The corporations that don’t want Maine to vote for Pine Tree Power are spending a lot of money to confuse us. Let’s take their advertisement about adding an estimated $13.5 billion to Maine debt. The ad is designed to take advantage of our fear of taxes.

All corporations have debt. They would rather we didn’t think about this. We finance utilities companies’ debt today with revenue paid from our electric bill. This won’t change with a change in owners of the delivery system of our power. The cost of money, or interest paid to borrow, is for most businesses, as it is for homeowners, one of the largest expenses. Owners want a return. But realize we pay for this return.

If the voters in Maine make the right choice and choose Pine Tree Power, ratepayers will pay the debt over time, just as it is today. The interest paid on bonds depends on how reliable the return will be.

One thing we can be assured of is that people pay their electric bills. As most public utilities have lower borrowing costs, these savings will be passed on to us, the ratepayers. Don’t believe the ad campaigns. Take back our power.

Tracy Floyd
Cape Elizabeth