Modern Electric Grid
To meet the growing demand for electricity and support new sources of renewable energy, Maine needs a modern, dynamic electric grid to maximize benefits for Maine people. The Natural Resources Council of Maine advocates at the Public Utilities Commission and other forums for a wholesale re-envisioning of how we plan, build, and operate our electric grid to unlock the full promise of clean, affordable energy for Maine families and businesses.
Latest in Climate & Clean Energy
Outdated Electric Grid Not Prepared for Future Growth
For more than a hundred years, we’ve built large power plants, turning them up and down to meet demand. This simple, one-way system served well enough in an era of large, mostly fossil fuel-powered generators with little growth in demand, but this is not the future we’re looking at.
Our legacy industry and regulatory frameworks impose barriers to progress for modernizing the electric grid. Today, utilities are financially rewarded by maximizing capital expenditures. They have limited incentives to improve access to the grid, enable third-party innovation, increase transparency, or help achieve Maine’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.
A Modern Electric Grid for Maine’s Clean Energy Future
An integrated grid planning law passed in 2022 sets us on a more positive path for designing the electric grid of the future by ensuring that each investment in the grid is driving us as quickly and equitably as possible toward a clean energy transition.
Shifting from a top-down model to a bottom-up, participatory architecture will require a wholesale re-envisioning of how we plan, build, and operate the grid to unlock the full promise of clean, affordable energy for Maine communities and businesses.
Instead of sending electricity in one direction, we need a grid that can flexibly balance supply and demand, dynamically responding throughout the day across different parts of the grid. For example, rates can be designed to reward customers to use electricity when there is excess capacity on the grid, or new buildings can be installed with technology to automatically respond to grid constraints, thereby avoiding expensive infrastructure upgrades.
Participating in Public Utilities Commission Proceedings
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is the place where decisions are made about how electricity is supplied and delivered to Maine families and businesses. NRCM’s watchdog role extends to the PUC so we focus on controlling rising electricity prices, while advancing more sources of clean energy and a modern electric grid to power the future.
Tracking cases at the PUC is complex and challenging, but it’s worth the effort because so much is on the line. NRCM’s experts actively participate in PUC proceedings to make sure the interests of Maine people and environment are considered. We partner with other clean energy organizations and the Public Advocate’s office to participate in rate cases and ensure that the PUC actions maximize benefits to Mainers and are aligned with the state’s Climate Action Plan and greenhouse gas emissions goals.