BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 15, 2021
Gov. Janet Mills nominated a veteran energy lawyer who now serves as one of her top advisers to be Maine’s next utility ratepayer advocate. The nomination of William Harwood for public advocate comes at a pivotal time for Maine energy policy. Voters rejected the $1 billion Central Maine Power Co. corridor in the November election and may vote in 2022 on establishing a consumer-owned electric utility that would borrow billions to buy the infrastructure of CMP and Versant Power. Harwood is best known for a 30-year career representing utilities in front of state and federal regulators, including more than 50 cases before the Maine Public Utilities Commission. If he is confirmed by the Legislature’s energy panel and the Maine Senate, his job will be to represent ratepayers before the commission.