Federal data suggests Maine had the highest electricity hike last year. The picture is not so clear.

PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • August 5, 2025

New federal data shows that Maine had the biggest increase in residential electricity prices in the country over the last year. But state officials are criticizing the report, saying the numbers overstate what people pay here, though they acknowledge bills have climbed. The data, published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, shows that the price of a kilowatt-hour in Maine went up an eye-popping 36% from May 2024 to the same month this year. Maine officials say that while electricity rates are up since last year, the climb has been more gradual than the 36% hike shown by revenue changes.