Maine Web site that listed about 10 companies I could call to get the best deal. So I called and called. In reality, there is only one company that supplies electricity as an alternative to the standard offering, and that company is “green” energy, and its rates are 3 cents more expensive than the standard offering.

So why is the state of Maine not doing anything about making sure there is this competition, which came into law in 2000?

Dominic Coombe, Auburn