The Sept. 18 Telegram article by reporter Tux Turkel, about Central Maine Power’s request for an estimated $10-per-month rate increase to cover significant transmission network expansions, nicely illuminates a fundamental 21st-century political reality: Nobody wants to pay today to mitigate tomorrow’s large, unavoidable climate dangers.

The underlying environmental reality is that the planned (and necessary) phase-out of our carbon-centered system is going to rely very centrally on electricity that often must be transported over significant distances. Thus, CMP is indisputably correct when it argues that major expansion of Maine’s electricity transmission networks will be needed. And we agree with the implicit assumption that, if the expanded network is going to be needed within this decade, construction must begin soon.

What we question is CMP’s proposal to finance that expansion by seriously increasing electric bills for today’s consumers.

An economically rational (and politically safer) approach would be for the Maine Public Utilities Commission to treat the new network construction as a capital cost initially financed by borrowing. When the new facilities are completed and needed, their cost (including the borrowing cost), would be added to CMP’s rate base, and consumers’ rates would be increased to compensate CMP in accordance with the PUC’s then-allowable rate of return.

Such an approach would have the virtues of: (1) getting Maine’s expanded transmission needs met in a timelier manner; and (2) asking electricity consumers to pay when the new facilities are up and running for their benefit.

Donald Baker
former professor, Cornell University Law School
Washington, D.C.

Madge Baker
CMP customer
Shapleigh

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