Versant Power

The company announced on Thursday that it's planning to request the increase in its distribution rates beginning next summer, and that the average customer's bill could increase by about $10.50 per month.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission today approved measures that will lower the delivery rate for customers of the two companies.

The Senate initially backed the bill Tuesday, but it stalled in the House after Republicans united with Democratic advocates of an outright utility takeover that failed in the legislature last year but could end up on next year's ballot.

A bid to establish a consumer-owned utility hit a snag late Thursday after the Maine Senate failed to enact it.

The Legislature’s committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology voted 9-2 on Tuesday in support of legislation to create a consumer owned utility, Pine Tree Power, that would replace investor-owned Central Maine Power and Versant.

Run by an elected board, the new company would take over the transmission systems now owned by Central Maine Power and Versant.

Versant Power is warning customers about a spike in scam calls in which the caller threatens to disconnect a person's power unless the company receives…