Make Your Voice Heard at Maine’s Public Utilities Commission
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) oversees Maine’s investor-owned electric utilities, Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant, as well as natural gas and water utilities. The PUC plays a major role in setting electricity rates, implementing affordable clean energy policies, and holding utilities accountable.
Mainers can play an important role in influencing the decisions the PUC makes and supporting actions by organizations like the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) to advance a clean energy future that works for everyone.
How to Make Your Voice Heard
Like the Maine State Legislature, the PUC offers opportunities for the public to weigh in on proceedings and influence policy. Stakeholders like the NRCM participate in these proceedings, but the Commission also needs to hear from people like you. There are two ways for you to make an impact:
- Delivering testimony at a public hearing or
- Submitting comments online.
Both are important ways for the commission to consider more than just technical or legal issues, and to make decisions that reflect the lived experience of people throughout Maine.
What to Expect at PUC Public Hearings
Staff attorneys from the PUC will preside over the hearing, and Commissioners may also be present. A stenographer will be taking notes to record statements from the public.
If you want to speak, arrive 15 minutes early and sign the sign-up sheet. You’ll be asked your name and address and whether you want to make your testimony “on the record,” in which case you’ll need to swear an oath to tell the truth.
We encourage you to make your comments under oath. Unsworn statements are recorded and added to the administrative record but don’t carry as much weight in the final decision-making as sworn statements. Only sworn statements are entered into the official record for the case.
Even if you don’t want to speak, it’s still important to have utility customers in person at the hearings.
Here are some other things to consider:
- If you want to testify, but can’t travel, the PUC does offer remote participation.
- If participation is high, comments may be limited to three minutes.
- After you offer your testimony, the PUC in some instances may ask you questions about your comments.
How to Submit Comments Online
The PUC conducts most of its business through legal case proceedings. When a case is open, the public can submit comments any time through the PUC’s Case Management System (CMS). Enter the Case Number, write your comment along with your name and address, and click “Post Comment.”
Some Tips and Tricks to Guide Your Comments
Whether testifying directly to the Commission or submitting comments online, there are a few best practices to stick to.
Tell your story. It is more effective to personalize your message than to simply state facts and figures. Let the PUC know why this case affects you and your community. Consider asking yourself some questions like:
- How much of your monthly income do you spend on utilities?
- How would an increase in costs affect your life or your business?
- What is your experience interacting with your utility?
- What will the PUC’s decision on this case mean for you and your community?
State your argument first, then fill in with additional information. Don’t let your argument get lost! Make your main point first, then follow with supportive content.
Practice. If you’re planning to deliver testimony in person or virtually, practice your testimony beforehand and time yourself so that you know you can stay within three minutes.
Look to organizations like NRCM as a resource! NRCM participates in PUC cases regularly, and we’re here to help with facts, figures, or logistics.
Additional Resources
- The Office of the Public Advocate’s information on participating in a public hearing
- The Maine Public Utilities Commission’s information on how to participate
- Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Facebook page
