Maine Public Utilities Commission

Electric and gas utility providers can disconnect services for customers behind on their payments without approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission after the winter disconnection protection period ended Tuesday.

The Office of the Public Advocate is calling for ratepayers who enrolled in incentivized savings programs to double check they're receiving the intended lower rates.

If confirmed by the Maine Senate, Heather Sanborn would take over from Bill Harwood in a job whose primary responsibility is representing the interests of utility ratepayers and consumers in regulatory and policy proceedings.

Members of the Maine Public Utilities Commission expressed concerns over customer privacy and said that it should be up to law enforcement to identify suspected illegal activities.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission announced the set of priorities this week after a long development process that involved state regulators and advocates, environmental groups and the electric companies themselves.

Last week, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued an order asking developers to share their interest and provide information on potential new bids related to the Northern Maine project.

The company is under scrutiny for allegedly moving customers, without sufficient notice, from fixed to variable rates, and allegedly charging rates that caused some customers' bills to balloon by hundreds of dollars per month.

State utilities regulators have ordered Lincoln Water District to hold a public hearing on a proposed contract with Poland Spring.

The commission approved an increase of funding from $15 million to more than $22 million dollars, and also expanded eligibility to as many as 46,000 additional ratepayers.

Maine has become the third state this year to pass a law tightening reporting requirements for public utilities funding political activities, such as lobbying and campaign advertising.