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January 26, 2010

Business conservers to get best power rates

By The Mainebiz News Staff

State utilities regulators have approved a plan to ensure businesses are not charged more when they conserve electricity.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission yesterday unanimously approved using a "best rate option" to make sure commercial customers who reduce their electricity consumption do not see their bills increase, according to a press release. The order directs state's electric utilities -- Bangor Hydro-Electric Co., Central Maine Power Co. and Maine Public Service -- to help develop eligibility requirements to determine if customers have installed energy-efficient measures to qualify for the best rate option, and whether the new rate will be applied retroactively.

Last month, the PUC began investigating why some businesses saw their bills go up when they cut their consumption. Businesses that reduced their usage enough were automatically put into a rate class for smaller users, who are charged more. Now, commercial customers will have the option of staying in their original rate class and keeping the lower rate.

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