Wiktor Wise
Maine has 125 electricity producers, owned by a variety of companies, that supply electricity to homes and businesses. The state's largest utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant, are investor-owned. Maine also has nine cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities. The state is part of the Eastern Interconnection, which operates east of the Rocky Mountains.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of electricity producers | 125 |
| Number of companies that own the electricity producers | 269 (some are inactive or serve only certain customers) |
| Largest utility companies | Central Maine Power, Versant Power |
| Grid | Eastern Interconnection |
| Grid operator | Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) |
| Northern Maine grid operator | Northern Maine System Operator |
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What You'll Learn
Maine's largest electricity utilities companies: Central Maine Power and Versant
Maine has several electricity companies serving its residents, with Central Maine Power and Versant Power being two of the largest utilities in the state. These companies play a crucial role in ensuring that Maine residents have access to safe and reliable electricity while also contributing to the state's climate and energy goals.
Central Maine Power (CMP), an Avangrid company, is dedicated to providing exceptional service to its customers and supporting the community. CMP offers a range of services, including power outage reporting, tree maintenance, and streetlight issue resolution. They are actively involved in Maine's journey towards achieving its climate and energy objectives.
Versant Power, serving Northern and Eastern Maine for over a century, is committed to collaborating with the communities it serves to enhance infrastructure resilience and improve business operations. Versant Power actively engages in community investments and initiatives to address energy affordability and basic needs. The company also works on improving its grid infrastructure, as evidenced by the recent improvements at the Orono substation to facilitate load growth and reliability.
Both Central Maine Power and Versant Power are key players in Maine's electricity landscape, each serving different regions and contributing to the state's overall energy goals. They work closely with communities and stakeholders to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable power for Maine residents.
While these two companies dominate the electricity market in Maine, there are also several smaller, local utilities that serve specific regions or islands within the state. These smaller utilities include Fox Island Electric Coop, Houlton Water Company, Isle-Au-Haut Electric, Kennebunk Light & Power District, and Madison Electric Works, each providing power to their respective communities.
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The role of the Maine PUC
Maine has 125 electricity producers owned by a variety of companies, including Brookfield Renewables, Longroad Energy, and Calpine. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) plays a crucial role in regulating and overseeing these utilities to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable energy services for Maine residents.
The MPUC is responsible for setting utility rates and ensuring that companies operating in Maine adhere to specific standards. This includes approving distribution rate changes, such as the case with Versant Power, where rates were adjusted to facilitate infrastructure improvements and enhance reliability. The MPUC also initiates investigations into matters like stranded cost rate design and rate center consolidation, demonstrating its role in safeguarding consumer interests.
The Commission works to preserve Maine's single-area code and manages the state's participation in the Eastern Interconnection, one of the two major electric grids in the United States. Most of Maine's electricity is managed by the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE), a nonprofit organization that ensures a balance between electricity production and consumption across the region. The MPUC collaborates with ISO-NE to maintain a stable and efficient energy supply for Maine residents.
The MPUC consists of three commissioners appointed by the Governor of Maine and subject to review and confirmation by the Legislature. They serve staggered six-year terms, providing continuity and expertise in the regulation and control of public utilities. The MPUC's powers and duties are outlined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, Chapter 1, §101, providing a legal framework for their operations.
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The Eastern Interconnection grid
The Eastern Interconnection is one of the two major alternating-current (AC) electrical grids in the North American power transmission grid. It is the largest of the multiple wide-area synchronous grids that power North America. The Eastern Interconnection stretches from Central Canada eastward to the Atlantic coast (excluding Quebec), south to Florida, and back to the western Great Plains (excluding most of Texas). The USA portion of the Eastern Interconnection has 700 GW of generating capacity.
The Eastern Interconnection is electrically tied to the Western Interconnection with six to seven DC ties, to the Texas Interconnection with two DC ties, and to the Quebec Interconnection with four DC ties and a VFT. These interconnections are made via high-voltage direct current power transmission lines (DC ties) or with variable-frequency transformers (VFTs). DC ties and VFTs permit a controlled flow of energy while also functionally isolating the independent AC frequencies of each side. The Eastern Interconnection is not tied to the Alaska Interconnection.
The Eastern Interconnection operates at a synchronized frequency of 60 Hz, the same as the other major and minor interconnections. Each interconnection is managed by operators, typically nonprofit organizations, that coordinate and control electricity flow through the system. The Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative (EIPC) is a collaborative of major transmission planning coordinators responsible for the planning of the bulk power grid throughout the Eastern Interconnection, which represents about two-thirds of the United States and Canada.
Maine is part of the Eastern Interconnection, along with the rest of New England. Most of Maine is under the umbrella of the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE), a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts that manages the flow of electricity across the regional grid. Parts of northern Maine, which shares power with Canada, are operated by the Northern Maine System Operator.
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Northern Maine's electricity supply
Maine has 125 active electricity producers, owned by a variety of companies. These include Brookfield Renewables, which operates most of the state's hydroelectric dams, and Longroad Energy, a significant player in solar and wind energy projects. CMP and Versant, however, do not own any electricity production facilities. The supply and delivery (transmission and distribution) of electricity make up about 97% of an average electricity bill in Maine. Ratepayers may also see additional charges for "stranded costs" and "conservation."
"Stranded costs" in Maine's electricity bills typically involve the cost of buying out contracts between generators and utilities, which turned out to be more expensive than the market price for power. "Conservation" charges, on the other hand, fund state energy efficiency programs, such as the Efficiency Maine Trust, which incentivizes homeowners and businesses to install more efficient equipment through rebates, discounts, and loans.
Maine is part of the Eastern Interconnection, which operates east of the Rocky Mountains. The flow of electricity in the region is managed by the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE), a nonprofit organization headquartered in Massachusetts. ISO-NE ensures that the electricity produced matches the amount consumed across six states.
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Maine's electricity producers
Maine has 125 electricity producers, owned by a variety of companies. The state's largest utilities, Central Maine Power and Versant, are investor-owned and do not produce electricity themselves. Instead, they deliver electricity to homes and businesses and own the poles and wires through which electricity flows.
Maine has nine cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities, including Fox Island Electric Coop, Houlton Water Company, Isle-Au-Haut Electric, Kennebunk Light & Power District, Madison Electric Works, Matinicus Plantation Electric, Monhegan Plantation Power Dist., and Van Buren Light & Power.
The state's electricity is produced by a combination of hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, solar panels, and natural gas plants. The largest producer is Brookfield Renewables, which operates most of Maine's hydroelectric dams. Longroad Energy owns many solar and wind projects, and Calpine owns a natural gas plant in Westbrook.
Maine is part of the Eastern Interconnection, which operates east of the Rocky Mountains and stretches to the Alaskan border. The state is primarily under the umbrella of the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE), a nonprofit organisation that manages the electricity flow across the region. Parts of northern Maine, which shares power with Canada, are operated by the Northern Maine System Operator.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 125 electricity producers in Maine owned by a number of different companies.
Central Maine Power and Versant are the state's largest utilities and are owned by investors.
Yes, there are nine cooperatives and municipally-owned utilities in Maine, including Fox Island Electric Coop, Houlton Water Company, and Kennebunk Light & Power District.
Most of the electricity generated in Maine comes from hydroelectric dams, wind turbines, and the burning of wood fuels. Solar energy accounts for around 3%, and the rest is natural gas.
Yes, Maine residents can choose their own electricity supplier. The Maine PUC chooses a default supplier called the Standard Offer, but you can select a different supplier if you prefer.
