Utility regulators will finish their investigation of CMP bills, then decide whether to pursue a probe with legal consequences.
Tux Turkel
Tux Turkel writes primarily about energy issues affecting Maine. Over the years, he has gazed into the spent-fuel pool at the now-gone Maine Yankee nuclear plant, looked across Casco Bay from atop Wyman Station’s smokestack, and toured power plants and wind farms across the state, but remains confused about why electricity doesn’t leak from our wall sockets.
When he’s not trying to make sense of dense regulatory filings at the Public Utilities Commission, he’s likely to be hiking in the mountains or visiting Maine’s coastal islands in his small motorboat.
A graduate of Emerson College in Boston, Tux lives in Yarmouth with his wife, youngest son, a cat and a guinea pig.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
CMP knew about problems with its new billing system right from the start, memos show
Records show the system had persistent issues, but the company downplayed them as a factor even while hundreds of customers complained about big spikes in their bills.
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Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Opponents file arguments with state to scuttle or reshape CMP plan for 145-mile power line
They cite job losses, idled power plants, increased pollution and canceled solar and wind projects as potential impacts of the transmission line proposed by Central Maine Power’s parent company.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
CMP transmission project expected to fatten parent Avangrid’s bottom line
The 145-mile high-voltage line still needs approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, but stock analysts see a boost to the company on the horizon.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Results of third-party audit of CMP bills may not come until end of year
The state’s request for proposals lays out a lengthy timeline that could further erode public confidence in a utility already taking heat over unusually high charges.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
CMP customers disputing high bills must pay a portion of them
The Public Advocate tried to bar the power company from disconnecting home customers while an investigation into high bills is underway, but the PUC said some payment is warranted.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
Maine regulators approve partial subsidy to keep biomass power plants alive
The decision is welcomed by the biomass company, Stored Solar, but detractors say they will ask the Legislature to prevent the payment.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News, Politics
Biomass owners say director of logging trade group is bad-mouthing business
Stored Solar expects to hear Wednesday whether it will get a continued subsidy for two wood-energy plants, but says false rumors hurt the company’s plans.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Effort to build offshore wind industry in Maine may hinge on 73 cents
Pending action at the PUC could imperil a 2014 power contract for floating turbines off Monhegan Island that would raise electric bills less than $1 a month
Posted inBusiness, Local & State
In reversal, Massachusetts puts CMP in lead position for $950 million power line project
The Bay State abandons talks with one developer and is pursuing a deal with the Maine utility for a 145-mile line running from the Canadian border to Lewiston and into the regional grid.