' This is an enormous increase'

Two hearings scheduled for mid-October

Tue, 09/16/2025 - 11:44am

HALLOWELL — In a Sept. 16 news release, Maine's Public Advocate said she is concerned about the scale of a Central Maine Power Company spending plan that would, if approved, affect customers beginning in October 2026.

CMP filed a five-year, $1.4 billion-plus spending plan, with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

CMP seeks to increase its revenue by more than $438 million over five years. If approved, the plan would lead to substantial increases in electric rates for customers beginning in October 2026, according to a news release from the Maine Office of the Public Advocate.

The Public Advocate Office is encouraging Maine residents to participate in the review process. The Office of the Public Advocate's primary responsibility, according to its information page, is to represent the interests of Maine utility consumers. Its attorneys advocates for rates and services and practices to benefit utility customers in regulatory and court proceedings. Most of its work takes place in proceedings before the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

The Office also intervenes in cases before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the federal agency that oversees wholesale electricity markets, interstate electricity transmission and interstate gas transportation, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which regulates interstate communications by radio, TV, wire, satellite and cable.

"This is an enormous increase," said Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn. "At a time when many families are already struggling to afford their bills, CMP’s proposal asks Mainers to pay even more.

“We need to ensure electricity distribution costs don’t spiral out of control, especially as our state encourages people to electrify their homes and vehicles to meet climate goals. Affordability must remain front and center.”

Meanwhile, Gov. Janet Mills has stepped in with her own statement on the CMP plan, with a Sept. 16 statement:

"Today's request from CMP blatantly ignores the economic reality that Maine people face every day, especially seniors on fixed incomes, small businesses, and residents of rural Maine, who are struggling with high costs of electricity, groceries, housing and health care. Yet CMP wants to raise their electricity bills again," said Mills, in the release. "I recognize that investing in our grid to improve reliability is important, but this request is massive and unacceptable. It undermines legislation I signed to ensure planned electric utility investments are transparent and are made with input from Maine people. I have directed the Governor's Energy Office to intervene in opposition to CMP's request, in order to safeguard the interests of Maine ratepayers and uphold the requirements CMP must follow under Maine law."

In 2022, the Maine Legislature enacted a bill submitted by Governor Mills that requires CMP and Versant Power to develop Integrated Grid Plans every five years with public engagement to identify priorities and build a more affordable and reliable grid. CMP is required by statute to file its grid plan with the PUC by January 12, 2026.

The Office of the Public Advocate will represent ratepayers throughout the case before the PUC, that Office release said. Sanborn said that direct public input can also play a critical role in the PUC’s decision, the release said.

The PUC is scheduled hold two public witness hearings where Mainers can share their experiences and concerns directly:

Tuesday, October 14, 6 p.m.: Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport
Wednesday, October 15, p.m.: Maine Public Utilities Commission, 26 Katherine Drive, Hallowell

The Office of the Public Advocate provides guidance on how to make voices heard at www.maine.gov/meopa/puc-information. The office can also be reached at 207-624-3687.

Central Maine Power's required notice

On or around September 16, 2025, Central Maine Power Company (CMP) intends to file a request with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (the Commission) to increase its distribution rates. CMP plans to propose a five-year distribution rate plan, according to a news release from CMP.

CMP will request that new rates go into effect each year for five years with the first distribution rate change of the five-year plan effective October 1, 2026. As proposed (and calculated) by CMP, a typical residential customer with usage of 550 kWh per month would experience the following increases:

CMP’s proposed rate plan will increase the company’s annual revenues as follows:

CMP will propose that any percentage increase in approved rates be applied equally to the current rates for residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

At this time, the Commission has no position on CMP’s requested rate plan and welcomes customer input.

You may participate in the distribution rate proceeding before the Commission in several ways:

If you want to be notified when a filing is made in the case or when Commission orders are issued, you may add your name to the case notification list using the Commission’s online case management system (CMS). For information on how to register and use the system, please access the information at www.maine.gov/mpuc/online-services/. The case has been assigned Docket No. 2025-00218.
You may petition to intervene. If your petition to intervene is granted, you will be a party with the right (and responsibility) to participate formally in the case. Your petition may be submitted through the Commission’s CMS and must include the name and docket number of this proceeding (Docket No. 2025-00218) as well as the manner in which you are affected by this proceeding. Your petition must also include a short, plain statement of the nature and extent of the participation you seek, and a statement of the nature of the evidence or argument you intend to submit. You may also submit your petition in writing via U.S. mail to the Commission’s Administrative Director, Maine Public Utilities Commission, 18 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0018. Your petition to intervene must be filed with the Commission no later than Monday, September 29, 2025. The Commission will hold the initial case conference for this case on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 commencing at 10:00 a.m. at the Commission’s offices at 26 Katherine Drive, Hallowell, Maine. Note that intervenors may be eligible for funding pursuant to Chapter 840 of the Commission’s Rules, which may be found at https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/legislative/laws-rules.
You may file a public comment through the Commission’s CMS by accessing https://mpuc-cms.maine.gov/CQM.Public.WebUI/Comments/CaseNumberSearch.aspx using case number 2025-00218.
The Commission will hold public witness hearings. You may appear as a witness and give sworn testimony. The Commission has scheduled the following public witness hearings:

“We strongly encourage Mainers to speak up,” Sanborn said. “The voices of everyday ratepayers are essential to making sure decisions about our power system put people first.”

The PUC will review CMP’s proposal over the coming months before issuing a final decision.