State OKs electricity rate drop

AUGUSTA – Most of the state’s electricity customers will see a drop in distribution rates under a plan approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

Starting July 1, distribution rates will fall by 7.8 percent for customers of Central Maine Power Co. and by 2.5 percent for Bangor Hydro-Electric Co.’s account, the commission announced Wednesday.

Only the companies’ largest industrial customers will be excluded from the rate decreases. Delivery rates for electricity, which include distribution charges and other costs, comprise about two-thirds of the average account’s total monthly charges.

Commission officials said CMP’s residential and small commercial customers could expect to see an overall saving of 4 percent per month. But Bangor Hydro’s accounts will not experience a net savings because of an offsetting hike in federally regulated transmission rates.