Dear John,
We want to share some developing news from Augusta: The Energy Fairness Act, LD 1949, is going to be voted on any day now. And, with just about a week left in the legislative session, lawmakers really need to hear from constituents about what matters most.
If you know someone who relies on electricity for life-saving medical treatment or has experienced high electricity bills, then you know why we need the Energy Fairness Act. This bill creates disconnection protections for our friends, family members, and neighbors whose lives are threatened by even one disconnection AND establishes stronger accountability standards for utility companies. To fight climate change we need clean electricity, and we need to make sure everyone has electricity.
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Big thanks to everyone who already sent an email to their lawmakers or called their offices. We’ve gotten this far thanks to your steadfast support and are so grateful to count you as a member of our wonderful community of supporters and activists. Onward! - Lucy |
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Dear John,
“Both my husband and I have sleep apnea and use CPAP machines every night… We are just one unplanned major expense away from financial disaster… LD 1949 will help low and moderate income families keep their lights ON.” - Patty, Springvale, Maine
The Energy Fairness Act (EFA), LD 1949, is about building an energy system that prioritizes Maine families, not energy executives. This bill will establish year-round disconnection protections for people with medical conditions or disabilities, who rely on electricity. For many older Mainers or people with disabilities, even a brief disconnection can be life-threatening.
Thank you to everyone who signed our petition in support of the EFA. Because of your support, this bill passed out of committee late last month by a slim margin. The EFA could be voted on in the full Maine Legislature as soon as NEXT WEEK. We need to speak up one more time and tell lawmakers to protect vulnerable Mainers from disconnection.
Will you send a message to your lawmakers today and tell them to protect Mainers? |
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In 2023, CMP and Versant disconnected customers thousands of times — all while making over $200 million in profit. This was after five years when Maine experienced the fastest-rising household electricity costs in the nation, largely due to our reliance on natural gas.
The Energy Fairness Act will protect vulnerable customers from disconnection, strengthen accountability policies, cap expenses utilities can pass onto customers (like travel for board members or the lawyers they hire to argue for higher rates), and pave the way to bring more clean electricity online, which will in turn lower costs and create jobs. Together, we can create a fairer, more humane energy system for all Mainers, |
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Lucy Hochschartner | she/her/hers Climate & Clean Energy Director Maine Conservation Voters
[email protected] |
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