Heather Sanborn has served as Maine public advocate since she was appointed by Gov. Janet Mills in January 2025.

Recently, Central Maine Power (CMP) officially asked state regulators for permission to increase what it collects from customers by more than $427 million annually over the next five years. If approved, higher bills will start hitting mailboxes in October 2026.

Just how much higher? To put it plainly: if you use about 550 kilowatt-hours a month, the average amount that Maine families use, your bill could rise by a total of $35 a month over the next five years. That translates to $420 a year. For many Mainers, especially seniors and others living on fixed incomes, this would mean being forced to make tough decisions.

CMP says this enormous request is necessary to keep the grid reliable and to replace old equipment. It also says the grid must be ready for more severe storms and for more Mainers driving electric cars, heating their homes with heat pumps and adding solar panels to their rooftops.

These are worthy goals. We absolutely need a reliable grid that can withstand storms, and Maine should be ready for cleaner energy technologies. The question is not whether investments are needed. It’s how many, how fast, and at what cost to CMP’s customers?

The plan has been public only a few days, and already hundreds of Mainers have filed public comments with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), urging regulators to reject or scale back CMP’s proposal.

People are writing about how another $30 or $40 a month would mean fewer groceries, a skipped prescription or putting off basic household needs. Businesses have also spoken up, worried that passing these costs on to customers will drive up prices across the economy. 

Gov. Janet Mills has called the proposal “massive and unacceptable,” and her energy office has formally intervened in the case. Our office, the Office of the Public Advocate, is also pushing back and will legally represent all Maine consumers collectively throughout the case. We know that “predictable” rates don’t mean much if they’re predictably unaffordable.

Fortunately, the final decisions won’t be made in a corporate boardroom. They will be made by the PUC. The Commission is legally required to consider whether CMP’s request is reasonable, necessary and fair. Public input is a critical part of that process.

When thousands of Mainers speak up, regulators listen. Public pressure can reshape these requests, reducing the size of increases, phasing them in more gradually and requiring utilities to prove that every dollar is truly necessary. 

What can you do? 

• Send in a written comment. Go to the PUC’s website (search for “Case Number 2025-00218”) and share in plain language how this increase would affect you. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just be honest.
• Show up to a public hearing. There are hearings scheduled in Freeport and Hallowell in mid-October. When commissioners hear directly from real people, it makes a difference.
• Spread the word. Talk to your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors. Most people don’t even know this case is happening, but it directly affects every CMP customer. 

The Office of the Public Advocate provides guidance on how to make your voice heard at www.maine.gov/meopa/puc-information. The office can also be reached at 207-624-3687.

This case is about more than a balance sheet. It’s about whether Maine families can afford to stay warm in the winter, cook dinner and keep the lights on without being squeezed financially even harder than they are today.

The public advocate’s job is to stand up for you in cases like this. We will scrutinize every detail of the plan, but your voice matters. 

The next few months will determine what your bills look like for the next five years. Please don’t sit this one out. Let the PUC know what this increase would mean for you and your family.