By The Associated Press
Portland Press Herald news story
Environmental groups say an energy efficiency settlement plan approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission doesn’t go far enough to save Mainers money.
The three-year settlement has projected lifetime savings of least $625 million – roughly $250 million less than a plan proposed by the state’s Efficiency Maine Trust. The settlement relied on different modeling.
Chairman Mark Vannoy said the “comprehensive” settlement provides significant funding, and added though it’s difficult to estimate future energy prices, he believes the commission’s modeling has been “consistent.”
The Natural Resources Council of Maine, which signed onto the settlement, stated it’s concerned the commission relied on “confidential energy price forecasts” instead of a regional estimate used by other New England states.
The Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation filed an objection to the settlement over related concerns.
