News

Company that studied grid may have had conflict of interest

Company that studied grid may have had conflict of interest

Photo: clipart.com


A company paid $500,000 by Maine regulators to study the state’s electric grid may have been ineligible to receive the contract based on conflict of interest rules.

London Economics International was the winning bidder on the study and was tasked with evaluating the pros and cons of converting Maine’s two investor-owned electric utilities to consumer ownership.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission wrote last year that any firm that had worked for either utility in the past five years would be ineligible to avoid any conflicts of interest. But the Bangor Daily News reported Monday that London Economics International was paid $37,000 for work done for Emera in 2018.

Latest Headlines

9 hours ago in Trending, World

Melissa strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane and is forecast to make landfall in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa intensified to Category 5 strength Monday as it neared Jamaica, where forecasters said it would unleash catastrophic flooding, multiple landslides and extensive infrastructure damage.

9 hours ago in Local

Maine Wood Carvers Grow Worrisome of Dying Craft

Wood carvers in Maine are worried that their historical craft is on the decline.

15 hours ago in Local

Missing Hancock County Woman Found Safe

Hancock County deputies say Alison Macleod suffers from cognitive issues.

23 hours ago in Local

Otisfield Man Charged After Woman Shot in Hand

Oxford County deputies say they were called to a report of a person who had been shot.

23 hours ago in Local

Owl Rescued on Lake West of Augusta

Officers say they found the barred owl along Annabessacook Lake Saturday morning.