Emera Inc.

After two days of hearings this week, New Hampshire state regulators unanimously rejected Eversource Energy's application for its $1.6 billion Northern Pass transmission project to deliver more than 1,000 megawatts of renewable power from Hydro-Quebec to Massachusetts.

Preliminary reports submitted to the Maine Public Utilities Commission indicate Central Maine Power Co. spent almost $69 million and Emera Maine more than $7.3 million in their efforts to restore power to almost 500,000 customers after the October 2017 wind storm.

Emera Maine and Central Maine Power Co. are preparing for possible power outages from a nor'easter expected to hit the state late morning Thursday.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission this week set new prices for standard offer electricity provided by Central Maine Power and Emera Maine/Bangor Hydro District to customers receiving that service.

More power restoration crews poured into Maine Thursday as Central Maine Power Co. reported that recovery efforts from the Oct. 29-30 wind and rain storm have reduced the number of customers without power from a peak of more than 400,000 at mid-day Monday to less than 67,000 late Friday morning.

From a peak of almost 500,000 Mainers being without power following the Oct. 30 storm, Maine's two utilities are reporting they're about half done with restoration efforts, but acknowledge that full restoration of power to all of their customers could extend into the weekend.

Central Maine Power Co. reported recovery from the storm that blew through Maine Sunday night and Monday “could take at least a week in some areas.” Emera Maine said, “We are looking at days.”

More than 450,000 Mainers are without power Monday morning due to a storm accompanied by gusts of more than 60 mph and heavy rain that prompted flash flood warnings for some parts of the state.

Emera Maine is seeking approval approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission for a rate hike that would boost revenues by 12% and increase electricity prices next year, averaging about $3.60 a month, for its 154,000 customers in northern and eastern Maine.

A solar power bill that had received bipartisan approval when it was approved this spring died Wednesday when lawmakers failed to override Gov. Paul LePage's veto.