electricity

Maine's utilities will no longer be allowed to cut off power to customers during severe heat and other extreme weather events, under a new measure signed by Gov. Janet Mills.

Nearly 100 opponents of a power line that would connect southern Aroostook County to central Maine rallied in Augusta Saturday afternoon.

The Aroostook County Action Program said it's fielding a growing number of calls from families who need help to avoid losing service, including many households who have never asked for help before.

Maine's first charging station for electric airplanes will be installed next spring at Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head.

The Public Utilities Commission on Friday announced that most Mainers will be seeing a decrease in the supply portion of their electric bills. This could take some of the sting out of the delivery rate increases for CMP and Versant customers.

Electricity customers in Maine are in for a big increase in their monthly bills next year. Most customers served by CMP and Versant Power could see an increase of $30 a month — and more price spikes might soon be on the way.

Electricity and energy prices are major issues in Maine's gubernatorial race ahead of what is expected to be a difficult winter for many families. But the political rhetoric often obscures the real reasons electricity rates are rising across New England – and appear poised to go even higher in Maine.

On Friday, the city of South Portland rolled out a new rebate program called Electrify Everything! The program offers rebates for residents who purchase electric equipment such as heat pumps, lawnmowers, and electric vehicles.

The new northern Maine power line effort was mandated by the Legislature this year, and broadly speaking it's not that different from CMP's New England Clean Energy Connect, which grew out of its bid for an energy contract mandated by Massachusetts lawmakers.

Based on the headlines, it would be easy to think that the Maine Public Utilities Commission spends all of its time addressing issues regarding CMP. But…