Maine utility regulators say the state’s largest electric utility will drop delivery rates by nearly 6%.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission said Tuesday it had approved three stipulations that will result in lower electric delivery rates for both Central Maine Power and Versant Power customers effective July 1, 2022.

Commissioner Patrick Scully said the sale of energy from renewable facilities has allowed them to offset high storm recovery costs seen in 2020 and reflected in rates in 2021.

CMP said its delivery rate will go down by 5.5 percent, resulting in a 2.7 percent drop in the monthly bill for the average residential customer.

“This is welcome news for many Mainers as they face increasing costs across the board,” said Joe Purington, president and CEO of CMP.

Versant Power customers can expect to see delivery rates drop by between 3.5 and 3.8 percent.

The administration of Gov. Janet Mills praised the move in a brief statement released Tuesday. “These savings from renewable energy couldn’t come at a better time for Maine people, who are experiencing a significant increase in utility bills stemming from volatile global energy markets and our region’s over-reliance on natural gas to generate electricity,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office.