When the Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE) ordered deregulation to begin in 1998, it allowed customers of privately owned Massachusetts electric companies to be given a choice in energy suppliers. The new legislation allowed customers to choose what company they wanted to receive their energy from. This restructuring law was introduced to create competition and hopefully lower electric costs for consumers. However, Braintree Electric Light is a municipal electric utility and is exempt from this legislation. Currently, BELD has no plans to open our borders and allow for electric competition in the town. BELD continues to maintain low-cost and reliable electric service to all our customers.