Governor Mills Expresses Concerns With Proposed Consumer Buyout Of CMP, Versant

Governor Janet Mills says state lawmakers should further vet a proposal that would create a consumer-owned utility before sending the issue to voters for final approval.

On Wednesday Governor Mills expressed concerns about the bill, including the makeup and required expertise of the public utility’s governing board.

The proposal cleared the legislature’s Energy and Utilities Committee on Tuesday after a 9-2 vote, but its prospects in the full Legislature are unclear.

A veto from the Governor would complicate its passage because it would require a two-thirds vote in the House and Senate to override her. The House and Senate will vote on the bill in the upcoming session days.

The proposal would effectively force CMP and Versant Power to sell their assets and allow a privately operated, nonprofit company controlled by an elected board to takeover.

Megan Diver

Megan has worked in Maine politics for more than ten years and all of her professional career, having served in many roles for elected officials (including former Secretary of State Charlie Summers), in-house with the Maine Association of REALTORS®, legislative specialist at Pierce Atwood LLP providing lobbying services and support to Pierce Atwood’s government relations clients and most recently senior government relations specialist at the Maine State Chamber of Commerce. Megan currently is the Vice President at the Maine Energy Marketers Association, utilizing her vast knowledge and legislative experience at the State House to represent MEMA on policies relating to the Association and its members.