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As a Maine voter, I find it deeply insulting to hear supporters of Pine Tree Power suggest that the overwhelming majority of Mainers who rejected the proposal were somehow acting on behalf of utility companies rather than making up their own minds. I believe more than 70% of voters said no to the 2023 initiative because they carefully considered the proposal and concluded it was bad for Maine. I believe they recognized that Pine Tree Power would have cost billions of dollars to acquire the electric grid and would have transferred control from experienced professionals to elected officials.
Disagreeing with Pine Tree Power does not make someone a utility supporter. It simply means they reached a different conclusion about what is best for Maine.
The claims about rising electric costs in an Aug. 11 letter to the editor are equally misleading. Pine Tree Power would only affect the distribution portion of electric bills, not supply costs or many of the public policy charges that have driven much of the recent increase in bills. Distribution rates have remained relatively stable over time, aside from storm costs, while supply costs have fluctuated dramatically based on energy markets.
Supporters of Pine Tree Power promised it would lower costs, but they have never credibly explained how replacing utility ownership with a politically controlled entity would change the fundamental drivers of rising electric bills.
I believe it’s time to respect that decision and focus on strengthening the grid, preparing for more extreme weather, and ensuring Maine has the reliable energy infrastructure needed to compete and grow.
Scott Strom
Waterville