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I’m concerned about LD 2172, new legislation calling for the Maine Public Utilities Commission to use “performance based metrics and rate adjustment mechanisms.” To me, this disrupts a process to make utilities more accountable that began last legislative session and is barely underway. The PUC would also need to reconsider how the utilities are advancing the state’s climate goals at a time when so much of this work is already being done.
AARP is quite concerned about the legislation, too, and testified against this proposal at a recent hearing. AARP has looked at what’s happened in other states and said there’s “no evidence” consumers benefit from these types of “complicated” rate plans.
We all deserve to be treated well by our utilities. That’s why Maine already has performance standards in place to make sure utilities, like CMP and Versant are doing their job. Should they fail, their shareholders face stiff penalties like they did in 2020.
Meanwhile, people are struggling to pay their monthly bills because the supply price of electricity is through the roof. Perhaps legislators should be focusing instead on how to get those costs under control. These high supply prices rest squarely on the shoulders of the companies generating electricity, not the state’s utilities.
Scott McIntire
Alna
