Environmental and consumer advocates told the Maine PUC that a recently proposed rulemaking on utility performance does not satisfy current climate laws.

A new bill from Gov. Janet Mills would set performance standards for the state’s electric utilities, with fees and possible divestiture for non-compliance.

Maine Gov. Janet Mills said a bill to replace the state’s investor-owned utilities was “hastily” drafted and needs a “full airing.”

A bill to replace Maine’s two IOUs with consumer-owned Pine Tree Power passed the House and Senate, but Gov. Mills is not fully behind it.

A bill that proposes replacing Maine’s biggest utilities with a consumer-owned nonprofit should go to the House for an initial vote next week.

The Maine PUC says a bill that would replace the state's two IOUs with a consumer-owned utility could frustrate grid modernization goals.