Next November, Mainers will be able to vote for Pine Tree Power, a nonprofit public power company.
Like many others I’m fed up with Central Maine Power’s poor customer service, high rates and priority on the bottom line. In her Dec. 1 letter (“Opposed to possible power moves by Pine Tree Power”), toeing the company line, Terri MacDonald writes that this would be run by politicians. This is misinformation.
Maine can follow Nebraska, which has had public power since the 1940s, bringing reliable service at lower rates and run by five people appointed by the governor – an engineer, a lawyer, an accountant and two laypeople, three from one party, two from the other.
There are also nine similar nonprofit companies in Maine, serving 97 towns. In Kennebunk Light and Power, voters elect a board of trustees, which hires a general manager.
Pine Tree Power is an idea whose time has come!
Pete Hope
Pemaquid
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