BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 23, 2021
There’s a lot not to like about Maine’s two largest power companies, especially Central Maine Power Co., which has the lowest utility customer satisfaction rating in the country. Their rates are high compared to many other states. They have not been especially cooperative with proposals to increase solar power generation in Maine. And CMP has started to build an ambitious and controversial new transmission line through western Maine to carry power from Quebec to Massachetts. A proposal to have Maine voters consider a takeover of these companies to have them run by a public power board, which is currently being considered by the Legislature, may not be the panacea that its backers promise. Rather than rushing to put this question to a public vote, lawmakers should back up and support a much more detailed analysis of this proposal.