News

Versant Power to Increase Customer Bills July 1

Versant Power


Versant Power customers will see an increase in their bills starting July 1st.

The hike will range from 31 cents for residents in the Bangor to almost $3.00 for residents in Aroostook and Penobscot counties.

Specifically, customers in the Bangor Hydro district who are using 500 kilowatt-hours a month will see a 31-cent increase for delivery and standard offer while customers who use 750 kilowatt-hours per month will see around a $1.50 increase.

In the other area Versant operates, the Maine Public district, the increase for customers who use 500-kilowatt hours will be a little under $3 a month while customers who use 750 kilowatt-hours per month will see around a $4.50 and increase.

The increase is being allowed by the Maine Public Utilities Commission because of costs driven by state legislation to support Maine’s climate and clean energy goals. It also includes penalty costs against Versant for failing to meet reliability and performance benchmarks.

“(The costs) include expenses associated with renewable energy contracts, net energy billing programs, and other policy-driven initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting clean energy development,” said a statement Tuesday from the Public Utilities Commission. “Included…is a $3 million service quality indices (SQI) penalty imposed on Versant Power for failing to meet Commission-established reliability and performance benchmark.”

The hike follows a larger increase in Versant customer bills that took place in April.

Versant encourages customers who have questions about bill changes to call their Customer Contact Center

Versant is the state’s second-largest electric utility, with about 165,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine.

Latest Headlines

5 hours ago in Local

Why Are There So Many Hotels in Portland?

Quincy Hentzel with the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce says the hotels are continuing to be built for a reason.

6 hours ago in Trending, World

Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners are released as part of ceasefire in Gaza

All 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel walked free Monday as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that decimated the Gaza Strip and killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

20 hours ago in Local

Mills Briefly Posts/Deletes Video Announcing Senate Run

Axios first reported Mills would likely announce her Senate run in the upcoming week.

20 hours ago in Local

Maine Man Shot By Deputy After Chase

Androscoggin County Deputies say they tried to arrest a man on an existing felony warrant

22 hours ago in Local

Biddeford Motorcyclist Arrested going 114 in 40-MPH Zone

A Biddeford motorcyclist was arrested Saturday night after deputies clocked him going almost three times the speed limit in Arundel.…