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Rising electric bills lead to state scrutiny — but little relief for residents

Last month, the Maine Public Utilities Commission rejected a proposal that would have raised bills by about $35 per month for Central Maine Power customers, with Chair Philip Bartlett citing growing energy costs.
Infrastructure upgrades and global supply disruptions have pushed prices, with Russia's war in Ukraine, extreme weather, and demand from artificial intelligence and energy-intensive data centers driving costs.
Average electric bills increased nearly 30% between 2021 and 2025, climbing from $121 to $156 per month, while the Maine Public Utilities Commission approved a supply price increase raising the typical monthly bill $2.50 to $136.64 next year.
Given public outcry, state leaders are weighing rate freezes and assistance after more than 800 protesters attended hearings, with Oregon doubling its aid fund from $20 to $40 million.
Soon, another rate increase request will likely come before Maine regulators, as overdue balances grew from $597 to $789 between March 2022 and June 2025, and about 14 million Americans had bills 90+ days past due, according to the Century Foundation and Protect Borrowers analysis.

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