Today, Central Maine Power Company (CMP) filed a new rate case with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This filing comes after the Maine PUC rejected the company’s multi-year rate increase plan last fall.
In response to today’s filing, Heather Sanborn, Maine’s Public Advocate, issued the following statement:
“CMP’s filing makes clear that the company is not only seeking to recover higher operating costs and capital investments, but also to increase its profits. This comes at a time when Maine families are already facing the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries and housing.
“This latest proposal would increase monthly electric bills by about $18 a month and includes a request to impose $7 of that increase through temporary rates, starting this July. Without this temporary rate request, customers would see their bills go down by about $11 a month starting on July 1, as prior storm-related costs roll off.
“This is a complex proposal, and Maine people deserve a clear and transparent understanding of how it could affect their bills. The Office of the Public Advocate will closely scrutinize every aspect of this proposal to push for affordability, transparency, and fairness, and to ensure CMP is only charging what is truly necessary to provide safe and reliable service.”
The OPA represents the interests of Maine utility consumers in proceedings before the PUC and will actively participate in the review of CMP’s filing. The PUC must approve any rate increase before it can go into effect.