BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 6, 2021
Few state agencies have more impact on more Mainers’ daily lives than the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The Maine PUC regulates electric, gas, and water utilities’ rates and services and provides oversight to monopolies Central Maine Power and Versant Power, which collectively serve more than 795,000 electricity customers over 22,000 square miles from Fort Kent to Kittery. The Maine Legislature enacted, and the governor signed a bill to add “climate” to the PUC’s responsibilities, empowering the agency to make decisions that support greenhouse gas emission reductions as part of its primary mission. LD 1682 also opens the door for all state agencies — not just the PUC — to address equity concerns in environmental justice, frontline, and other vulnerable communities that are underserved or overburdened by current energy policies, programs and systems due to geography, race, income or other socioeconomic factors. ~ Jeff Marks, Acadia Center, Rockport