Maine Public Utilities Commission

MEDIA ADVISORY 

Maine Public Utilities Commission
242 State Street
Augusta, Maine 04333-0018
Website: http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/, Email: maine.puc@maine.gov
CONTACT: Phillip Lindley, 207.287.1598, phil.lindley@maine.gov

 


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2005

 

Winter Electric Reliability

Monday, December 12, 2005, 11:00AM
Maine Emergency Management Agency Operations Center
Former SCI Building now Central Maine Commerce Center
45 Commerce Drive, Off Route 27
Augusta, Maine

 

AUGUSTA – The Maine Public Commission, with the following groups, will hold a press conference to announce plans for winter preparedness following ISO New England’s warning of potential electricity supply disruptions this winter.

Attendees:        PUC Commissioners and Staff

MEMA

                        Central Maine Power Company

Bangor Hydro-Electric Company

ISO New England

                        Governor’s Office

 

The press conference will cover:

·        Updates of the recovery of natural gas supplies following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

·        Update on the risk of electric power supply disruptions this winter.

·        Announcement of ISO-NE and State communication strategies to reduce electric load at the time of the peak.

Hurricanes Rita and Katrina greatly damaged the nation’s natural gas supply.  Today more than 20% of gas supplies in the Gulf of Mexico still remain out of service and unavailable.  Because New England relies on natural gas to generate 40 percent of its electricity, ISO-NE reports that electricity supplies could be tight this winter necessitating extraordinary conservation measures.

            The MEMA building is located at 45 Commerce Drive, Off Route 27 (Civic Center Drive), approximately 1.2 miles north of highway exit 112B.

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For more information:  http://www.iso-ne.com/

All PUC News Releases and Advisories may be found on our website at:  http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/staying_informed/news/press_release.shtml 

To arrange an interview with Chairman Adams or Commissioners Diamond or Reishus, please contact Phillip Lindley at 207.287.1598 or by e-mail at phil.lindley@maine.gov.  The Commission’s website may be accessed through the Maine School and Library Network at all public libraries in Maine.