The Maine Public Utilities Commission will hold three public witness hearings in April regarding Central Maine Power Company’s distribution rate hike request.

Last August, CMP filed a proposed three-year rate plan, which it said was needed for grid reliability improvements, clean energy investments, improved storm response, and enhanced electricity usage monitoring and management tools. If fully approved, it could raise residential rates by as much as $10 a month by 2026.

The company calls its plan “Powering Maine” and said it could help keep its rate for distributing electricity relatively stable and predictable for the next few years.

But the proposed rate hike drew immediate opposition from Gov. Janet Mills, whose administration is officially intervening in the hearings. That status will allow administration officials to play a role in the rate hike process beyond testifying against it.

Mills said she supports efforts to upgrade the state’s electricity grid, but that the timing for a rate hike is bad because Mainers are dealing with high inflation, particularly in energy costs.

She called the proposed rate hike “outrageous” and vowed, “I will fight this.”

The hearings will take place:

• April 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 490 Pleasant St., Lewiston.

• April 6 at 4:00 p.m. at the Maine PUC offices, 26 Katherine Drive, Hallowell. This hearing will feature a remote participation option.

• April 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 352 North St., Saco.

Members of the public who are not a party to the case may present testimony or comments.

All public documents are available on the PUC’s online Case Management System, docket 2022-00152.