Houston-based Spectra Energy joined a competing, out-of-state company this week in asking state regulators to consider a new electricity fee for Maine consumers that would support an expansion of the state’s natural gas pipeline capacity.
The Bangor Daily News reported that Spectra presented its Northeast pipeline expansion plan  to the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Monday, just after Houston-based Kinder Morgan sent its proposal to regulators last week. Spectra earlier this month announced that Northeast Utilities, the region’s largest electric utility, will be a co-investor for the pipeline expansion.
Spectra and Kinder Morgan are separately asking the PUC to charge a new electricity fee for Maine consumers that would support a natural gas pipeline expansion. But a Spectra official said on Monday that the commitment wouldn’t be required to move forward. The BDN noted that the PUC’s capacity to purchase natural gas is only 200 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, with up to $75 million available every year.
Read more
State warns of high electricity rates this winter
