A Consumer-Owned Utility is Now Up to Mainers

According to J.D. Power, CMP has ranked dead last in customer satisfaction for the past three years, with Versant not doing much better. (Its 2020 score was even lower than Pacific Gas & Electric in California, responsible for last year’s Camp Fire and this year’s Dixie Fire.) The low ratings have a lot to do with CMP’s ever-growing pricetag. And with the ongoing controversy over the transmission corridor between Quebec and Massachusetts, it’s time we pursue a utility company that works for the people of Maine.

The Maine Legislature listened to the concerns of everyday citizens seeking a solution to their power troubles. Both the House and the Senate passed LD 1708, “An Act To Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a Nonprofit Utility, To Deliver Lower Rates, Reliability and Local Control for Maine Energy Independence.” However, Governor Mills vetoed the bill, calling it too rushed.

The future of a consumer-owned utility now rests in the hands of the voters. Pine Tree Power Company may go to a referendum as early as 2022.

There are several ongoing grassroots campaigns promoting the creation of a consumer-owned utility company in Maine. Our Power is leading the pack, starting its Citizen Initiative project in August to put Pine Tree Power Co. on the ballot in 2022. The organization argues that CMP and Versant currently charge their customers 58 percent more than one would pay to a consumer-owned utility, which also offers a more reliable grid, a faster transition to clean energy, and accountability to the people of Maine. Maine Public Power has begun canvassing in Cumberland County to collect the signatures needed for the referendum. Additional support has come from the Maine chapter of the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Every month, the 800,000 captive combined customers of CMP and Versant pay monopoly rent

for the use of a monopoly grid. With Pine Tree Power, we will pay a lower monthly bill,” said Representative Seth Berry, lead sponsor on LD 1708. “We will save money, invest in and improve the grid, and build our own equity.”

“The Pine Tree Power Company will restore democracy to our energy sector and provide Mainers with the only utility structure in the U.S. that has demonstrated the ability to deliver 100% clean energy to its customers — consumer ownership,” said Vaughan Woodruff, founder and former CEO of Insource Renewables and past chair of Maine’s solar industry trade group..

Power is more than a commodity on which private and foreign shareholders can profit. It is a necessity we rely on to light our homes, keep food fresh, and manage our daily lives. Mainers deserve a say in where their power comes from, and that starts with a consumer-owned utility.

The Federal Government is Ending COVID-Related Federal Assistance. What’s Next for Mainers?

The federal government has dealt working families across the country a one-two punch in the past few weeks. On August 27, the Supreme Court refused to extend the national eviction ban, putting millions of renters in jeopardy of losing their homes. Then, on September 6 (Labor Day), the federal government’s expanded unemployment benefits expired. The economic strain of COVID-19 is still far from over, so what does this mean for Mainers?

Rental Assistance

Many Mainers who risked eviction because they couldn’t pay their rent during the pandemic now face the devastating possibility of having to pay back any unpaid rent, long before the economy has recovered. But rest assured, no Mainer will find their lease ended suddenly. Maine passed a law this session that requires landlords to include with eviction notices a straightforward letter about what the process entails, as well as options for legal assistance and rent relief.

Meanwhile, Maine has received over $350 million from the federal government for pandemic rental relief. The Maine State Housing Authority has been responsible for distributing this relief and has done so more effectively than most states. So far, they have granted $57 million to over 10,300 Maine households. This means Mainers may be less likely to face mounting unpaid rent. The Maine State Housing Authority also offers an Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The program provides tenants with rental and utility relief payments. If you meet the program’s income limits (use this calculator), experienced unemployment or financial challenges during the pandemic, and are at risk of losing your housing, you may be eligible for rent and utility assistance.

Pine Tree Legal Associates is urging anyone receiving eviction notices to call their offices. They have created a comprehensive FAQ that can help you make sense of the eviction process and your options. PTLA hosts weekly eviction information sessions on Tuesday mornings, where you can learn more about the eviction process, your rights and responsibilities as a renter, your options for resolving your case, your possible defenses, and what happens when your case is over.

Unemployment Assistance

21,500 Mainers have lost their benefits with the end of the enhanced federal unemployment assistance program. Yet many families are still facing the health risks and economic effects of COVID-19 when returning to the workforce. For example, a parent may struggle to find safe, affordable childcare, or a child’s school may be closed after cases of COVID-19 are detected among students or staff. Research shows that the labor shortage we’re seeing now can’t be attributed to increased unemployment assistance. Many workers fear exposure to the fast-spreading Delta variant, and people have started to revert to pre-vaccine measures to prevent contracting the virus.

Maine still offers unemployed workers some assistance. State unemployment law allows parents who are able and available to work to receive unemployment assistance if they lose their childcare. And the federal child tax credit provides parents with an extra $250 - $300 monthly per child. Maine’s unemployment insurance does not, however, cover those who refuse to follow an employer’s vaccine mandate.

For more information on Maine’s COVID-19 unemployment insurance program, please visit the Maine Department of Labor’s FAQ page.

Though much of the federal assistance has expired, the economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. Thankfully, Maine still offers some support to the many Maine families who are still struggling. When our legislature returns to session, it’s imperative that they prioritize the economic security of our working families. Helping Mainers in this difficult time ensures that we all thrive when we reach the end of the ongoing threat of COVID-19.

How should Maine structure Paid Family and Medical Leave?

Governor Mills and state legislators this session moved to establish a commission to develop a statewide paid family and medical leave program. Nine other states and the District of Columbia already provide such a program for their residents, but not every state approaches paid family and medical leave the same way. Read on to see what models the commission could use to design a program for the state of Maine:

Which states offer paid family and medical leave (PFML)?

California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia, either currently offer or are on track to offer PFML. Additionally, Hawaii offers paid medical leave in the form of temporary disability insurance.

Source: Investopedia

What percentage of wages/salary is covered under PFML?

This varies by state, though every state caps weekly rates annually based on either inflation or the state’s average weekly wage. Seven states offer a progressive system in which lower-income workers receive a higher percentage of their wages, between 70 and 100 percent. New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey cap their wage replacement rates for all workers, regardless of income.

Source: A Better Balance

How long does paid leave last?

The length of paid leave available varies by state, but everywhere but D.C. provides workers at least 12 weeks of paid time off if they become seriously sick. New York and New Jersey offer 26 weeks of paid medical leave, Rhode Island provides 30 weeks, and California provides up to 52 weeks. Depending on the state program, workers can also take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks off if they need to care for a family member, and some states also offer extensions for health complications in pregnancy or childbirth.

Source: Investopedia

What does PFML cover?

Paid family and medical leave gives workers the time to bond with a new child after birth or adoption/fostering, recover from one’s own serious health condition, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or spend time with family that are members of the military. In some states (New Jersey, Connecticut, Colorado, and Oregon), workers may also take “safe leave” to recover from domestic or sexual violence. Oregon’s safe leave law also includes sexual harassment and stalking.

Source: A Better Balance

Which states include job protection as part of their PFML programs?

Job protection refers to employees’ right to return to work after their leave is over. Of the nine states offering paid family and medical leave, only four (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Colorado) offer job protection for both family and medical leave. Rhode Island and New York only offer job protection with paid family leave, and California, New Jersey, Washington, and D.C. workers may only have job protection through federal legislation, such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Source: A Better Balance

How do these states pay for their PFML programs?

Every state funds its program through payroll taxes, usually split between employers and employees. The exceptions are D.C., which does not tax employees, and Rhode Island, which exclusively taxes employees.

Source: Mercer, A Better Balance

We still have a while to wait before the legislature’s commission comes forward with its plan for paid family and medical leave, but the examples presented by states with paid family and medical leave plans in place gives Mainers a lot to consider. All things considered, the benefits of a paid family and medical leave program cannot be understated. Every single one of us has faced or will face a time when we need to take time off from work to care for ourselves or our loved ones, but many Mainers can’t take that needed time without losing their paycheck or even their job.

We don’t know yet what recommendations the legislature’s commission will make, but one thing is clear: Maine’s working families are counting on our lawmakers to pass a paid family and medical leave program.