Background Information - Membership - Meeting Information
Background
The Office of the Public Advocate is pleased to announce the creation of the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council. This Council is formed to fulfil the requirements included in L.D. 1913 An Act to Create the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council. The Council consists of 13 voting members representing customers, special interest groups, and utilities across Maine. The appointments were made by the Public Advocate William Harwood. There are five ex-officio members representing various state and quasi-state agencies. The Council is charged with evaluating the affordability of electricity in Maine and advising the Public Advocate on potential savings measures.
L.D. 1913 - An Act to Create the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council
Commission Reports
Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council Report, December 1, 2023 (PDF)
Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council Report, December 1, 2022 (PDF)
Membership
| Seat as described in statute: | Council Member: | Organization: | Title: |
| Voting Members: | |||
| Senior Citizens/Aging Population | Jess Maurer | Maine Council on Aging | Executive Director |
| Equal Justice Advocacy Org | Ann Danforth | Maine Equal Justice | Policy Advocate |
| Community Action Agency | Claire Berkowitz | Midcoast Maine Community Action |
President/CEO |
| Statewide Affordable Housing Advocate | Amy Racine | Saco Falls Management |
Director of Property Management |
| Central Maine Power | Linda Ball | Central Maine Power | V.P. Customer Service |
| Versant | Lisa Henaghen | Versant | Manager, Billing & Payment |
| COU Representative | Amy Watson | Fox Island Electric Cooperative | CEO |
| Large Industrial Employer | Shawn Lovley | Pineland Farms Potato Co. |
Plant Manager |
| Research Organization (Economic) | Sharon Klein | University of Maine | Associate Professor |
| CMP Customer | Tina Riley | Citizen | CMP Customer |
| Versant Customer | John Fitzpatrick | Citizen | Versant Customer |
| Small Business Owner | Kim Brackett | Brackett's Market (Bath) | Owner |
| Federally Recognized Tribal Rep | Reese Chavaree | Penobscot Nation | Community Services Coordinator |
| Ex Officio: | |||
| Public Advocate/OPA Designee | Bill Harwood | Office of the Public Advocate | Public Advocate |
| Director of GEO | Dan Burgess | Governor's Energy Office | Director |
| PUC Chair/PUC Designee | Phil Bartlett | Public Utilities Commission | Chairman |
| Director of EMT/EMT Designee | Ian Burnes | Efficiency Maine Trust | Director of Strategic Initiatives |
| Director of MSHA Designee | Erik Jorgensen | MaineHousing | Sr. Director Of Government Relations & Communications |
| Staff: | |||
| Office of the Public Advocate | Benjamin Frech | OPA | Senior Assistant to PA |
| Public Utilities Commission | Deirdre Schneider | PUC | Legislative Liaison |
Meeting Information
May 6, 2024 Meeting
April 1, 2024 Meeting
Agenda (PDF)
Presentation: Wx and Wx Readiness for Ratepayer Council (PDF)
March 4, 2024 Meeting
Efficiency Maine Presentation (PDF)
February 12, 2024 Meeting
January 17, 2024 Meeting
November 28, 2023 Meeting
November 14, 2023 Meeting
October 24, 2023 Meeting
September 26, 2023 Meeting
August 22, 2023 Meeting
July 25, 2023 Meeting
June 20, 2023 Meeting
May 19, 2023 Meeting
January 25, 2023 Meeting
November 15, 2022 Meeting
October 24, 2022 Meeting
September 21, 2022 Meeting
August 22, 2022 Meeting
2022 Federal Poverty Guidelines
Public Utilities Commission Chapter 314 Statewide Low-Income Assistance Plan
Meeting Recording
June 27, 2022 Meeting