PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • April 2, 2026
There are answers that can contribute to significant reductions in electric bills without the apparently futile push for public power. 1. The Maine Public Utilities Commission does not promote competition. It should accept offers of any duration, and any provider should be allowed to make multiple offers. 2. The state should compare ISO-NE with a possible arrangement linking it to the Canadian Maritime systems. Their simpler operations might be less costly than the six-state arrangement in which Maine is required to assume costs in other states that may not make economic sense. Or Maine might go it alone. 3. Maine municipalities are authorized by law to create their own distribution utilities, which don’t have to produce a profit and may borrow at tax-exempt rates. Wires costs could come down. 4. The MPUC could set a cap on the profit investor-owned utilities can take from customers. 5. Customers face big storm-related bills. Utilities ought to be required to have comprehensive, long-term improvement programs and to put some revenues into a sinking fund that could help pay costs when a storm hits. ~ Gordon L. Weil