BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 15, 2023
Despite what CMP’s president told the Portland Press Herald this week, last Tuesday’s vote is not a validation of their current state of affairs. The Pine Tree Power proposal focused on three main frustrations: rising electricity bills, poor reliability as measured by frequent power outages in some areas and the private utilities’ slow accommodation of the renewable energy sources needed to make the state’s electricity grid greener and more resilient. In all of these areas, Maine’s Public Utilities Commission can and should play a stronger role. Versant and CMP say that they are up to the ongoing challenges and that they will redouble their efforts to improve their services. It is now also up to the utilities commission and Legislature to ensure that the companies follow through on those pledges.