Latest news with #VersantPower
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maine lawmakers move forward with changes to 2021 transmission line referendum
A Versant Power technician energizes a line at the Tremont, Maine substation. (Photo courtesy of Versant Power) Though initially divided, lawmakers decided to move forward with a proposal to modify the law born out of a 2021 referendum question requiring the Maine Legislature to approve any new high-impact transmission lines. Although some legislators who worked on the campaign argued the proposal would clarify the law, LD 810 initially fell short of passage in the House of Representatives. After the Senate voted to pass the bill last Wednesday, the House ultimately decided to change course and passed the bill Monday by a one-vote margin. 'I'm shocked that we are being faced with this bill so soon after the historic and controversial battle,' said Rep. Elizabeth Caruso (R-Caratunk) during the House discussion last week. Caruso recounted the efforts by volunteers to gather signatures for the referendum question and the overwhelming support from roughly 60% of voters. The ballot question drew passionate grassroots support and overcame over $60 million in opposition spending fueled mostly by international energy companies. Therefore, the proposal before the Legislature to reform the law 'opposes the will of the people and the vote,' Caruso said. Approving it would send a message to voters that citizens' initiatives 'are a joke,' she added. Rep. Melanie Sachs (D-Freeport) said she was one of those Mainers who stood outside L.L. Bean to collect signatures for the campaign and was proud to vote 'Yes.' Though she still supports that referendum, Sachs also backed LD 810 because it 'is clarifying, not repealing.' Rep. Chris Kessler (D-South Portland), who sponsored LD 810, said he was also among the voters who supported the referendum, but argued his bill is meant to clean up the unintended consequences of the new law. Sen. Nicole Grohoski (D-Hancock), who worked on the referendum campaign, said while it is important to offer constituents legislative approval as a backstop on transmission lines proposed by private corporations, the current statute creates higher scrutiny for lines proposed by the Legislature than those from the private corporations. More specifically, the bill seeks to clarify that when the Legislature is seeking to develop a new transmission line, that project should not need to come back to the Legislature for approval after the Public Utilities Commission's review process. During committee hearings, the Office of Public Advocate, Maine State Chamber of Commerce and multiple environmental organizations agreed the duplicative process can deter developers, drive up costs for ratepayers and stand in the way of meeting climate goals. However, Sen. Matt Harrington (R-York) argued in favor of the current model because it gives the Legislature another opportunity to weigh in on a line after a route has been determined. This could be important because constituents could have issues with a line's route that wouldn't be known at the time of initial approval. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Starting in April, utilities can cut off power to Mainers with unpaid bills
Mar. 25—Consumer advocates say they expect an increase in calls from customers worried that Maine's utilities will be allowed to cut off electricity in mid-April for those who are behind on payments. State law prohibits Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power from pulling the plug on customers from Nov. 15 to April 15, five months that typically cover the worst of Maine's winters. About 19,000 CMP customers are behind on their payments, spokesman Jon Breed said Friday. That's about 3% of the utility's 653,000 customers in southern and central Maine. The number is decreasing to what it had been before the COVID-19 pandemic, Breed said. During the pubic health emergency five years ago, cascading economic problems forced businesses to shut and unemployment to rise, prompting state policymakers to craft consumer-friendly protections such as moratoriums on electricity shutoffs. Advocates told lawmakers last year that while Maine has strong consumer protections for winter disconnection, the growing threat of climate change could lead to dangerously high temperatures. A law enacted last year requires the state Public Utilities Commission to establish rules prohibiting electric or gas disconnections during "extreme weather or temperature conditions, including extreme heat or humidity." State rules forbid a utility to disconnect when a customer is in an area designated by the National Weather Service when it issues a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning. Electricity will not be immediately shut off on April 15, as CMP and Versant Power say they will work with delinquent customers to find financial help or sign up for a payment plan. "There are several phone calls before we get to that point," Breed said. Versant spokeswoman Judy Long said the utility does not have information about how many customers are delinquent. The utility, which has about 165,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine, has been in touch with affected customers. It is urging ratepayers who are behind on their bills to contact Versant to figure out how to pay. "The best thing they can do is call," she said. The PUC and Office of the Public Advocate say that based on their experience in previous years they expect a spike in calls from customers. The public advocate advises customers to call their utility to find out the minimum amount to pay to keep the power on. The agency also suggests ratepayers call 211 to determine if they're eligible for public assistance programs. CMP says its Home Energy Assistance Program provides federal grant money to qualified customers to help pay heating costs and also may help with weatherization needs; the Electricity Lifeline Program helps customers who qualify to receive up to $1,200 toward their electricity bill; and the Arrearage Management Program that helps qualified customers who are enrolled in the other two programs reduce their past due balance by as much as $500 each month, as monthly payments are made. Copy the Story Link
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Utilities can cut off power to Mainers with unpaid bills starting in April
Mar. 25—Consumer advocates say they expect an increase in calls from customers worried that Maine's utilities will be allowed to cut off electricity in mid-April for those who are behind on payments. State law prohibits Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power from pulling the plug on customers from Nov. 15 to April 15, five months that typically cover the worst of Maine's winters. About 19,000 CMP customers are behind on their payments, spokesman Jon Breed said Friday. That's about 3% of the utility's 653,000 customers in southern and central Maine. The number is retreating to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, Breed said. During the pubic health emergency five years ago, cascading economic problems forced businesses to shut and unemployment to rise, prompting state policymakers to craft consumer-friendly protections such as moratoriums on electricity shutoffs. Advocates told lawmakers last year that while Maine has strong consumer protections for winter disconnection, the growing threat of climate change could lead to dangerously high temperatures. A law enacted last year requires the state Public Utilities Commission to establish rules prohibiting electric or gas disconnections during "extreme weather or temperature conditions, including extreme heat or humidity." State rules forbid a utility to disconnect when a customer is in an area designated by the National Weather Service when it issues a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning. Electricity will not be immediately shut off on April 15, as CMP and Versant Power say they will work with delinquent customers to find financial help or sign up for a payment plan. "There are several phone calls before we get to that point," Breed said. Versant spokeswoman Judy Long said the utility does not have information about how many customers are delinquent. The utility, which has about 165,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine, has been in touch with affected customers. It is urging ratepayers who are behind on their bills to contact Versant to figure out how to pay. "The best thing they can do is call," she said. The PUC and Office of the Public Advocate say that based on their experience in previous years they expect a spike in calls from customers. The public advocate advises customers to call their utility to find out the minimum amount to pay to keep the power on. The agency also suggests ratepayers call 211 to determine if they're eligible public assistance programs. CMP says its Home Energy Assistance Program provides federal grant money to qualified customers to help pay heating costs and also may help with weatherization needs; the Electricity Lifeline Program helps customers who qualify to receive up to $1,200 toward their electricity bill; and the Arrearage Management Program that helps qualified customers who are enrolled in the other two programs reduce their past due balance by as much as $500 each month, as monthly payments are made. Copy the Story Link
CBC
14-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Enmax declares record dividend for City of Calgary
Enmax has declared a dividend of $103 million to be paid to the City of Calgary, according to its 2024 financial results. That dividend is up from the $94 million that was paid last year. The city-owned utility presented its 2024 annual report to city council's audit committee on Thursday. Enmax reported its comparable net earnings for 2024 were $316 million, which represented a year-over-year change of nine per cent. The company said much of the increase in earnings was due to an increase in transmission and distribution margins in its regulated businesses and an increase in the electricity margin in its competitive business. Enmax reported an increase in retail customers and lower supply costs in 2024. So even though electricity prices in its Alberta operations eased last year from the previous record highs in 2023, it made more money. The president and CEO of Enmax, Mark Poweska, said 2024 was a strong year for the company and all parts of it contributed to that picture. "We have our competitive business here in Alberta. We also have a regulated business here in Alberta, and we have a regulated business in Maine," said Poweska. "That has really given us the opportunity to smooth earnings." Enmax CEO compensation tops $3M for 2023 That U.S. business is Versant Power, which is a utility in the state of Maine that was acquired by Enmax in 2020 for $1.8 billion. "It was a good strategic investment for us," said Poweska, adding it helps to diversify Enmax's holdings. He said that includes adding a more stable regulated business to its portfolio, which also provides U.S. currency. The chair of the city's audit committee, Coun. Evan Spencer, said some Calgarians scratched their heads initially about that purchase. "I think we can continue to trust that this is a partnership that's really driving value for Calgarians," he said. The Enmax annual dividend, once declared, is actually paid to the city on a quarterly basis. City council will decide how that money is spent. Spencer said there will be no shortage of possibilities. "The city is in a deficit position on a whole variety of priorities, so it is not hard finding a place to spend it. It really just ends up being which one we think is going to get the most value for Calgarians," said Spencer. Enmax's annual dividend to Calgary has been increasing in recent years since council directed the utility to provide greater returns from its earnings. From 2004 to 2022, the utility paid between $40 million and $68 million annually to the city. Since then, the dividend has been climbing. In 2023, the payment to the sole shareholder was $82 million, rising to $95 million last year and reaching a record level of $103 million this year.
CBC
11-03-2025
- Business
- CBC
Holt hesitates to use N.B.'s most powerful trade lever: electricity
Social Sharing New Brunswick's most powerful lever in Canada's trade war with the United States is found mostly along the province's back roads, cutting through forests and across fields rarely seen by most residents. That lever — a series of N.B. Power transmission lines running to the border with Maine — is one that, so far, Premier Susan Holt is opting not to use to strike back. "Our government is using every tool in our toolbox to protect New Brunswick workers and our economy," Holt said last week when she rolled out her action plan in response to President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on most imports from Canada. But not every tool. Not exactly. Holt promised to spend tens of millions of taxpayer dollars helping hard-hit companies and workers absorb the impact of the tariffs. She avoided a riskier, more painful — but possibly more effective — option. In northern and eastern Maine, 58,000 people rely on electricity from N.B. Power to keep their lights on and their homes warm. They're not connected to the large-scale regional power grid in the southern part of the state. They have nowhere else to go for power. WATCH | 'The lights would go out': Maine's reliance on N.B. electricity: The tariff leverage New Brunswick's premier is hesitating to use 4 minutes ago Duration 3:02 "Electrically, northern and eastern Maine are part of Canada, not part of the rest of the United States," says Bill Harwood, a former public advocate who represented state residents at energy regulatory hearings. "They are integrated into the New Brunswick system and the electricity comes from New Brunswick." Four local utilities are now working through what Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports will cost them — and how to pass those costs onto their customers. If Holt slapped an additional surcharge on that electricity, it would increase the pain even more. "A lot of this is unknown," said Greg Sherman, the general manager of Houlton Water Company, which serves 5,500 customers in and around Houlton. Another electricity company, Versant Power, has more than 37,000 customers in northern Aroostook communities such as Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Kent and Van Buren. "We are staying tuned for more details on potential federal policy changes," spokesperson Tina Morrill said. In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford has threatened to cut off electricity transmission to neighbouring states "with a smile on my face, and I'm encouraging every other province to do the same." That attracted widespread U.S. media attention, and Ford repeated the threat again Monday as he slapped a 25 per cent export surcharge on electricity sales to New York, Michigan and Minnesota — the equivalent of about $100 extra per month per household, he said. At her announcement last week, Holt said she wanted to avoid hurting Americans across the border. "Our neighbours in Maine are our friends, and we want to put serious consideration into the decisions that might hurt some of the people that have already spoken up against the tariffs," she said. Split views on tariffs Trump won the areas of Maine that rely most on New Brunswick for power, so a surcharge or cutoff would squeeze supporters of the president who may support his move. Even the district's Democratic congressman, Jared Golden, supports tariffs and did not sign a letter from other Maine politicians calling on Trump to cool it. Harwood said Maine residents who rely on N.B. Power have some of the lowest incomes in the state. "This would be a crushing financial burden on many of those customers," he said. Farther south, ISO New England, the agency operating the larger regional power grid across several states, has filed a regulatory application suggesting electricity may not be subject to the tariffs. In the meantime, it's asking for clarity on what kind of mechanism it should use to collect the money. "In a worst-case scenario, the ISO could be forced to file for bankruptcy protection should it have insufficient funds to cover costs stemming from such import duties," the filing says. It also warns that N.B. Power and others in the New England market "may question or challenge continued participation" in that market if there is uncertainty about who will pay. A day after saying she didn't want to inflict pain on Mainers, Holt offered a second explanation for hesitating: she prefers measures "that will hurt the U.S. and not hurt New Brunswickers," or their debt-laden Crown corporation, N.B. Power. "It's possible that shutting off power to New England puts a big burden on a utility that is already challenged, and New Brunswickers already have power bills that are too high," she said. Changing expectations N.B. Power won't discuss what such a move would cost, saying only it's working with other power utilities "to address the challenge of potential tariffs head-on and ensure energy security for customers." Holt's changing explanations and her reluctance to follow Ford's lead "indicates to me that they haven't thought it out well enough yet," Opposition PC Leader Glen Savoie said. "The response was tepid and the government seems a bit overwhelmed." Harwood said cutting off power to northern Maine would spark "an international crisis" that would require political regulatory intervention. The point of tariffs is to force people to purchase products from domestic suppliers. But there is no such domestic producer of electricity in northern Maine, he said. "If these people are relying on electric space heaters or heat pumps to get them through the remaining cold days of the winter and you cut off their electricity, you are creating a public health risk that is unacceptable." he said. That comment underscores just how powerful a lever New Brunswick has. A more aggressive move on electricity "may be on the table," Holt said March 4. Then she corrected herself: "They are on the table. They may be implemented in the future."
