MAINE PUBLIC • April 29, 2024
Electricity Maine would be required to issue up to $5 million in refunds to customers, under a proposed settlement with the Maine Public Utilities Commission. The company, which offers an alternative to the state's "standard offer" for electricity supply, is under scrutiny for allegedly moving customers, without sufficient notice, from fixed to variable rates, and allegedly charging rates that caused some customers' bills to balloon by hundreds of dollars per month. A proposed stipulation between the company and PUC staff would require Electricity Maine to pay up to $5 million to refund about 18,000 current and former customers, and work to improve customer service moving forward. But the stipulation does not have support from Maine Public Advocate Bill Harwood. Harwood said the company needs to offer more money in refunds to customers, and also noted that the company has now repeatedly violated consumer protection rules.