аЯрЁБс>ўџ ECўџџџFџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџьЅС#` јПІbjbjmЅmЅ 5,ЯЯWNџџџџџџЄRRRRRRRf2228j,–fb>Ж^***eeeсуууууу$ h xR C"e  RR**qqq dR*R*сq сqqRRq*Њ еZ•РbШ2mpqс20bq€ н<€ q€ Rqpeœ&q'ьіeeeXeeeb    ffфJN фffJN fffRRRRRRџџџџ fb88 Public Utilities Commission NEWS RELEASE _________________________________________________________________________ Website:  HYPERLINK "http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/" http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/, Email:  HYPERLINK "mailto:maine.puc@maine.gov" maine.puc@maine.gov CONTACT: Fred Bever, 207-287-6141,  HYPERLINK "mailto:Fred.Bever@maine.go" Fred.Bever@maine.gov  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 29, 2008 New Electric Standard Offer Rates to Begin in March for Commercial and Industrial Customers Energy Cost Hikes Offset by Reduced Stranded Costs AUGUSTA, fb88 – Today the fb88 PUC accepted bids on new standard offer energy rates for medium and large commercial and industrial customers of Central fb88 Power Company (CMP) and Bangor Hydro-Electric Company (BHE). The rates are effective March 1, 2008, and extend for six months. Energy costs are rising for these customers, but because of an offsetting decrease in CMP and BHE delivery prices, the all-in price change will be reduced or even eliminated. “fb88 still has the lowest average electricity prices east of Pennsylvania, but these bids do reflect a regional electricity market that is punishing to consumers,” said Kurt Adams, Chairman of the fb88 PUC. “fb88 businesses are also burdened by federally mandated capacity payments to power generators which the PUC is fighting in court.” PUC Staff estimates that the capacity payments account for about a tenth of the standard offer price hikes. The remaining 90% of the standard offer price increase is attributable to changes in wholesale electricity market prices, which in New England are a direct function of fuel costs for natural gas power plants. For CMP, the new medium class standard offer prices will be on average about $.10/kilowatt hour (kWh), up from $.091/kWh. CMP large-class customer rates will be $.098kWh, up from the previous rate of $.092/kWh. BHE new standard offer prices will be about $.10/kWh for the medium class, up from $.086 /kWh. For BHE large-class customers, rates will be close to $.111/kWh, up from $.103/kWh. The hikes will be offset by decreases in “stranded costs” built into transmission and delivery bills. The stranded cost portion of delivery rates reflects long-term expenses incurred prior to the time fb88’s electricity supply market was restructured in 2001. When the new standard offer prices, transmission and delivery charges and the stranded cost reductions are factored together, bills for medium and large class fb88 businesses receiving standard offer electricity from CMP will remain stable. Bills for BHE medium class business customers will rise between 7% and 8%, while BHE large class customers will see roughly a 3% increase. Chairman Adams noted that the PUC administers a number of programs that help businesses reduce their electricity consumption, which can offset some of the high market prices. Efficiency fb88 provides direct technical assistance and cash incentives to fb88 businesses that want to install new, energy efficient equipment. The incentives reduce capital costs, typically making the return on investment highly favorable.  Participation in the Efficiency fb88 business program is not competitive, and funds are available now.  For more information call 866-367-2463. Under fb88’s retail electric access rules, the PUC must ensure that standard offer service is available to all customers in fb88. The selected rates were chosen following a competitive bid process administered by the PUC, and the names of the suppliers selected will be withheld for two weeks, allowing time for supply arrangements. Standard offer service is the default supply for electricity customers, meaning customers receive it if they have not purchased supply from another retail supplier or through an aggregator. Currently, about 25% of the electric load for CMP and BHE medium and large C&I customers is standard offer; the remaining customers receive their energy supply from other retail suppliers. For more information on standard offer and energy delivery rates, go online to  HYPERLINK "http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/standard_offer_rates.html" http://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/standard_offer_rates.html ##### The Public Utilities Commission is committed to ensuring that consumers have access to safe and reliable service for public utilities and that the rates for these utilities are just and reasonable. PUC programs include fb88 Enhanced 911 Service, Dig Safe, and Efficiency fb88. To arrange an interview with Chairman Adams, Commissioner Sharon Reishus, or Commissioner Vendean Vafiades, please contact Fred Bever at 207.287.6141 or by e-mail at  HYPERLINK "mailto:phil.lindley@maine.gov" fred.bever@maine.gov. The Commission’s website, www.maine.gov/mpuc may be accessed through the fb88 School and Library Network at all public libraries in fb88.     fb88 Public Utilities Commission Page  PAGE 2 - more - !".01„…­ЎШЩвгћќ  . 2 4 5 H [ ] ^ _ r s v ђфбРВЈšЈšŽšЈšЈšŽšЈ„ЈšЈwЈcšTšЈhМ?~hй'…0JOJQJ^J'jhМ?~hй'…OJQJU^Jh jhй'…OJQJ^JhО`}OJQJ^Jhй'…0JOJQJ^Jjhй'…OJQJU^Jhй'…OJQJ^Jhй'…CJ(OJQJ^JaJ( h….Ыhй'…CJ(OJQJ^JaJ($h….Ыhй'…0JCJ(OJQJ^JaJ(hй'…0JCJHOJQJ^Jhй'…0JCJ0OJQJ^J"1{v x Ž Ÿ   § 0 1   Y ™n!&ЄЅKм.ЌРСїїђђђїїїїїїээээшшшшэээээээgdкHЙgd?:’gdй'…$a$gdй'…WЅўўv w x Ž ž Ÿ   Х Ц § / 0 1   Q R ~ їэнЮЛ­ “ {cOD9D19hкHЙOJQJh?:’h?:’OJQJh?:’hй'…OJQJ&hSz"hSz"56CJOJQJ^JaJ/h [h&=‹56B*CJOJQJ^JaJph333/h [hSz"56B*CJOJQJ^JaJph333h?:’5CJ$OJQJ^Jhй'…5CJ$OJQJ^Jhй'…CJOJQJ^JaJ$h [hй'…5B*OJQJ^Jph333hй'…5CJOJQJ^JaJh….Ыhй'…5OJQJ^JaJhй'…OJQJ^Jjhй'…U~ џ    2 T ^ a j t  Ѕ к ћ X c l v ~  ˆ ” š Ё Ї И ˜™ЗЦьў ‡ЎХЄЅTлмћіыуыиаиХуХиХаХКаХВХуХВХЇКХаХŸыуы—ыуыуыаХˆ{Хh?:’hй'…OJQJaJh?:’hй'…OJQJ^JaJhЦ"OJQJhй'…OJQJh?:’h?:’OJQJhБOJQJh?:’hО`}OJQJh?:’hй'…OJQJhЭRДOJQJh?:’hЗ<уOJQJhкHЙOJQJh?:’hкHЙOJQJhкHЙOJQJ^J+ћќcdНОПРСЦЧШЈНШpt…†БВЦЧTVWXZ[№х№а№хШНхШНЏЄ™Џ‹ЏxЏx`xЏTхLHLhl_ jhl_ Uh?:’hй'…6OJQJ/h?:’hй'…0J6>*B*CJOJQJ^Jphџ$jh?:’hй'…6CJOJQJUh?:’hО`}6CJOJQJhW3h6CJOJQJh?:’6CJOJQJh?:’hй'…6CJOJQJh?:’h?:’OJQJhй'…OJQJ(h?:’hй'…0J>*B*OJQJ^Jphџh?:’hй'…OJQJjh?:’hй'…OJQJUСЧШпVWYZ\]_`bcde—˜™šЃЄЅІїїђђђ№№№№№№№№ю№ь№ю№ч№№ђ$a$gd?:’$a$gd?:’[]^`ace‡Œ“”•–šЃЄЅІќєќєќ№ы№слсас№Ъ№ќПh?:’hй'…OJQJ hЭRДCJhЭRД0JmHnHu hЭRД0JjhЭRД0JU hЭRД5hЭRДjhl_ Uhl_ 3 01h/R Аа/ Ар=!А "А8#*$а%АА@А агDаЩъyљКЮŒ‚ЊKЉ Fred.Bever@maine.goрЩъyљКЮŒ‚ЊKЉ 6mailto:Fred.Bever@maine.go†œ8@ёџ8 й'…Normal_HmH sH tH DA@ђџЁD Default Paragraph FontRiѓџГR  Table Normalі4ж l4жaі (kєџС(No List4U@Ђё4 й'… Hyperlink >*phџ4@4 й'…Header  ЦрР!4 @4 й'…Footer  ЦрР!<ўO"< й'… Default TextЄŒCJZўOђџ1Z й'…Strong (STRONG)#5@ˆCJOJQJ\€^Jo(phџ.)@ЂA. й'… Page NumberH™@RH ЭRД Balloon TextCJOJQJ^JaJІ,џџџџ"1vxŽŸ 1м .СШпVЇŠЭ00z:‹iŠа00 z:‹ŠЭ00z:‹Ѓ@0z:‹Šа00 4—ŠЭ00z:‹i@0z:‹ŠЭ00z:‹ЖŠа00Šа00z:‹>š@0€€z:‹ъа00z:‹š@0€€z:‹š@0€€š€€€"1{vxŽŸ §01Y™n!& Є Ѕ K м .ЌРСЧШпVWYZ\]_`bcde—˜™šЃЄЇ˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜0€€˜@0€€ш00Ђ˜@0€€ш00Ђ˜@0€€ш00Ђ˜@0€€ш00Ђ˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€˜@0€€€ш00мЂ"1{vxŽŸ 1Y™n!& Є K м .ЌСШпVWd˜™šЃЇš@ 0€€ъа00ъа00š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@0€€ъа00ъ00 ъа0 0ш0 š@0€€ъа00Šа0 0 Šа0 0 š@ 0€€ъа00 š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@ 0€€š@0€€š€€€š@0€€Šа0 0 иЬцš@0€€Šа0 0 юц’@0€€0 00M AAACMPv ~ ћ[ІСІЅ„­Швћ4^rћcН…БЦІXџŒXџŒXџ„XџŒXџŒ5<>P!џ•€№8№@ёџџџ€€€ї№а№№n№( № №№6B № "ёП€№№№B №S №ПЫџ ?№vІ  % tџџИАlŸє ЙА\мЉКА4Д)ЛАьХу МАЄ\№ НАќЎŸОА,Чу ПА„[РАlЦу СА|†ТА2ІУАд$ЁФА,ъ ХАDОс ЦА œЈЧА4ўŸШАд'ЁЩА,ІЪАDƒЉЫАTWЬА” ЁЭА, ЮАд!ЁЯАT)ЁаАд)ЁбАt_вАќЛгА+ЁдАŒ›11:AAееHъъХ Х _ Ё Ё т Y Y ииOOeeЇ     8??MMккSяяЪ Ъ d І І ч ^ ^ ннTTjjЇ =*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags €PlaceType€=*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags €PlaceName€9*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€place€9*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€State€8*€urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags€City€ ЬІИфіWWYYZZ\]_`bcЄЇŽоWWYYZZ\]_`bcœ ЄЇ33ќ011QR~2^aЅћXYYclv~ˆЇИ˜Ѕ ? ? ПРЦЧЦШVWWYYZZ\]_`bcŒ–ЇWWYYZZ\]_`bcЄЇхl_ Ц"БSz"й['РA@> F [фaW3hО`}й'…&=‹?:’NЄ[<ЈЭRДкHЙ.-пЗ<уоGї•B§џ@€  €^   І0@џџUnknownџџџџџџџџџџџџG‡z €џTimes New Roman5€Symbol3& ‡z €џArialQ& п{a€џMicrosoft Sans Serif5& ‡za€џTahoma"1ˆ№аhьСF/ьСFьСFтu #тu #!№ *ДД4NN2ƒQ№HX №џ?фџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџй'…2џџ!Maine Public Utilities CommissionOITOITўџр…ŸђљOhЋ‘+'Гй0˜˜ Ьиф№ќ ( H T ` lx€ˆф$fb88 Public Utilities CommissionOIT Normal.dotOIT3Microsoft Office Word@xAЫ@ЊМЎНbШ@ЊМЎНbШ@"ўyРbШтuўџеЭеœ.“—+,љЎDеЭеœ.“—+,љЎl( hpœЄЌД МФЬд м ф$Dept. of Health and Human Services# N' "fb88 Public Utilities Commission Titleш 8@ _PID_HLINKSфA _3 mailto:phil.lindley@maine.govw Zhttp://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/standard_offer_rates.html<Amailto:Fred.Bever@maine.go`mailto:maine.puc@maine.gov"lhttp://www.maine.gov/mpuc/ ўџџџўџџџ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ўџџџ1234567ўџџџ9:;<=>?ўџџџ§џџџBўџџџўџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot Entryџџџџџџџџ РF]•РbШD€Data џџџџџџџџџџџџ1Tableџџџџ€ WordDocumentџџџџ5,SummaryInformation(џџџџџџџџџџџџ0DocumentSummaryInformation8џџџџџџџџ8CompObjџџџџџџџџџџџџqџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџ џџџџ РFMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8є9ВqRoot Entryџџџџџџџџ РF йZacШD€Data џџџџџџџџџџџџ1Tableџџџџ€ WordDocumentџџџџ5, ўџџџўџџџ !"#$%&'()*+,-./ўџџџ1234567ўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџўџџџO§џџџHIJKLMNўџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџеЭеœ.“—+,љЎDеЭеœ.“—+,љЎl( hpœЄЌД МФЬд м ф$Dept. of Health and Human Services# N' "fb88 Public Utilities Commission Titleш 8@ _PID_HLINKSфA _3 mailto:phil.lindley@maine.govw Zhttp://www.maine.gov/mpuc/industries/electricity/standard_offer/standard_offer_rates.html<Amailto:Fred.Bever@maine.go`mailto:maine.puc@maine.gov"lhttp://www.maine.gov/mpuc/SummaryInformation(џџџџџџџџџџџџ0DocumentSummaryInformation8џџџџџџџџGCompObjџџџџџџџџџџџџqџџџџџџџџџџџџ