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The public will get a chance next week to weigh in about Versant Power’s requested distribution rate hike.
Versant Power, which serves more than 160,000 customers in central, eastern and northern Maine, submitted a notice of intent to the Maine Public Utilities Commission in December that it would be asking to increase its distribution revenue by $35.5 million a year.
If approved, the proposed rate increase is expected to go into effect on April 1, 2025, and cost a typical residential customer about $12 a month, according to estimates from Versant.
The Maine PUC will hold public witness hearings for the rate increase request at 6 p.m. March 20 at Hilton Garden Inn in Bangor and at 4 p.m. March 21 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle. The public can also participate remotely.
Versant told the PUC that the distribution rate increase is needed to cover infrastructure investments, storm recovery costs, technology investments and increased costs of materials and labor.