Edgartown selectmen were in a letter writing mood at their Monday meeting, voting to send separate correspondence to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), and to state environmental officials.

In their letter to the DPU, drafted by Cape Light Compact representative Paul Pimental, selectmen objected to several aspects of a rate hike requested earlier this year by Eversource, one of the region’s largest public electric utilities.

State hearings began this week on the Eversource application to charge its 1.4 million Massachusetts customers an additional $284 million over the next five years, in part to cover the cost of infrastructure upgrades.

“Eversource is putting the interest of its shareholders over the interest of its customers,” the letter reads.

Selectmen also objected to a provision of the rate request that would lower the rate paid to customers who produce excess energy through solar power or other forms of renewable energy. Edgartown operates two large solar arrays that produce more power than town buildings use.

“Edgartown alone stands to lose $88,000 of annual revenue if this is approved,” the letter states. “We feel like we stuck our necks out to promote alternative energy, spent most of the early revenue dealing with issues arising from the projects, and now are being penalized for our efforts.”

In another letter, selectmen asked state environmental officials for an extension of the winter period in which the town-owned dredge can operate. The town’s dredging permits allow dredging from Oct. 15 through Jan. 15, a period designed to protect winter flounder and other species that spawn in the cold weather months.

“The most pervasive obstacle the town has faced in recent years is the subjectivity to stringent and outdated time of year restrictions implemented to protect spawning species that, due to changing climate conditions, no longer spawn in the areas that are so heavily protected,” selectmen wrote. “The town of Edgartown has great respect for the marine life it is fortunate enough to be surrounded by, and does not intend to disrupt any aspect of that diversity, but the restrictions to the dredging season are no longer applicable.”

In the letter, selectmen asked the state to review current time of year restrictions, and in the meantime allow the town to operate its dredge through April 1.