Hello, this is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.
In the wake of complaints about customer service, and billings, and extended power outages, I introduced landmark legislation a couple of years ago to hold our electric utilities accountable and make sure that they deliver safe, reliable, and affordable service. That measure, which the legislature passed and I signed into law, requires CMP and Versant Power to ask for public input and to release a plan every five years outlining how they're going to build a more affordable and reliable electric grid in Maine.
Public input is important because utilities need to hear from Maine people about how the moves they're making as a company are going to impact the lives of everyday folks they serve. Yet last month, before completing their plan, CMP went to the Maine Public Utilities Commission to ask for a rate increase of roughly $1.4 billion over five years – in other words, for more money out of the pockets of Maine people.
Well, for starters, that request is not only unprecedented, it's unacceptable. It's out of touch with the reality of the high costs that Maine people are already paying. Every day I hear from older people on fixed incomes, and from small businesses, and people in rural Maine who are struggling with the high cost of electricity, groceries, housing and health care. Driving up their electric bill even more isn't going to help them make ends meet.
Look, I know that investing in the grid is important. We need to strengthen the electric grid and reduce outages in the long term, and there's no doubt that upgrades are needed. But we have to let the utilities know the impact that these huge requests have on the pockets of Maine people. CMP should have finished their plan for improving the grid, and should have talked to Maine people about it first. In light of all this, I've directed the Department of Energy Resources to intervene in opposition to CMP's request, in order to safeguard the interests of Maine ratepayers and to uphold the requirements of Maine law.
The Public Utilities Commission is holding two public hearings, one on October 14th in Freeport and one on October 15th in Hallowell, to get public feedback about the rate increase that CMP is requesting. I urge people to attend and let CMP hear their voices. I urge CMP to listen to the people and reconsider this misguided approach. And if they do not, then the PUC should deny this unreasonable rate increase.
My administration will continue to support policies that appropriately diversify our energy sources, and that help Maine people transition to more efficient heating and cooling technologies, and weatherize their homes, all to save money. In the meantime, we'll continue to demand accountability from utility companies to provide the affordable and reliable service that Maine people deserve – without breaking the bank.
This is Governor Janet Mills, and thank you for listening.