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Electricity Maine customers should keep an eye out for refund checks in the mail.
The Office of the Public Advocate, along with staff from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Electricity Maine, have reached a settlement that will result in up to three months of unlawful fees for approximately 20,000 current and former customers, according to a news release Monday.
The release did not provide an exact timeline, but said customers could expect checks “soon.”
“Maine electricity customers were overcharged by millions of dollars compared to what they would have paid if they had simply paid the standard offer price for electricity,” said attorney William Harwood.
According to the public advocate, the amount that customers will receive depends on how long they have been charged a variable rate without their consent and how much they paid above the standard offer rate, that is, the costs set by the PUC for the provision of electricity. Since 2000, consumers have had the choice to… Competitive electricity supplier (CEP), such as Electricity Maine, and pay the price set by that company.
A report shared with the Maine Legislature earlier this month found that approximately 100,000 households in Maine are struggling to pay their utility bills as electricity rates are twice the national average. The report noted that alternative providers such as Electricity Maine may be overcharging customers and that low-income households are most susceptible to exaggerated marketing claims about cost savings.
Refunds go to debit cards, which customers must activate. Some customers may receive a second refund, which will be sent 190 days after the first, the release said.
The Public Prosecution Service has one guide to the refund process with frequently asked questions on its website. Customers can also call 207-624-3687 with questions or concerns.
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