Maine Public Utilities Commission

NEWS RELEASE

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
June 5, 2006

Maine PUC Issues RFPs For
Standard Offer Service

AUGUSTA, MAINE – On Friday, June 2, 2006, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued RFPs for retail standard offer service for medium and large commercial and industrial customers of Maine’s two largest investor-owned electric utilities, Central Maine Power Company and Bangor Hydro-Electric Company. Total electricity sales to these customers in 2005 were about six million megawatt-hours. About 35% of this load currently receives standard offer service; customers have retail arrangements with suppliers for the remaining 65%.

Suppliers chosen through this RFP process will provide standard offer service for a six-month term of service from September 2006 through February 2007. Initial proposals with indicative pricing are due on June 26, 2006.

In Maine, standard offer suppliers provide service directly at retail, although the utility handles billing and collection on the standard offer supplier’s behalf. Under Maine’s retail electric access rules, the Commission is responsible for ensuring that standard offer service is made available to all customers in the State. Maine’s rules require that the Commission solicit suppliers to provide standard offer service through a competitive bid process. The current standard offer supply arrangements with FPL Energy Power Marketing, Inc., Dominion Retail, Inc., and Constellation Energy Commodities Group for these classes terminate at the end of August and will be replaced by the arrangements resulting from the RFPs issued last Friday.

The RFP and related materials, including detailed load data for these classes, are available from the Commission’s web site at http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/current_so_solicitations.html. For additional information, please contact Faith Huntington (at faith.huntington@maine.gov or 207-287-1373) or Mitch Tannenbaum (at 207-287-1391 or mitchell.tannenbaum@maine.gov).

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For more information on Standard Offer service:
http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/current_so_solicitations.html

All PUC News Releases may be found on our website at:
http://www.state.me.us/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.