Maine's Legislated Extortion: Net Energy Billing and the Public Policy Charge
Extortion is obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
The State of Maine is forcing electricity ratepayers to pay for Net Energy Billing and the Public Policy Charge.
Created by LD1711 of Maine's 129th Legislature, the Public Policy Charge "allows" all customers to share costs for state policy programs.
The back of a Versant bill explains:
Stranded Costs* - These include all remaining costs from the electric industry restructuring, including power purchase agreements, Maine Yankee, and other costs.
Public Policy Charge - This recovers the costs of programs required by state policy, including the net energy billing program, low-income assistance programs, and more recent long-term power purchase agreements.
* "Through February 2024, net energy billing will make up $94.6 million of the $95.2 million in stranded costs." - PUC Chair Philip Bartlett
Hmm... if net energy billing makes up 99% of stranded costs, and the Public Policy Charge includes the costs of the net energy billing program, it appears the rate-payers are getting double-billed.
William Harwood, former Maine Public Advocate: "Unfortunately we're now realizing that the amount of the subsidy that's built into the program which is paid by all the CMP and Versant ratepayers is now quite substantial and many ratepayers are finding it difficult to absorb the increase in their utility bills."
Residential customers will pay close to $12 for the Public Policy Charge, but commercial accounts are being hit hardest by it. Milo Chip, LLC offers a range of potato chip varieties. Milo Chip's future is in jeopardy after a recent $6,000 public policy charge pushed their utility bill above $10,000. McCrum potato processors in Washburn, Maine, produce french fries and other potato products. Their latest electricity bill shows a whopping $57,516.60 Public Policy Charge which jumped their monthly bill to $236,119.28!
Residential customers will pay close to $12 for the Public Policy Charge, but commercial accounts are being hit hardest by it. Milo Chip, LLC offers a range of potato chip varieties. Milo Chip's future is in jeopardy after a recent $6,000 public policy charge pushed their utility bill above $10,000. McCrum potato processors in Washburn, Maine, produce french fries and other potato products. Their latest electricity bill shows a whopping $57,516.60 Public Policy Charge which jumped their monthly bill to $236,119.28!
Where does all this money go? Who determines the amount a company pays for the Public Policy Charge, and what is it based on? How is the program administered and how many state employees work on it? These questions have to be answered.
Since the "restructuring" of the electric companies, Versant (Bangor Hydro) and CMP have become merely pencil pushers and bean counters, little more than collection agencies for this legislated extortion.
Remember that when it's time to elect Maine's senators and representatives.