LOWERING ENERGY COSTS FOR MAINERS

We are paying too much for energy, and the consequences reach into every part of daily life. When electric bills climb, families feel it at the kitchen table, small businesses feel it in every payroll decision, and our whole economy gets weaker while billions of dollars every year go to enrich out of state corporate entities. This is not just an energy problem – it is an affordability crisis and a failure of leadership that demands urgent action for you and your family.

#1. Reduce utility profits to lower delivery costs

Mainers are paying too much for delivery costs, and the profits companies are receiving off the backs of Mainers needs to change. As Governor, I will review and lower the authorized return on equity for investor-owned utilities so you’re not overpaying. In Maine today, investor-owned utilities are authorized to earn up to a 9.35 percent return on what they invest in poles, wires, and grid upgrades. That return is built directly into the delivery portion of your electric bill, which is the only part that the utilities control. When utilities build infrastructure, ratepayers repay the project cost and an authorized profit on top. Maine does need to invest in our grid, but right now utilities have a strong financial incentive to build more poles and wires than we actually need because that is how they earn their return.

#2. Lower energy costs for manufacturers and Maine’s heritage industries

Too many businesses are being priced out of Maine because of the high cost of energy. As Governor, I will pursue negotiated industrial rate contracts tied to job creation and investment so Maine employers can stay competitive without shifting costs onto families and small businesses. The state will pursue negotiated industrial rates, ensuring manufacturers pay their full share of system costs while residential customers and small businesses never subsidize large users. These contracts will be tied to job creation and investment commitments, preventing manufacturers and heritage industries from being driven out by rising energy costs that would take jobs and tax revenue with them while undermining Maine's electrification goals.

#3. Conserve energy and increase efficiency

Too many Maine homes are leaky and not efficient. During our winters we feel it the most. The best way to save energy costs is to not use as much in the first place. As Governor, I will scale weatherization and energy-efficiency investments statewide so we can cut waste and lower monthly bills and make your home more comfortable.  Weatherization is the fastest and most cost-effective way to lower energy use because the cheapest energy is the energy not wasted. These upgrades cut heating and electricity demand immediately, reduce strain on the grid, and avoid costly infrastructure investments that drive rates up. Every dollar invested through Efficiency Maine returns roughly $3.70 to Maine's economy, delivering both short-term savings and long-term economic benefit.

#4. Create a new Maine Generation Authority to power Maine’s future

Political leaders have negotiated bad deals with our neighboring states, and we are leaving too much on the table. It’s time to take control of our energy future. As Governor, I will create a Maine Generation Authority to own and develop renewable generation and storage assets, keep more energy dollars in Maine, and return the value to ratepayers so we can build an energy system that works for Maine people, not outside interests. Maine can build renewable energy at lower cost than buying fossil fuels on global markets, insulating ratepayers from price spikes driven by foreign conflicts and commodity speculation. The Authority will put Maine in a stronger negotiating position when other New England states look to our land and coastline to power their economies. For too long, Maine has accepted weak deals on transmission projects and energy development that altered our landscape without fair compensation flowing back to our people. The Authority will negotiate Host state Benefit agreements and evaluate revenue tools similar to energy- producing states such as Alaska and Texas, with revenues flowing back to the state, to help us meet our budget needs without raising taxes.

WHY THIS MATTERS TO EVERYDAY MAINERS 

If you are paying too much for housing, if your energy bill keeps climbing, if your property taxes feel impossible, or if you are tired of watching government excuse failure instead of fixing it, this is about you, your family, and whether your voice still matters in your own government. . 

Corruption is not an abstract problem. Insider politics shows up in the cost of everyday life, in the waste built into broken systems, and in the frustration people feel when nobody seems accountable and nobody seems to listen. 

I believe Maine can do better. Together, we can have a government that tells the truth, spends wisely, hires well, acts urgently, and remembers that public service is a responsibility to the people, not a reward for the connected. That is how we lower costs, rebuild trust, and move Maine forward. 

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT 

I am building a statewide, grassroots campaign to take power back from the insiders and put it where it belongs – with you,  your family, and the people of Maine.. If you believe government should answer to Mainers, if you are tired of the excuses and the waste, and if you want a Governor focused on results instead of political finger-pointing, I’m asking you to join me. . 

Together we can fire the corrupt insiders, restore trust in government, and make Maine more affordable for the people who call it home. Your voice matters in this campaign, and it matters in the future we build together.

Have an idea? We want to hear from you. No one has a monopoly on good ideas, and real leadership comes from listening, working together toward a common purpose, and leading with humility and integrity. This campaign will be stronger when your voice is part of it. 

INDEPENDENT FOR A BETTER MAINE