BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 17, 2021
Voters could be presented with two different methods of taking over Maine’s major electric utilities on the November 2022 ballot as proponents kick off a referendum drive while keeping question-wording options open. A group of utility critics submitted applications on Monday with the goal of getting at least one question to voters by next fall on whether they would like to buy out the infrastructure of Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power to create the consumer-owned Pine Tree Power Co. But the two proposals set very different timelines and processes for putting the electric system under the control of an elected board. Proponents are still exploring whether to pursue one, both or a hybrid option as they embark on the third referendum challenge aimed at CMP in the last two years.