State of Maine
Office of the Public Advocate
112 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0112
(207) 624-3687 (voice) 711 (TTY)
www.Maine.gov/meopa

Janet T. Mills
GOVERNOR
Barry J. Hobbins
PUBLIC ADVOCATE

August 30, 2019

Harry Lanphear
Administrative Director
Maine Public Utilities Commission
State House Station 18
Augusta, Maine 04333-0018
Re: ELECTRICITY MAINE, LLC, Application for License to Operate as a Competitive
Electricity Provider Pertaining to Electricity Maine, LLC
Docket No. 2010-00256
Dear Harry,
Filed herewith please find the Brief of the Office of the Public Advocate in the
above-captioned matter. In this brief, the OPA reviews the record of extensive misconduct
by Electricity Maine and demonstrates that a civil penalty of up to $5 million is supported by
Maine law and by the record. Notwithstanding this maximum amount, the OPA
recommends that the Commission impose a civil penalty of no less than $1 million and that
it suspends Electricity Maine’s license to operate for one year. We also suggest that penalty
funds collected be directed towards an educational campaign to improve consumer
understanding of the competitive retail market.
Maine adopted a competitive retail market for electricity for all customers with the
understanding that markets generally act to lower prices and improve service to customers.
When rogue actors behave as Electricity Maine has, it undermines consumer confidence and
trust in the market, diminishing the potential benefits of the market for everyone. The
remedies sought by the OPA are intended to restore confidence in the integrity of the
market to ensure that these benefits continue to be available.
Because certain events happened after the close of the record in this proceeding, the
OPA’s brief does not address more recent reports that Electricity Maine has been taking
improper actions to collect bills from customers and has been reenrolling customers without
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 following correct procedures. These reports serve to reinforce the OPA’s concern that
extraordinary remedies are necessary.
Sincerely,

Eric J. Bryant
Senior Counsel

Andrew Landry
Deputy Public Advocate

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