Dear Editor
Everyone knows that Maine winters can be brutal. In
our rural state, some residents may become isolated and for those who are low
income, the need for reliable and affordable electricity is imperative.
Central Maine Power (CMP) is the largest electricity
provider in the state. The utility giant serves 600,000 electricity
customers in central and southern Maine which is equal to approximately 78
percent of Maine residents.
This week, we learned that for CMP customers, electricity
rates will increase 6.8 percent in 2019.
CMP customers' bills currently average
about $88 per month, which will go up to about $94 per month under the new
rates. That may not sound like a steep increase, but when you are
low-income, perhaps living on nothing but Social Security as we know 1/3 of
Mainers 65+ do, that extra cost is going to be tough to absorb.
This rate increase is coming at a time when CMP has yet
to distribute the savings it received from the 2017 Federal Tax Act directly to
customers. This should have happened at the beginning of 2018. Instead, the
company wants to hold on to that money, saying it will offset an additional
proposed customer rate increase yet to be determined. How can CMP be
asking for even more?
Access to electricity should be fair, affordable,
accurate and transparent. The experiences that CMP customers have weathered in
2018 and will continue to face in 2019 are anything but that.
CMP needs to do better for their customers and we urge
all Mainers who purchase their electricity through CMP to make their voices
heard. Raise your voice before they raise your rates.
Karen Evans
AARP Maine Advocacy Volunteer
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