PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 10, 2023
As part of the legislation connected with Question 3, the PUC would determine that a transmission and distribution utility that serves more than 50,000 customers is considered “unfit” to operate if four or more of the conditions listed below are met. The utility:
• has consistently received low customer satisfaction ratings
• ranks among the lowest in reliability
• has consistently charged residential rates among the highest
• has outsourced work valued at $100,000+ that could have been done by qualified employees
• owns critical infrastructure, and is currently owned by a foreign government
• requires customers to cover the costs of taxes and shareholder profits over 10% on investments
• requires customers to pay for 90+% of damages caused by extreme weather events
• is unable to place needs of customers, workers, or Maine’s climate goals ahead of shareholder profits