MAINE SUNDAY TELEGRAM • November 30, 2025
Since the start of this year, about 40 of the 152 water utilities regulated by the commission have filed proposals to raise their rates. Most reflect smaller increases that are part of a yearslong pattern of incremental change. But in at least half a dozen districts, rates have risen or are slated to rise by 20% or more by Jan. 1. Years of deferred maintenance are catching up with some small utilities, forcing them to raise rates by as much as 75%. At the same time, the state says there is a pressing need for heightened investment in Maine’s drinking water infrastructure, including to safeguard it from the effects of climate change.