MAINE MORNING STAR • September 20, 2023
Gov. Janet Mills urged Mainers on Wednesday to vote against a proposal to create a statewide consumer-owned utility, the Pine Tree Power Company, announcing her formal stance on the question that will be one of several on November’s ballot. Question 3 asks Mainers whether to initiate a public takeover of the state’s two investor-owned utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant, which together service more than 96% of Maine’s electric demand. Mills questioned whether the change would lead to lower electricity costs and said the switch could cost Maine people as much as $13.5 billion in borrowed money, raised concern about the proposed governing board, and warned court battles could stall progress on modernizing Maine’s electric grid.