BANGOR DAILY NEWS • February 2, 2022
An upcoming bill from the governor may escalate tensions with Maine’s biggest utility and put daylight between her and her 2022 opponent. As her next State of the State address approaches, Gov. Janet Mills is preparing an utility accountability bill to set up a new process governing regulators’ existing power to force utilities to sell assets, something that could happen if they consistently flunk standards. Mills attempts to take a middle path on a proposal she vetoed to replace CMP and Versant Power with a consumer-owned utility. However that plays out, it is a much tougher tack for Mills that is already putting daylight between her and former Gov. Paul LePage, a fellow corridor supporter running against the incumbent in 2022.