The Maine Public Utilities Commission has approved both Central Maine Power and Versant Power to install usage meters that transmit data to company computers for billing purposes, often known as Smart Meters or Advanced Meters. Any concerns over these decisions can be shared with them at 1-800-452-4699.
Smart Meters are the standard meter for electric service with these two utilities. You may opt out of the standard meter, but you will be charged fees that are set by your utility and approved by Maine Public Utilities Commission.
Note: The legal matter of charging an opt-out fee has been settled as a matter of law through the Public Utilities Commission and through the Maine Supreme Court.
Central Maine Power
Customers who opt out of a Smart Meter may choose to install or keep a functioning electro-mechanical or solid state meter; or they may choose to install or keep a functioning Smart Meter with no internal network interface card and emitting no radio signal. There are fees associated with these choices. Additionally, CMP will only read the non-standard meter every other month, and will send the customer an estimated bill on months the meter isn’t read.
Learn more about Central Maine Power’s Smart Meter policies at https://www.cmpco.com/smartenergy/innovation/smartmeters.
Versant
Customers who opt out of an Advanced Meter will still have an Advanced Meter installed; it will simply be a non-communicating Advanced Meter. There are fees associated with this decision. Additionally, Versant will only read the non-standard meter every other month, and will send the customer an estimated bill on months the meter isn’t read.
Learn more about Versant Power’s Advanced Meter policies at https://www.versantpower.com/energy-solutions/newmeters.
Last updated January 2024