Our PowerMike Thibodeau of Presque Isle to the Maine PUC on Versant's proposed rate hike:
"It doesn’t help that Maine’s electric grid is owned by companies outside of the United States who are more interested in profits than in serving Mainers."
#Avangrid just released #CMP's 2022 financials.
CMP hauled in $160M profit on revenue of $1.1B.
That's a daily profit of $438,356.
While CMP & Versant are asking for big rate hikes this year, #PineTreePower will cut rates by 10% in the very first year.
Mainers will save $9 billion in the first 3 decades--and the savings will begin immediately.
#MEPolitics #UtilityAccountability
https://ourpowermaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/our-power-press-release-3-8-23.pdf
Important article in Bangor Daily News offers options when electric bills spike.
Not mentioned: check for errors by CMP, who like other
Avangrid-owned companies have a well-documented history of overbilling.
Important new look at how utility corporations have used money taken from their captive customers to lobby lawmakers, skew public opinion, and--in cases like the #FirstEnergy and the #OhioLegislature--engaged in outright bribery.
https://www.energyandpolicy.org/guide-to-protect-ratepayers-from-utility-scandals/
Just a reminder that today Central Maine Power will take over half a million dollars in profit from Mainers struggling to pay their electric bills.
Over $500,000 a day, $3.5M per week.
In return they give us worst-in-nation service.
This has to stop.
Mainers' electric bills went up more than any other state in 2022: over 31% increase.
Customers stuck with CMP/Versant paid 49% more on average than Mainers served by consumer-owned utilities.
#MEPolitics #Energy #UtilityAccountability
https://ownerly.com/data-analysis/best-worst-states-electric-bills/
Small business owner John Costin in today's Portland Press Herald:
"There’s no question that CMP is an albatross around the neck of Maine’s business economy."
Another frustrated Central Maine Power customer fed up with their bumbling response to the recent holiday outages asks "Can't someone else supply electricity to Maine?"
Why yes, as a matter of fact...
Former Central Maine Power manager:
"I've worked in the utility industry for a number of years and not only is it the worst company I have ever worked for, but it is known as such throughout the Northeast. Employees are treated like chattel and customers with contempt."
