CMP’s plan to raise bills by $7 is likely on the rocks. Here’s what to know.

Maine PUC Rejects Central Maine Power’s Request for Temporary Rate Increase

August 20, 2026 – Augusta, ME
The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will deny Central Maine Power Co. (CMP) a temporary rate hike of almost $70 million that would add roughly $7 to the average Mainer's monthly electric bill. The decision, announced in a Monday staff recommendation, leaves the utility’s larger, long‑term rate case in the balance while the board prepares to vote on the issue on Oct. 6.

The Commission’s Rationale

The PUC’s 19‑page recommendation noted that CMP’s financial difficulties, while real, do not justify an immediate rate increase. Estimates of the utility’s revenue needs varied by tens of millions among parties in the case, and the proposal was disputed by eight groups, including the Maine Office of the Public Advocate and the Department of Energy Resources.

State law limits the commission to approving only undisputed temporary rates, and staff cited concerns over the case’s complexity, affordability and consumer confusion. “Because there are many parties with many differing positions, the Commission cannot conclude that there is ‘an amount which is undisputed,’ as required by statute,” the report said.

The recommendation also acknowledged that the commission could still approve about $21 million—an amount the Office of the Public Advocate had previously deemed undisputed—if regulators judged that CMP’s financial outlook warranted it over affordability concerns. However, the staff leaned toward denying the temporary hike.

CMP’s Financial Pressures

CMP, Maine’s largest electric utility, serves roughly 670,000 customers. Its financial outlook was downgraded to “negative” by S&P Global Ratings this summer, citing a $100 million cash‑flow deficit tied to a delay in the current rate case. CMP has already postponed planned capital projects, including a $6.6 million grid‑infrastructure upgrade in western Cumberland County and maintenance on 19 transformers serving customers from York to Rangeley. The utility warned that continued revenue uncertainty could force it to scale back workforce and future investments.

“Prolonged revenue uncertainty puts pressure on the infrastructure investments, workforce, financing capacity, and grant‑funded modernization efforts that customers and communities depend upon,” CMP spokesperson Dustin Wlodkowski said in an emailed statement. “Unfortunately, the consequences of prolonged uncertainty are no longer theoretical.”

Impact on Mainers

The average Mainer's electric bill fell to about $157 in July after storm‑related costs dropped. The temporary rates would push that figure up by roughly $7 a month. A full permanent rate hike, still pending in the broader case, could add another $11, bringing the average bill to $174 or more.

Return on equity (ROI), the portion of revenue that allows a utility to earn a profit on its investments, has become a central point of contention. CMP argues it needs higher ROI to fund infrastructure and deliver reliable power, while consumer advocates warn that higher profits can translate into higher costs for Mainers. Seth Berry, executive director of the intervening group Our Power, said, “With energy costs at record highs, Maine people can’t take yet another rate hike to boost the profits of distant investors.”

The Commission’s Next Steps

The three‑member board, chaired by Phil Bartlett, will hold its final vote on the temporary rates on Oct. 6. Bartlett has announced that he will step down on Oct. 9 to move into the private sector. The upcoming decision is expected to be the last major one of his tenure.

“We look forward to continuing that thorough review in the rate case process that remains on‑going at the PUC,” Public Advocate Heather Sanborn wrote. “With Maine household budgets already strained to the breaking point, any rate increase for CMP must be thoroughly scrutinized before it goes into effect.”

A Broader View

CMP originally requested the temporary hike to be implemented in April, but regulators delayed the move to the fall while the broader rate case is deliberated. The temporary rate approach is intended to allow the utility to recover some costs while a two‑step, full $189 million increase is considered, with the remainder slated for spring. Last year’s denial of CMP’s 5‑year plan—proposed to raise the average bill by about $35—highlights the commission’s cautious stance on large rate moves.

While temporary rates would be refundable if regulators approve lower permanent rates, the practice has rarely been exercised, leaving many Mainers uncertain about potential refunds.

The PUC’s denial of CMP’s request for temporary rate increases underscores a broader debate over balancing the utility’s need for investment capital with the affordability concerns of Maine’s residents. The commission’s upcoming vote on Oct. 6 will decide whether the utility can move forward with a partial hike or whether it will have to continue to defer projects and rely on the longer‑term rate case to secure necessary funding.