Governor Janet T. Mills, (D) said:  “I will fight this.”

Governor Janet T. Mills (D), the first woman governor of Maine and its first woman attorney general,  and Public Advocate Bill Harwood, today announced their opposition to Central Maine Power’s (CMP) notice of intent to file for a rate increase.  In its notice, the utility says it will request a three-year rate increase that will result in an increase of roughly $10. per month for the average residential rate payer in Maine to be phased in late 2023.  CMP’s announcement comes at a time of record-high electricity rates – driven by global violatility in the energy markets and New England’s dependence on natural gas – that are now causing harm to Maine families and businesses.

“Maine people are already struggling with sky high costs from record inflation including high electricity rates that are the result of New England’s dependence on expensive, harmful fossel fuels.  For CMP to say they want to heap added costs onto Maine people adds insult to injury.  It’s outrageous,” said Governor Mills.  “I call on CMP not to file this request.  If they unwisely do, I will direct my Energy Office to intervene in the case to opose it and I will call on the Maine Publc Utilities Commission to reject it so that Maine sends the clear message to our utilities that their focus needs to be on improving performance, reducing cost burdens and restoring trust.  There is simply no way that increasing folks’ electricity bills right now can be considered just and reasonable.  I will fight this.”

“Any increase in elecricity rates right now poses an unwanted financial burden on Maine ratepayers, for which the cost of nearly every other necessity is rising,” said William Harwood, Maine’s Public Advocate.  “My office will be carefully examining the details of CMP’s request to identify any underlying costs that are out of line and will offer the Public Utilities Commision an alternative recommendation…..”