MPUC Holds Hearing on Settlement Proposal in Bangor Hydro and Maine Public Service Merger Case
September 22, 2010
Augusta, Maine—The Maine Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing tomorrow, September 23rd, at 9:30 a.m., on a proposed settlement of a docketed case regarding a joint petition for Commission approval of the acquisition by Emera, Inc. (the parent company of Bangor Hydro Electric-BHE) of Maine and Maritimes Corporation (M&M--the parent company of Maine Public Service--MPS).
Earlier this month, the Commission scheduled and then cancelled expert witness hearings to allow the parties to the case to negotiate a settlement agreement. The parties have now completed their negotiations and filed a settlement proposal with the Commission.
The hearing is open to the public although it is not a forum for public input. The hearings will be streamed from the Commission website. Commissioners will ask questions of the parties to the settlement proposal. Certain portions of the hearings may address competitively sensitive, and therefore confidential, information; for those periods, the proceedings will be closed to the public.
Background:
BHE is Maine’s second largest transmission and distribution utility, serving over 117,000 customers in Aroostook, Hancock, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Washington counties. BHE owns approximately 675 miles of transmission lines and 4850 miles of distribution lines. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Emera—a diversified energy and services company headquartered in Nova Scotia. MPS is Maine’s third largest transmission and distribution utility, serving approximately 36,000 customers in Aroostook County and a small portion of Penobscot County. MPS, with headquarters in Presque Isle, owns approximately 380 miles of transmission lines and 1806 miles of distribution lines. MPS is a subsidiary of M&M.
For more information: Visit the Commission’s virtual case file through the website, www.maine.gov/mpuc and search Docket Number: 2010-89.
Contact: Evelyn deFrees, 207-287-6141 or evelyn.defrees@maine.gov
