HALLOWELL, Maine – Central Maine Power is seeking a rate change after a previous multi-year rate change request was denied by the Maine Public Utilities Commission last fall.
CMP is asking regulators to approve a $189 million increase in distribution rates to address what they say are upgrades and rising costs. About $70 million would be a temporary increase scheduled to start in the summer, according to documents filed with the PUC.
CMP said that these costs would fund grid upgrades, more workers, and aggressive tree trimming.
“Today, we submitted a proposal that would reduce electricity bills starting this summer, striking a careful balance between affordability and reliable service. As customers face rising costs across many parts of their lives, this proposal would help ease electric bills,” said Linda Ball, President and CEO of CMP.
“This plan also allows us to continue the progress CMP has made in reducing both the frequency and duration of outages. Frequent or prolonged outages can create real hardships for households, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, childcare centers, and others. Our focus remains on preventing outages whenever possible and restoring power more quickly when they do occur.”
The proposed changes would reduce customer bills by about $4 per month for the average household.
Under the proposal, the utility says there would be no increases to distribution charges for grid improvements for 10 months, through April of 2027.
However, Maine’s Public Advocate Heather Sanborn saud their proposal is looking to increase profits.
“CMP’s filing makes clear that the company is not only seeking to recover higher operating costs and capital investments, but also to increase its profits. This comes at a time when Maine families are already facing the rising costs of everything from gas to groceries and housing,” Sanborn said.
Sanborn said that the temporary revenue increase would raise the average household’s bill by about $7 per month starting in July, but it would come just as customers would see their bills go down by about $11 a month due to storm-related costs rolling off.
The proposal needs to be approved by the PUC before going into effect. If approved, the one-year plan could increase rates by up to $7 a month for the average ratepayer from May 2027 through April 2028.
In November 2025, the PUC rejected CMP’s proposal to increase electricity rates over a five-year period, which would have led to a rate increase of as much as $35 a month on most bills.
CMP appears to now be following suggested next steps outlined by PUC commissioners in November 2025.
Members, at the time, agreed with the utility provider’s need to recoup costs.
“I recognize that CMP has a legitimate need for a rate increase in the near term to allow some recovery of its increased cost and maintain some reasonable return on its investments,” PUC Commissioner Patrick Scully said in November.
At the time, the commissioner suggested CMP could refile a revised plan that addresses concerns.
“CMP could also include in its filing a request for temporary rates to go into effect on or before Oct. 1, 2026 in order to recover the minimum revenues necessary to meet its short-term needs,” Scully added.