FAQ

As competition increases in the residential electric supply industry in Maine, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) wants to educate consumers about how competition works.

How did Maine come to have competition in electric supply?

The law that required the restructuring of the electric utility industry in Maine was passed in March 2000. This change provided Maine consumers with the ability to choose their electricity supplier - the company that supplies their electric energy. Until 2000, a single utility company, regulated by the Commission, supplied and delivered electricity. With electric restructuring, Maine began to develop a competitive market for electricity supply. This market developed quickly for larger commercial and industrial consumers, who have a number of choices for their electricity supplier. Many small consumers, like residential and small businesses, are also now able to choose their electricity supplier.

Customers without a choice, or those who do not wish to choose, are automatically provided with Standard Offer Service.

Delivery service is still provided by the local utility (now called a distribution company), such as Versant Power, Central Maine Power, or one of Maine's consumer owned utilities.

What is a competitive electric provider (CEP)?

A CEP is a company that supplies electricity to Maines residences, businesses and other entities that use electricity. Each CEP is licensed by the MPUC and CEPs compete for business by offering lower prices, renewable energy options, or other incentives.

What are the benefits of competition in electricity supply?

Shifting to a CEP could lower a customers rate on the supply portion of their bill, or could support other policies (such as developing renewable energy).

Why is this information important now?

CEPs have recently begun to actively market their service to small commercial and residential customers in Maine. This contact has been in the form of television, radio and newspaper ads, as well as marketing telephone calls.

How do customers choose an Electricity supplier?

All customers may choose their electricity supplier either by selecting a CEP or remaining on the Standard Offer default service. For a list of suppliers, go to the MPUC's on-line supplier list at https://www.maine.gov/mpuc/. Customers can compare an offer from a CEP with the Standard Offer rate by reviewing their bills (if they are on the Standard Offer), or by visiting the MPUCs website to see the current standard offer. Once a residential or small commercial customer has enrolled with a CEP, the CEP is required to provide a "Terms of Service" document to the customer within 30 days. This document is required to contain information relating to price, contract terms, resource mix, and emissions. CEPs are also required to provide customers with the right to rescind the contractual agreement within 5 days of the customers receipt of the terms of service document.

How can customers make sure they have the electric supplier they want?

Consumers should make sure only the provider they have chosen or the standard offer provider appear on their bill.

Customers can take the following steps to avoid unauthorized changes, and, if your service is somehow switched without approval, to catch the problem quickly:

Read your bill. An important step to catch an unintended or unauthorized electric supplier change quickly is to read your bill thoroughly each month. If you see you are receiving services from a company you have not selected, call that company and tell them you dispute the change of your electric supply service to their company. You should then contact your electric utility or your CEP to ask to be switched back to them. Finally, you can call the MPUC to file a complaint against the CEP that enrolled you without your authorization.

Ask questions if you are contacted by a CEP or are considering changing to a CEP:

What will I pay per "kilowatt hour" (kWh) of electricity?

Are there any additional customer charges or other recurring fees?

Contact the MPUC. If you have questions about CEPs or think you have been switched to a CEP without your authorization, please contact the MPUC toll-free at 1-800-452-4699.

• Is this offer a fixed rate offer? If not, how can it change, and how do I find out when, and by how much, the rate will change?
• Is there a contract? If so, how long is it for?
• Is a deposit required? If so, how much?
• What are my payment options?
• What happens when my contract period expires?
• What if I miss a payment?
• Is there a penalty if I break the contract?

Maine Green Power allows you to choose clean, local renewable energy for your home or business. Mainers can now match their electric use with green power produced in Maine. It's an easy affordable step that lets you support electricity which matches your values. To learn more about the program, please check out the frequently asked questions page.

Maine’s electric prices track those of the New England region and, particularly for businesses, tend to track lower than those of the rest of New England (see figures below):

New England as a region has higher electricity costs than other regions in the nation because it does not have its own indigenous power supply like the coal of the south or the oil of Texas or big hydro of the northwest.

Maine’s electricity supply costs are determined by the New England wholesale market prices, which generally track the cost of natural gas fueled generation. Natural gas costs have declined in recent years due to over-supply from depressed demand as a result of the national and global recession and recent discoveries of natural gas supply in shale. Wholesale electricity prices in New England have declined similarly, and have resulted in reductions – in turn – to retail supply prices in Maine as new supply (such as for standard offer service) is acquired at these reduced price levels.

The price of electricity for Maine customers includes several separate elements. Supply (includes energy generation, capacity, and ancillary costs) is determined by competitive markets and not regulated by the Commission. Distribution is provided by the utilities and regulated by the Commission. Transmission costs are regulated by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC – a federal regulatory body). Stranded costs are a small and declining component of delivery (for example, less than ½ cent per kilowatt hour for Central Maine Power).

The link below provides a comparison of the average price of electricity to ultimate customers for residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors.

https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epmtablegrapher.php?t=epmt56_a

Heating fuels are measured in different units, making cost comparisons difficult. For example, electricity is sold by the kilowatt hour, fuel oil is sold by the gallon and gas is measured by the cubic foot or therm. In addition the efficiency that these fuels are burned at varies greatly with the equipment design and condition. To make a meaningful comparison of energy commodities, you must convert physical units of measure and the energy content of each fuel to comparable units. You can read more about this on the Department of Energy’s web page at http://www.eia.doe.gov/neic/infosheets/apples.html.

Standard Offer Service is the electricity supply provided to all consumers who do not have a choice, or do not choose, a competitive electric supplier.

Standard Offer Rates

Standard Offer Disclosure Labels

Special payment arrangements available for customers of electric and natural gas utilities during the Winter months

It is the Commission's policy that during the winter months, when severe weather conditions can pose a threat to health and safety, residential customers of electric and gas utilities should not be disconnected because of their inability to pay the entire amount owed by the due date of a bill.

During the period November 15 through April 15, customers who cannot pay their utility bill because of reasons that may cause their households to be deprived of food, medicine, heat or some other necessity can declare eligibility for a Special Payment Arrangement. Customers whose income does not exceed 150% of federal poverty guidelines or who are eligible to participate in one of the following programs may qualify for a Special Payment Arrangement:

If you have any questions regarding options for avoiding the threat of winter disconnection of your electric or natural gas service, please call the Maine Public Utilities Commission's Consumer Assistance Hotline at (800) 452-4699 or (207) 287‑1597. You can also reach the Maine PUC at (800) 437-1220 (TTY Relay), (207) 287-1039 (fax), or by e-mail at maine.puc@maine.gov.

A Special Payment Arrangement can be an arrangement that allows the customer to pay less than the amount of each current bill during the winter months. At the time of the March billing, the utility adds the estimated amount of bills from April through September to the March account balance and divides by 7. The result is the amount the customer will pay in 7 equal monthly installments by the billing dates from April through October. This arrangement requires that the customer pay the account balance plus all future bills through and including the September bill by November 1.

A Special Payment Arrangement can also be an arrangement that allows the customer to pay a levelized amount each month. This arrangement is similar to a budget arrangement in that the account balance owed at the time the arrangement is established is added to estimated bills through the following September. The total of these figures is divided by the number of monthly payments that will be made to bring the account current by November 1.

There are two benefits to these Special Payment Arrangements. First, the customer is assured that payments during the winter months will be affordable and the danger of winter disconnection is avoided. Second, as long as the customer makes and keeps a Special Payment Arrangement, the utility is prohibited from assessing late payment charges on the overdue amount.

Low Income Assistance Programs

Financial assistance may be available to help qualified low-income consumers with their electric, gas, telephone or water bills. Special payment plans or assistance may be also available through your electric distribution utility and local telephone provider. Funding for some State and Federal programs has been augmented through the CARES Act due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and may only be available for a limited time.

Electricity

Statewide Electric Low-Income Assistance Plan (LIAP)

The MPUC and the Maine State Housing Authority administer a statewide Low-Income Assistance Program (LIAP), which disburses more than $7 million annually to assist qualified low-income customers with their electric bills. Qualifying customers receive a credit on their electric bill that is based on their income and electricity usage. Eligibility to participate in the LIAP is based on a customer's eligibility for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Customers can apply for the LIAP either through their local Community Action Agency or their utility. A full list of CAP agencies can be found here: https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/energy/liheap-agency-contacts

Arrearage Management Program (AMP)

Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power each operate an AMP that assists eligible low-income residential customers who are in arrears on their electricity bills. Customers who are eligible for LIHEAP and have an arrearage of $500 or more that is at least 90 days old are eligible to participate in the program. Participating customers will have 1/12 of their arrearage amount, up to a maximum of $300, forgiven every month that they pay their current bill on time. To enroll in an AMP, customers should contact either their local Community Action Agency or their utility.

Heat Pump Program

Maine State Housings heat pump program pays for the cost and installation of a heat pump for eligible Maine homeowners. Heat pumps are a popular and efficient tool to help heat homes in cold climates and can help save on heating costs.

Telephone-Link-Up and Lifeline Programs

The Link-Up Program provides qualifying low-income households reduced installation costs for new service hook-ups. The Lifeline program provides qualifying households with a significant credit for the basic service portion of local telephone bills or internet broadband service. These programs together help Maine lead the nation in percentage of its households with local telephone and internet broadband service. Some local phone and internet broadband companies offer these programs, others, do not. For more information on these programs, or if you think that you might qualify, contact your local telecommunications company or your local Community Action Agency. If you still have questions after speaking with these groups, contact the Commissions Consumer Assistance and Safety Division at 1-800-452-4699.

Gas

Customers of Northern Utilities, Inc. d/b/a Unitil, Bangor Gas and Maine Natural Gas receiving service under the residential heating and non-heating rates may be eligible to receive a 30% discount on their delivery and gas supply rates. The discount will apply to all customers identified by the Maine State Housing Authority as eligible for LIHEAP. Once enrolled, customers will receive the discount for 12 consecutive months.

Heating Assistance

LIHEAP

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), administered by the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA), provides assistance to low income homeowners and renters to help pay heating costs. Eleven Community Action Programs distribute the funds throughout Maine. The program is not intended to pay for all heating costs, but to assist in paying the heating bills. LIHEAP assists those who heat with oil, propane, natural gas, electricity and other sources. Customers can apply for the LIHEAP through their local Community Action Agency. A full list of CAP agencies can be found here: https://www.mainehousing.org/programs-services/energy/liheap-agency-contacts

ECIP

The energy crisis intervention program (ECIP), part of LIHEAP, also administered by MSHA and distributed through CAPS assists customers who are in imminent danger of disconnection. Customers must have an active disconnection notice to qualify.

Weatherization Program

Maine State Housings Weatherization Program provides grants to low-income homeowners and renters to reduce energy costs by improving home energy efficiency. Maine Housing offers this program to consumers through Community Action Program agencies, who screen people for eligibility as part of the HEAP application process.

General Assistance (GA)

You may qualify for GA if you dont have the income or resources to meet basic needs for you and your family. GA can help with fuel and utilities, among other things. You can apply in person at your local municipal office. If you are unable to reach your local GA office or you have questions or concerns, call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-442-6003.

2-1-1 Maine

For those who have exhausted all resources and need assistance with utility bills, 211 Maine may be able to help find local resources. 211 Maine is a free, confidential resource that helps connect people in Maine to needed health and human services. On a limited basis, through the Keep ME Warm Fund, 211 Maine is able to provide financial assistance to low income families in emergencies.

Do I have to choose a new local service provider?
No. If you do, though, you may be able to save money, have more options or get better services. What exactly am I choosing?

You are choosing the provider that provides your basic local service. Basic local service allows you to make local calls. Your local provider may also provide your in-state toll or state-to-state long-distance service if you choose them for those services. Some provide these other services, some may not. What is basic local service?
Basic local service includes dial tone and touch-tone service, and a local calling plan for making and receiving telephone calls in your local area. Basic local service also includes the federal line cost charge, the federal and state universal service fund surcharges, the E911 services surcharge, and the school and library fund surcharge. Do local service providers have to offer me service?

All local service providers do not have to offer you service. Many of these providers, however, are required to make reasonable efforts to help you get and keep your local phone service, because they receive special federal funding to help as many customers as possible keep local service. These providers pass this funding along to qualifying low-income consumers by offering special discounts – known as the Link-Up and Lifeline discounts -- to help them get and stay connected. If you think you qualify for these discounts, ask your local service provider, or any providers you are considering, if they offer Link-Up and Lifeline discounts. Are all local service plans the same, except for the cost?
No. Some may have different local service areas, or may not offer access to enhanced 911 services.

May I keep my telephone number if I change my local service provider?
Yes, in most cases, if you are staying in the same location. (You may also keep your local directory listing.)

To choose an electricity supplier, compare product features and rates, as well as any special supplier services, with those for Standard Offer Service. For a list of suppliers serving your area, contact the Commission, or check out the Commission's on-line supplier list. For information about Standard Offer rates, check your bill if you are currently on standard offer service, or visit our Standard Offer webpage.

You should compare the uniform disclosure labels for any competitive supply options you are considering with the disclosure labels for standard offer service.