Central Maine Power is a mess, last in JDPower’s 2022 customer satisfaction survey nationwide, fourth year in a row.

Let’s take its assets and turn CMP/Versant into a tax-exempt community-owned electricity provider.

Sadly, not so easy. Its impact on our bills is unpredictable, but other points matter.

Creating a tax-exempt entity lowers state tax revenue, meaning either taxes go up or services go down.

The new entity would be run by a third-party contractor chosen by competitive bid. This contractor would need be profit-making, which is allowed as part of the rate base. This money must come from somewhere.

The new entity would not guarantee increased reliability or better customer service.

I’d love to see lower power rates, better reliability, and customer service; I don’t think Pine Tree Power would do that. But there are still things we can do.

Individually, we can put pressure on the Maine Public Utilities Commission to improve CMP’s performance. We can each file complaints with the Consumer Assistance and Safety Division of the PUC and complain to the Office of the Public Advocate.

We can organize: if our problem involves over 10 people with separate accounts at the utility, the PUC “shall consider an investigation.” The more people who complain, the more likely the investigation. The public advocate will help draw up the complaint. Attend public hearings. Submit comments.

I’m not saying a community-owned power provider is a bad idea. But to me, this one seems to have too many potential costs that haven’t been addressed.

Silver Moore-Leamon, Auburn