Why should CMP raise their delivery rate for delivering electricity to our homes? If the generation of electricity costs rise, do the wires and transformers wear out more quickly? Do more trees fall on their wires?

I would hope that the Public Utilities Commission would want to know why CMP rates are tied to the supplier of that electricity. At present, the CMP rates are exactly in step with them — up 18 percent in 2018.

And, now I read where CMP is attempting to pass on much of their cost incurred in the October 2017 ice storm to their customers.

There are good years that bring no weather threats to our network. During those years I have not seen any decrease in CMP’s rate. Did they retain the unused funds to tide them over when we do experience an ice event? They probably pay their stockholders with it and simply raise their rates to fund the repair cost in the bad years.

I thank God for having electricity in our home — what a great invention. Our antiquated transmission system, however, seems to lack many of the improvements I have witnessed in other nations I have visited.

Just go up into New Brunswick, Canada, and notice how many areas are served by buried cables and transformers. CMP tells us that the cost would be prohibitive. I say the old system, used by CMP is becoming prohibitively expensive for the rate payer.

Richard LaPorte

Skowhegan

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