Utilities setup and providers in Maine: Central Maine Power (CMP) for electricity. Versant Power for Northern electricity. Unitil provides natural gas in southern regions. Summit Natural Gas serves central Maine. AmeriGas for propane services statewide. Maine Water Company for water services. Internet providers: Spectrum, Consolidated Communications, GWI. Trash and recycling managed by local municipalities. Heating oil commonly used in rural areas. Budget and prepay options available for utilities.
Central Maine Power (CMP) for electricity.
Central Maine Power (CMP) is the electricity delivery company serving central and southern Maine, tasked with maintaining wires, poles, and restoring power during outages. CMP does not generate or supply electricity; rather, it delivers electricity provided by competitive providers or the Standard Offer provider, as determined by the Maine Public Utilities Commission. For more information, you can visit the Central Maine Power website and learn more about their services.
Versant Power for Northern electricity.
Versant Power, formerly Emera Maine, is a regulated electric transmission and distribution utility serving 165,000 customer accounts in northern and eastern Maine. The company is responsible for maintaining the power lines and infrastructure necessary to deliver electricity to its customers. While Versant Power ensures the reliable delivery of electricity, customers have the flexibility to choose their electricity supplier from various licensed providers. For more information about their services and commitment to the community, visit their company website. Customers also have the option of selecting a Standard Offer Service if no specific supplier is chosen, allowing for seamless and uninterrupted access to electricity.
Unitil provides natural gas in southern regions.
Unitil provides natural gas in southern Maine, particularly in the Portland and Westbrook areas, having completed a 14-year System Upgrade for Reliable Energy (SURE) project to modernize and enhance the reliability of its natural gas distribution system. This extensive undertaking has solidified Unitil's commitment to delivering safe, reliable energy solutions to its customers. For more details on this transformative project, visit the Unitil website and explore the comprehensive efforts made to ensure energy resilience and customer satisfaction in the region.
Summit Natural Gas serves central Maine.
Summit Natural Gas of Maine is a Natural Gas utility company headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, serving central Maine by delivering clean, safe, affordable, and reliable energy solutions. Since 2013, the company has invested over $340 million to install more than 250 miles of pipeline in the Kennebec River Valley and in Cumberland, Yarmouth, and Falmouth, converting many customers from oil to natural gas and reducing carbon emissions. More about their initiatives can be found on their Summit Natural Gas of Maine website.
AmeriGas for propane services statewide.
Amerigas offers extensive propane services in Maine, encompassing propane delivery, tank installations, and commercial solutions with multiple local office locations throughout the state to cater to residential and business needs. Their services include flexible delivery options, grill tank exchanges, and online management tools through the MyAmerigas portal.
Maine Water Company for water services.
Maine Water Company provides water services across various divisions in Maine, committed to water quality, environmental protection, and customer-friendly utility experiences. They offer services such as billing management, payment arrangements, and programs like Linebacker(r) for protecting water lines. Additionally, they engage in community and environmental initiatives, all detailed on the Maine Water Company website.
Internet providers: Spectrum, Consolidated Communications, GWI.
In Maine, Fidium Fiber, a subsidiary of Consolidated Communications, stands out as the top internet provider, delivering the fastest speeds, most affordable plans, and the widest fiber coverage. Spectrum offers cable internet with relatively inexpensive plans, although users should be aware of potential price increases and data caps. Consolidated Communications itself provides DSL internet, which, despite its slower speeds compared to fiber or cable, boasts widespread coverage across the state. To explore further details about the best internet providers in Maine, you can refer to the CNET website.
Trash and recycling managed by local municipalities.
In Maine, local municipalities such as Lewiston manage trash and recycling through contracts with private haulers. Curbside collection of residential solid waste and single-stream recyclable materials is provided weekly, with recyclables sorted and processed at facilities like Casella Recycling's Material Recovery Facility. For more detailed information about these services, you can visit the Solid Waste Division of Lewiston's official website.
Heating oil commonly used in rural areas.
Maine remains the most heating oil dependent state, with 60% of homes relying on this fuel, particularly in rural areas where other energy sources may be less accessible. This heavy reliance on heating oil highlights the state's significant energy challenges. In fact, Maine spends over $4 billion annually on imported fossil fuels. For more details on this energy dependency, you can refer to the comprehensive Energy Assessment 2022 provided by the state government.
Budget and prepay options available for utilities.
In Maine, although specific budget and prepay options are not extensively detailed, residents have the opportunity to compare various energy plans from multiple suppliers to find the most affordable rates. The standard offer rates from utilities like Central Maine Power and Versant Power serve as a baseline to compare against competitive provider rates. To explore and compare these options effectively, residents can refer to platforms such as Choose Energy, where a range of energy plans are available for consideration.