The proposal before the Legislature to seize CMP and Versant Power and create a government-run power authority is the wrong response to consumer dissatisfaction with these companies.

When CMP mishandled their rollout of a new billing system, the Public Utilities Commission held them accountable and ordered them to fix the problems — and they did. The highly knowledgeable and experienced staff at the PUC is the way to address issues like this. Rather than relying on people with the skill and experience, the proposed legislation, L.D. 1708, calls for a government takeover setting up a board of elected officials to make decisions about how to run Maine’s electric grid, a complex and critical component of our economy, safety, and well-being.

As the mayor of Gardiner, I am concerned about the impact that a government-run utility could have on our local communities. CMP is one of the biggest taxpayers in Gardiner as well as in other communities, yet with this proposal a government-run utility would be exempt from property taxes.

Proponents promise that the new utility would still make “payments in lieu of taxes,” but that promise is only good until a future Legislature decides they can no longer afford those payments. Given the Legislature’s record of not meeting its obligations to fund local education and municipal revenue sharing, we simply can’t rely on a promise.

Well-intended lawmakers got it wrong in the 1990s when they voted to deregulate electric utilities with promises of lower rates and innovation — benefits Mainers never experienced. Instead, more than 200 good jobs were lost and soon after the profits went to out-of-state companies. I fear another round of unforeseen, unintended consequences with this proposal.

I agree with Gov. Mills. L.D. 1708 has too many unanswered questions and should not be passed.

 

Patricia Hart

Gardiner

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