Janet Mills renews skepticism about utility takeover referendum
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills continues to specific skepticism over a poll measure that may take over Maine’s two largest electrical utilities and exchange them with a nonprofit operated by an elected board.
The governor advised Maine Calling Thursday that she’ll announce a extra formal place on Query 3 within the coming weeks, however she outlined a variety of issues with the proposal often known as Pine Tree Energy.
Amongst them is {that a} takeover of Central Maine Energy and Versant Energy would probably be a pricey and litigious endeavor that, if accomplished, might introduce partisan politics into electrical energy supply with out concrete benefits to ratepayers.
“I’m involved that it’s proposed to be a easy resolution to a really advanced downside,” she mentioned. “And you recognize what H.L. Mencken mentioned, ‘For each advanced downside there’s a solution that’s clear, easy and fallacious.’ This could be the fallacious reply to a fancy downside.”
Mills’ reservations in regards to the utility takeover — and her use of the Mencken quote to specific them — usually are not new.
In 2021, she vetoed a invoice just like Query 3 laying out comparable issues.
The governor’s feedback observe an summary of the proposal launched this week by the Workplace of the Public Advocate.
The Public Advocate took no place on Query 3, and its reality sheet primarily laid out a variety of situations that would have an effect on the fee, threat and advantages to ratepayers.
The actual fact sheet additionally floated the likelihood that the elected members of Pine Tree Energy may really feel political strain to maintain charges low on the expense of investments to enhance reliability.
The Maine public advocate’s workplace didn’t conduct its personal evaluation to find out the doable results on electrical energy charges.
This text seems via a media partnership with Maine Public.
