Michigan electricity customers will soon get an unsettling charge added to their monthly bills. For the next three years, we’ll all be charged for a “customer education program” to prepare us for added competition in the electricity market.

It’s not unsettling that the state will spend $33 million on the campaign - electricity deregulation is a tricky issue - but it is questionable that state officials will pay three public relations companies tied to Michigan’s two major utility companies, Consumers Energy and Detroit Edison, to run the campaign. To make matters worse, the Public Service Commission awarded contracts without soliciting bids.

The attorney general’s office and business and consumers groups are rightfully crying foul. How are these three firms to remain independent of two customers with such prowess?

The idea of educating consumers is a worthy one, although most electric customers won’t welcome an addition to their bills. But Michigan residents should at least be guaranteed they’re getting something for their money.

Awarding state contracts without bids to companies with obvious conflicts of interest is not the way to do it.