CMP: Relief is Available for Customers’ Electric Bills

 

Customers urged to contact 211 Maine, Community Action Agencies, CMP for information on assistance programs to prevent service interruptions.  

 

AUGUSTA, ME – March 24, 2026 – Winter protections for residential utility customers will end on April 15, 2026.  CMP wants customers to know that relief is available for those who may be struggling to pay their bills. 

 

Customers can contact CMP at 800.686.4044 or call 211 Maine to learn more about available assistance options, determine program eligibility and establish affordable payment arrangements.  

 

Maine law prohibits residential disconnections from taking place during the winter period (November 15 through April 15), and some customers may fall behind on their bill during this time. State statute also requires utilities to engage in collections activities to mitigate the amount of unpaid bills from being shifted to all other customers through electricity rates.  
 
“A lot of progress can be made getting assistance out there in these next several weeks following a long, cold winter for Maine families,” said Mark Morisette, Vice President of Customer Service at CMP. “If you are in need, please contact us about assistance programs so we can help you identify what options may be available.”   
 
“The earlier someone reaches out, the sooner we can look to find what resources might be available,” said Nikki Williams, 211 Maine Program Director. “CMP’s teams help ensure customers know what to expect when they’re referred to 211, which serves as a starting point for finding information about services and support. It’s a strong, meaningful partnership.” 
 

As part of the collections process, customers with past due balances are provided multiple communications in advance of any disconnection. These communications include written notifications with additional time to make a payment, reminder phone calls, and, in some circumstances, an in-person visit. These measures are required by the Maine Public Utilities Commission and are intended to provide significant advance awareness to prevent disconnections.   
 
Available help includes:  

  •  Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Provides federal grant money to qualified customers to help pay their heating costs and may also help with weatherization needs.   
  • Electricity Lifeline Program (ELP): Customers who qualify for ELP could receive up to $1,200 towards their electricity bill.  
  • Arrearage Management Program (AMP): The AMP program helps qualified customers who are enrolled in HEAP or ELP reduce their past due balance by as much as $500 each month, as current monthly payments are made.  

 

For more information, visit the Maine Public Utilities Commission website HERE.  
  

More information on available assistance programs can also be found by:  

  •  Contacting Central Maine Power by clicking HERE to visit our ‘Help With Your Bill’ page to learn more about assistance programs or call us at 800.686.4044.   
  • Contacting 211 Maine by calling 211 (or 877-463-6207) or texting a Maine zip code to the number 898-211.  
  • Contacting Community Action Agencies (CAAs), for example, Midcoast Maine Community Action offers its Economic Stability Program to residents of Lincoln and Sagadahoc Counties. This program provides a one-time per fiscal year benefit of $400 toward past due utility bills.  

 
More information about Midcoast Maine Community Action can be found in this video.  

  

Customers can also manage their monthly usage which can reduce monthly bills. Tools to help manage usage like Energy Manager and Usage Alerts are available at no cost to all CMP customers. Visit cmpco.com/Alerts to enroll or learn more.  

 

Customer bills can increase in the winter period as heating systems work harder in cold weather, heating system blowers run more and lights are used through longer nights.  Also, this year on January 1, electricity supply prices increased $11 per month for the average CMP residential customer taking the default Standard Offer Service. Electricity supply is completely unrelated to charges associated with CMP’s role delivering power through the grid and does not benefit CMP financially.