This letter is in response to the “Open Letter from Bangor Hydro” which appeared in the Jan. 12 edition of the Bangor Daily News.

Hydro should take a long, hard look at who the real culprit is when it come to price gouging. It has been doing it to its customers for years, especially here in Washington County where we have one of the highest utility rates in the country.

Since price gouging seems to be a very profitable business venture by Hydro, which is now crying wolf when the shoe is on the other foot, it’s unfortunate the local fishermen and blueberrry growers cannot hold the citizens hostage like Hydro can.

As for Hydro president Bob Briggs, claiming the Indeck power plant “tried to take advantage of the outages created by the storm” and “demanded payments totally out of line with their costs and market for energy,” I would ask him if this is any different from Hydro trying to get its request of a 15 percent utility increase passed last year. This is the “very serious matter trying to take advantage of Maine people.”

As a result of Hydro’s impasse with the Indeck power plant forcing it to find alternative power sources to serve Down East, I would urge all Down Easters to start looking for an alternative power source to Hydro. I would, however, like to thank all the line crews both in state and from away for all their hard work. William Look Jonesport

Great news: Florida group buys Central Maine Power for $846 million and says it will probably cut rates 10 percent by the end of the year, according to a story in the Bangor Daily News (Jan. 7).

Why can a Florida group buy CMP and cut rates 10 percent in a year when the Public Utilities Commission is supposed to not allow excess profits?

Bangor Hydro is now asking for an increase beyond reason. I suggest it sell its company so we can get a discount too. It’s up to the PUC to see this happens. Donald Arguin Old Town