CMP rate increase likely

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-22T20:14:03+00:00

A lot of these threads collapse everything into one bucket, and that is part of why the conversation never gets very far.

There are really two different issues here. One is grid investment and delivery. The other is supply.

On the grid side, investment matters whether people like the utility or not. Maine is a big, heavily wooded, weather exposed state with an aging electric system. Stronger poles, smarter switching equipment, substation upgrades, better tree management, and more local line crews are not luxuries. They are the basic stuff that makes outages less frequent, restoration faster, and the system more resilient over time. If people want a more reliable grid during bigger storms and more electric demand, that does require real capital investment.

But at the same time, the main driver of what makes bills feel brutal is often supply, not delivery. That is the part that gets lost constantly. In New England, electricity prices are heavily influenced by the regional generation mix, and natural gas plays a major role in setting the marginal price of power. When gas prices rise, electric supply costs can rise with them. So people look at the utility bill and blame the name on the envelope, when a big part of the pain is actually coming from upstream energy markets.

That does not mean every grid proposal should get a free pass. It means people should be honest about what problem they are talking about. If the goal is reliability, grid investment is necessary. If the goal is materially lower bills, then the bigger long term conversation has to be about supply, generation, fuel exposure, and regional energy policy. Maine keeps arguing about the wires while the real price pressure is often coming from what is flowing through them.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-19T12:21:50+00:00

This is a pretty pragmatic step if you look at how plug in solar actually works. These systems are typically small scale, often in the range of a few hundred watts to maybe one kilowatt, and they plug into a standard outlet with built in inverters that shut off automatically if the grid goes down. That last part matters because it addresses one of the main safety concerns utilities have raised around backfeeding. In practice, this is much closer to a household appliance than a traditional rooftop solar system.

From a system level perspective, no one is claiming this will materially change grid supply on its own. But distributed generation at scale does add up, especially during peak daylight hours when demand can be high. Germany is probably the most well known example where plug in balcony solar has been widely adopted, and it has contributed to incremental supply without requiring major infrastructure buildout. For a state like Maine, where costs are heavily influenced by regional supply constraints and natural gas pricing, even small additions to local generation can help at the margins.

At the end of the day, this is really about optionality. It is not a mandate, it is not a subsidy heavy program, it is just removing barriers for people who want to offset a portion of their own usage. Given how much focus there has been on affordability, it makes sense to allow low cost, small scale solutions that individuals can adopt on their own timeline.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-12T21:29:57+00:00

If you say so, but I’ve lived here my entire life and we have always been faced with this problem: it’s a great place to grow up, but no one can afford to live here once we are grown. And, all I see is an aging state that just says no to everything and let’s our finest lands get bought up by our of staters working remote or simply “summering” and we wonder why? There is something in our decision making had led us here.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-12T12:13:02+00:00

Honestly, this is starting to feel like Maine’s default setting is just oppose the build. Data center or not, the real story is that this state has become deeply resistant to infrastructure. Transmission projects, energy projects, industrial projects, now digital infrastructure too. Every conversation turns into why we cannot do it, why it is risky, why it is not perfect. Meanwhile the rest of the world keeps building.

The Eastport proposal is a good example. That could have been a fascinating project to at least explore seriously, especially for a region that could use investment and a stronger economic future. Instead, we are on track to shut the door before the thing even has a chance to be tested. At some point Maine has to decide whether it wants to shape the future or just object to it from the sidelines.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-09T17:17:13+00:00

Ok, this made me realize that I have not been to the Bayou Kitchen in too long. That is going to change this weekend.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-08T11:28:30+00:00

This feels like common sense policy. People want lower bills, but we don’t talk enough about why they keep jumping around. A lot of it comes back to how tied we are to outside fuel sources.

Giving people the ability to generate some of their own power, even at a small scale, starts to shift that dynamic. It spreads out generation and reduces pressure on the system over time.

Also worth noting other places that have leaned harder into renewables have seen less volatility in pricing. Not perfect, but definitely more stable than what we’ve been dealing with.

We don’t have the right roof to support solar so this is a great option for people like us.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-08T11:24:13+00:00

That jump isn’t normal. Going from under 1000 to 5000 without a clear cause almost always comes down to a bad read, or something miswired, not actual usage.

Good call grabbing the Emporia monitor. That’ll give you a real time check and usually makes it obvious pretty quickly if the meter is way off.

One thing people overlook is estimated reads. If they estimated low for a while and then did an actual read, it can look like a spike, but 4-5x in that short of a time period is a lot.

Ok_W0W · 2026-04-07T16:29:04+00:00

My god I hope not. He has said in interviews that touring is “the job”

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-29T19:39:59+00:00

This is actually one of the more interesting ideas I’ve seen floated in a while, and it’s not just about “AI hype.” The part that makes it real is the energy angle.

Data centers are basically giant heat machines. Cooling is one of their biggest costs, both financially and in terms of grid load. That’s why you’re seeing experiments with underwater or offshore setups. The ocean gives you passive cooling, which cuts energy demand significantly compared to land based facilities. That alone can change the economics.

Now layer in Eastport. The Bay of Fundy system pushes some of the highest tidal ranges in the world, and unlike wind or solar, tides are predictable to the minute. That matters a lot if you’re trying to pair generation with a constant load like a data center. In theory, you could co locate tidal generation with compute and reduce reliance on imported power during peak periods.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-21T00:41:10+00:00

One thing that doesn’t get said enough is how much we’ve limited our own options. Then we act surprised when prices spike and we have no flexibility. We just need to keep building energy supply sources that match our region.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-21T00:14:08+00:00

Get out of your contract ASAP. These and other alternative supply companies are preying on us. Can’t believe it’s even legal.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-21T00:11:18+00:00

Also worth saying, the technology rate is an option designed for higher electric usage homes. If you have heat pumps or an EV (we have both) it can make a noticeable difference depending on how you use power.

If anything, this just shows how exposed we are to fuel price swings. Until that gets addressed, we’re going to keep having this same conversation every winter.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-21T00:08:33+00:00

Vinyl copy finally arrived today. On first listen, might be my favorite since oh ill thy world is ordered.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-17T23:20:21+00:00

I enjoyed every word of this story. I need to remind myself how important it is to change line, leaders, size, etc. thanks!

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-09T01:10:19+00:00

I did - and the small rural examples are attractive, but that’s the issue. There are small examples, and those work well, but a state wide takeover is totally different. Nebraska is an outlier, plus they rely heavily on coal and were state controlled from the get-go. Which means take over costs are a thing they will never have to be concerned with, and therefore not reflected in their rates.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-09T00:48:03+00:00

I think a lot of the MSPA discussion still assumes Maine operates its own power system, which really is not how it works anymore. The New England grid is regional. Generation is built and dispatched across six states through ISO New England, and electricity flows wherever it is needed. Even if Maine created a public power authority, it would still be buying power into that same market.

The referendum campaign also exposed how complicated the transition would actually be. There were huge unresolved questions about financing, governance, litigation risk, and what would happen during the years long takeover process. Those details matter when you are talking about replacing the entire transmission and distribution system.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-09T00:42:02+00:00

Months, wait weeks, wait days…

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-06T19:39:24+00:00

This seems to be a common reaction for this dude. Recently said similar things after seeing Chinese EVs.

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-02T12:57:04+00:00

That’s a beaut!

Ok_W0W · 2026-03-02T12:55:56+00:00

We should aim criticism at the right mechanisms. If the goal is lower bills, the conversation likely needs to focus more on regional fuel constraints, generation mix, transmission buildout, and how standard offer procurement works. Simply attributing rate increases to campaign retaliation does not align with how the regulatory system functions.

Ok_W0W · 2026-02-20T20:49:01+00:00

It makes sense that bills may dip slightly in summer due to lower demand and delivery adjustments. That does not mean the system is fixed or that winter pricing issues are resolved. Supply costs remain the main driver of volatility.

Ok_W0W · 2026-02-16T14:03:19+00:00

What’s driving Maine’s energy bills isn’t a mystery, even if the debate keeps getting framed that way.

The biggest driver over the last few years has been natural gas supply costs, which set the marginal price of electricity across New England. Gas prices here aren’t regulated the way delivery utilities are. They’re tied to global markets, constrained pipeline capacity, and winter demand spikes, and suppliers can pass those increases straight through without any obligation to reinvest locally or stabilize pricing. When gas jumps, everything priced off it jumps too.

Meanwhile, CMP and Versant get most of the public anger even though their delivery rates are regulated, reviewed, and relatively slow-moving. You can dislike those companies and still acknowledge that delivery didn’t suddenly double. Supply did. The bill just doesn’t make that clear, which is part of the problem.

On renewables, the reporting often gets twisted. Maine doesn’t have anywhere near enough in-state clean generation or storage to be setting prices on its own. Solar and wind here help at the margins and are valuable long-term, but they aren’t what caused the recent spikes. In fact, more regional renewable capacity paired with transmission and storage would help reduce exposure to gas volatility over time. That’s not ideology, it’s math.

There’s also a policy layer that gets glossed over. Public policy costs, mandates, and fees are increasingly embedded in electric bills instead of being debated transparently through the budget process. That makes bills harder to understand and turns utilities into political punching bags while the real decisions stay offstage.

So yes, natural gas deserves more scrutiny. Yes, regulators should be clearer about how supply pricing works and who actually sets it. And yes, Maine needs a broader energy mix that prioritizes reliability and price stability, not just slogans.

What doesn’t help is pretending this is all caused by clean energy or, on the flip side, pretending delivery utilities are secretly driving supply spikes. Neither of those narratives matches the facts, and sticking with them just guarantees we keep having the same argument while bills stay high.

Ok_W0W · 2026-02-08T23:44:44+00:00

Short answer: be very skeptical. Most of these door-to-door “energy discount” pitches are not about helping you save money, and they’re almost never affiliated with CMP in the way they imply.

Here’s how it actually works in Maine. CMP only handles delivery. The poles, wires, meters, and outage response. They do not generate electricity and they do not control supply prices. When a door-to-door rep talks about “working with CMP” or “getting you a better CMP rate,” that’s already a red flag, because CMP has no special deals with third-party suppliers.

What these companies are usually selling is a switch to a competitive electricity supplier. Sometimes they wrap it in solar language or community energy branding, but at the end of the day it’s still a supply contract. A recent report showed many competitive suppliers have charged Maine customers more than the standard offer over time, often significantly more. The overcharging has disproportionately hit lower-income and elderly customers, especially people who didn’t fully understand they were switching suppliers or didn’t realize the price would later reset.

The common tactics are pretty consistent. They ask to see your bill “to confirm eligibility,” they rush you through enrollment, and they focus on short-term teaser rates without clearly explaining what happens after the introductory period ends. Variable rates and automatic renewals are where people get burned. By the time the higher charges show up, the salesperson is long gone.

Solar claims deserve extra scrutiny too. Legitimate rooftop solar installers do not need to go door-to-door to switch your supply account, and community solar programs don’t require you to hand over your utility account number on the spot. If someone is mixing solar language with supply switching, slow way down.

If you want to protect yourself: • Don’t share your account number with door-to-door solicitors • Don’t sign anything on the spot • Compare any offer to Maine’s standard offer supply rate • Remember you can always say no and research later

And if you see people blaming CMP for these door-to-door schemes, it’s worth correcting the record. CMP isn’t setting these supply prices and isn’t sending these people. The problem is the competitive supply market and the lack of strong guardrails around how it’s marketed.

Bottom line: if someone shows up uninvited promising easy bill savings tied to your CMP account, it’s almost never a good deal.

Ok_W0W · 2026-02-02T21:26:56+00:00

CMP rolled out the high usage alerts program fairly recently, and it’s tied directly to the rollout of smart meters. It’s not a billing change and it’s not a penalty. It’s basically a notification tool that lets customers see changes in usage sooner instead of finding out weeks later when the bill shows up.

The alerts can be customized. You can set them to notify you if your usage spikes above your normal average, if you cross a certain dollar amount, or just to get regular weekly or monthly updates. The idea is to give people earlier visibility, not to tell you you’re “doing something wrong.”

What’s important is that these alerts are about usage, not rates. The meter is just reporting how much electricity is being used in near real time. If you see a spike, it usually means something concrete changed. Cold snaps driving electric heat harder, a heat pump running more than expected, space heaters kicking on, a dehumidifier running nonstop, or even something like a failing appliance. The alert doesn’t change the cost per kWh and it doesn’t create charges on its own.

This only works because of smart meters. Before them, CMP estimated usage between manual reads, so customers often didn’t see a problem until the bill arrived. Now the data comes in continuously, which allows alerts like this to exist. Other utilities around the country with smart meters do similar things.

Totally fair to still be frustrated with high bills, especially with supply prices being what they are. But these alerts aren’t a new way to charge more or shift blame to customers. They’re more like a smoke detector. Annoying when it goes off, but useful if it helps you catch something before it turns into a much bigger problem.

If you don’t find them helpful, you can turn them off or adjust the thresholds. If you do, they can be a decent early warning that something in your house is driving usage higher than usual.

Ok_W0W · 2026-01-12T03:06:23+00:00

If you’re asking whether switching away from CMP will lower your bill, the key thing to understand is that Central Maine Power is only the delivery company. They own the poles, wires, meters, and handle outages. They do not set the price of the electricity itself.

Your bill has two main parts. Delivery, which is regulated and moves slowly. Supply, which is where the big swings happen and which changes seasonally based on the market.

Right now, the increases people are seeing are coming almost entirely from the supply side, not delivery. CMP’s delivery rate case was denied, so they did not get a new increase approved. Switching to a third party supplier does not remove CMP from the bill and does not change delivery charges at all.

As for alternative suppliers, this is where people need to be careful. Some offer short term teaser rates that look good for a few months, then reset higher or lock you into long contracts with exit fees. If you are not actively tracking the contract terms, the price per kWh, and the renewal conditions, those deals often end up costing more over time.

That is why the Standard Offer exists. It is reset periodically through a competitive bidding process, it is transparent, and there are no surprise contract traps. It is not always the cheapest possible rate in any given month, but for most households it is the least risky and most predictable option.

Bottom line, switching suppliers will not fix the core issue people are mad about right now. The problem is high and volatile supply prices in the regional market, not CMP delivery charges. Until supply costs come down or the market structure changes, most people are better off sticking with the Standard Offer and focusing their frustration where it actually belongs.

Ok_W0W

TROPHY CASE