Senate chair of Legislature’s energy committee releases statement opposing CMP rate hikes

AUGUSTA — Today, Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, released the following statement ahead of the Public Utilities Commission’s first public hearing regarding CMP rate changes.

“Mainers just trying to stay warm and keep the lights on are not piggy banks,” said Sen. Lawrence. “We’ve worked hard in the Legislature to lower costs and prepare the grid for cleaner, cheaper energy. While investing in our grid is surely important, doing so on the backs of ratepayers at this scale would be to ignore what we hear every day on the energy committee – that costs are too high for everyday Mainers. This proposal flies in the face of the notion that utilities should act in the best interest of their customers, so I urge the PUC to reject this request.” 

CMP filed with the Public Utilities Commission for a rate increase in mid-September that, if approved, is expected to cost ratepayers $1.4 billion over five years. Gov. Janet Mills opposes the request.

The Public Utilities Commission is holding the first of two Public Witness Hearings to solicit input on CMP’s proposed rate changes at the Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport tonight at 6:00 p.m. A second hearing will take place at the Commission’s office in Hallowell tomorrow at 6:00 p.m.