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Re:  Investigation into customer complaints alleging that Electricity Maine (EME) has introduced sudden and significant bill increases on electricity bills.

OPA filed response to the 2/2/24 procedural order and motion renewing its request for evidentiary hearing (2/21/24).

As reported previously, on February 14, 2024, EME filed a proposed settlement stipulation regarding the alleged rule violations.

Parties stipulation agree with the following: 

EME will “issue up to $5 million in refunds to current and former EME non-indexed variable rate customers for up to two billing periods based on the difference between the variable rate charged to the customer and the standard offer rate”; 

“to ensure that current EME customers that are on a month-to-month nonindexed variable rate product understand they have other supply options, they will be sent two separate notices providing an opportunity to transition from the variable rate product to either a fixed-price offering from EME, Standard Offer service, or services provided by a different competitive electricity supplier”; 

“to limit the number of customers renewed from fixed to non-indexed variable rate supply, EME customers currently with a fixed fixed-rate contract will be renewed at a fixed-rate contract subject to the 20 percent cap in Title 35-A, Section 3203(4-B)(C)”; 

(4) “to address concerns related to customer service, EME will undertake specified procedures related to the escalation of customers who express an inability to pay their electric supply bill and undertake additional customer service representative training for representatives who serve Maine customers”; and 

“to address concerns expressed by the CASD related to certain renewal notices EME sent to customers, EME commits in the Stipulation to specific practices when sending renewal notices generally, and with respect to future non-indexed variable rate renewal notices.”

Proposed Stipulation  (02/14/2024)
2023-00024  (02/07/2023)