CMP's Powering Maine Plan to Deliver Greater Reliability, Grid Resiliency, and Clean Energy Access

Three-year proposal to ensure price stability

AUGUSTA, ME—May 26, 2022– (NYSE:AGR) – Today, Central Maine Power (CMP) introduced the company’s new Powering Maine plan in a letter filed with the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). CMP is proposing a three-year commitment to continue to improve the delivery of reliable power, support more efficient storm restoration response, reduce the impacts of outages on customers, offer more tools to customers to monitor and manage their energy usage, and enable greater adoption of renewable energy onto the grid.

“CMP must continue to make the smart system updates that improve reliability now and

enable the company to successfully perform our role in helping Maine meet its climate change goals,” said Joseph Purington, president and CEO of CMP. “We know household budgets are being hit hard by higher prices across the board right now, and the Powering Maine plan strives to ensure that progress continues on improving the electric grid and meeting clean energy goals—some of which will minimize annual energy costs over time—while being mindful that this is a tough time for many Mainers.”

Under the Powering Maine proposal, CMP will add more automation to the system so that fewer customers are impacted by a single outage, install more durable poles and coated wire to better withstand the impacts of more volatile and intense storms created by climate change, initiate more comprehensive tree trimming practices, and build upon the smart meter system to introduce new free customer account management tools to help them control energy use and costs. Powering Maine will also address system needs to enable the connection of more clean energy.

The Powering Maine plan is intended to ensure rate predictability for customers over three years, making electricity delivery prices a more predictable component of Mainers’ total energy wallets as other fuel prices, including energy supply, potentially remain volatile. As proposed, for an average residential customer using 550 kWh /month the Powering Maine plan would add approximately $5.00 /month the first year, and about $2.50 or less in years two and three. Rates are proposed to go into effect in third quarter 2023.

CMP has operated under multi-year rate plans in the past that set performance targets tied to rates, providing predictability in rates and service expectations.

“We plan to make important distribution system automation upgrades that allow us to minimize the number of customers impacted by each outage, enable faster power restoration, and continue to replace aging grid components like poles and wires,” added Purington. “Automation allows us to operate the grid remotely and to restore power more quickly to customers in many cases. Our plan would also leverage the current smart meter system to provide free new customer tools that offer real time communications and new pricing options for things like EV’s and battery technology.”

The Powering Maine plan also addresses upgrades needed to improve the resiliency of grid facilities like substations to prevent flooding and proposes more comprehensive tree-trimming practices, which is important since trees are the number one cause of outages in Maine.

CMP will develop further details of the Powering Maine plan over the next two months and file them with the MPUC over the summer.

“We want to shape the details of this plan by working with stakeholders in Maine’s energy community so that CMP is aligned with the priorities of our customers and communities,” added Purington.