The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution forbids the taking of property (rate money) “without due process of law.” The fact that I am, by statute, able to act for myself (prose) in 97-580 Maine Public Utilities Commission vs. Central Maine Power (deregulation) case is tacit recognition by the state that there is no lawyer representing me, or any other residential ratepayer, in rate-hike cases at the PUC.

Unless timely action is taken to stop it, by individuals on their own behalf, the Maine public advocate, the governor’s lawyer, in agreement with the electric companies and the PUC, soon will unconstitutionally obligate residential ratepayers to pay for the millions of dollars of ice storm-related damage. This will be reflected in rate hikes for households and small businesses, in violation of their 14th Amendment due process rights.

Furthermore, the “taking clause” of the Fifth Amendment states that “private property (rate money) be taken for public use without just compensation.”

In Maine, a member of the executive branch of government, the public advocate, has obligated homeowners and small business people to subsidize the poor ratepayers and the office of public advocate. This is uncompensated public use of private property, in violation of the Fifth Amendment. Helen Patterson Belfast