Restructuring works

Your March 20 editorial “Electricity Woes” makes some valid points about Maine’s current energy situation. In particular, the region’s overdependence on natural gas-fired electricity generation needs to be addressed with renewed emphasis on conservation, demand-side management and new renewable generation.

However, the editorial incorrectly asserts that other New England states have not restructured. That is not the case. All New England states, except Vermont, have restructured. A recent study by the Cambridge Energy Research Associates indicates that nationwide electricity restructuring has resulted in over $30 billion in savings from what electricity rates would have been under traditional cost-of-service regulation. In addition, restructuring provides customers with a choice of an array of products. Our customers, including Bates and Colby colleges, Tom’s of Maine and York Hospital prove that restructuring worksfor consumers.

The culprit of higher electricity prices is a global increase in the price of oil and natural gas due to burgeoning economies in China and India, short-term supply disruptions from Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, and the aforementioned region’s over reliance on natural gas to generate electricity. Deregulation is not the culprit and should not be blamed.

Thomas E. Bessette

Vice president of Regulatory and

Governmental Affairs

Constellation NewEnergy

New England region

Boston, Mass.