About Maine Clean Power
Now you can have 100% wind or hydro power--without having to buy a windmill or build a dam. Simply sign up for one of three Maine Clean Power options available to CMP and Bangor Hydro customers:
[100% hydro power]
[100% wind power]
[50% wind & 50% hydro]
Power still comes via the grid so your wiring, reliability, service and billing company remain the same.
Rates
Unlike Standard Offer which changes
each year, Maine Clean Power prices are protected for 3 years. So
while Maine Clean Power initially costs a few dollars more per month
than Standard Offer, you could end up saving if Standard Offer prices
go up. In fact, a 2009 study showed that 80% of Maine Clean Power
customers paid the same or less than Standard Offer over three years.
Power Sources
The hydro power comes from the Worumbo
Dam in Lisbon Falls, Maine on the Androscoggin River or other hydroelectric
generating stations in Maine. The wind power is matched by wind
generated renewable energy certificates (RECs) from national Green-e
certified wind generators.
More Information
Maine Clean Power offers three product choices:
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Terms of Service Agreement |
This 100% hydro-power product
is generated entirely within the State of Maine by Low Impact Hydro
Certified generating stations*. This means that these facilities
have taken steps above and beyond those required by State and Federal
law to reduce impact on the surrounding
wildlife and watershed areas. To learn more about the Low Impact
Hydro certification process, you can visit their website at www.lowimpacthydro.org.
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Terms of Service Agreement |
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Terms of Service Agreement |
* If such LIHI facilities are not available, then Maine Renewable Energy warrants that the electricity we provide will be produced by Maine hydroelectric generating stations that have been licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after January 1, 1987.
FAQS
Q: Where does
the wind power in the Maine Clean Power program come from?
The Maine Clean Power supply choices are offset by Green-e certified
RECs (renewable energy certificates) generated by wind farms throughout
the United States.
Q: What is a
REC?
RECs (aka renewable energy certificates, green tags, green energy
credits, tradable renewable certificates, etc.) were created by
the EPA to make it easy for consumers to participate in using renewable
energy. When you purchase RECs, you create demand for renewable
energy and support the development of facilities like the Mars Hill
Wind Farm to supply it. When you buy certificates equivalent to
the amount of energy you use in your home, you can completely offset
the environmental effects of your own energy use, because someone,
somewhere along the grid, is using the renewable energy paid for
by your certificate.
Q: Why doesn't
the wind power come from Maine?
Currently, there is one source for wind power in Maine available
to us—the Mars Hill Wind Farm in northern Maine. Maine Interfaith
Power and Light is currently exploring the possibility of offsetting
the Maine Clean Power programs with power from this source.
Product Renewal
Q: How long will
my new contract last?
Maine Clean Power contracts last for 36 months and your contract
will be automatically renewed for another 36 months. When you first
sign up you will be given the choice to opt out of this automatic
renewal for successive three year terms.
Q: Will the rate
for my Maine Clean Power product change?
No. It is locked in for the term of each three year contract. Upon
the automatic renewal of your contract, the current market rate
for electricity will be applied to your renewed contract
Q: If I choose
not to be automatically renewed for another three years at the end
of my contract, will I be notified that my contract is due to expire?
While tracking your contract's expiration date is your responsibility,
we will make an attempt to contact you at or around the expiration
date to remind you.
Q: If I choose
the automatic renewal option, but later decide that I want to terminate
my contract at the end of three years, what do I do?
Simply inform Maine Renewable Energy [NOTE: put phone number and
email
address here] that you do not wish to renew before the renewal date.
Q: What happens
if my contract has already expired?
Do not worry if your current contract has already expired! Just
sign up again via the online or mail-in form and you will be back
on your chosen Maine Clean Power program within two months (this
is dependent upon at what point during your billing cycle you choose
to sign up). In the meantime your electricity supply account will
automatically revert to the Standard Offer.
Q: What do I
do if I have more than one account?
You must fill out an online form (or mail-in form) for each account
that you would like to enroll in the Maine Clean Power program.
Q: What happens
once I fill out the forms online/send in the mail-in form?
If you signed up online, there is nothing more to be done. If you
completed and returned the mail-in form, you will be contacted by
Maine Renewable Energy by phone for price verification. During this
call you will be asked to agree to the current price of the Maine
Clean Power plan you have selected. This phone call confirms your
enrollment in the plan. A paper contract will be sent out to you.
Q: How long after
the confirmation phone call (if you mailed in your application form)
will I be moved to Maine Clean Power from Standard Offer?
In general, it should take no longer than one month (about the time
of one billing cycle) to have your serviced returned to Clean Power.
Q: Who is Maine
Renewable Energy?
Maine Interfaith Power & Light (Maine
Interfaith Power & Light) has partnered with Maine Renewable
Energy (MRE) to bring zero emission, 100% renewable electricity
to Maine residents and businesses and we have grown to serve more
than 2,500 accounts and provide 25 million kilowatt hours annually
to our customers. Maine Renewable Energy is an affiliate of Competitive
Energy Services (CES). CES is Maine's largest retail broker of electricity
and is licensed by the Maine Public Utilities Commission to supply
electricity.
Q: Can businesses sign up for
Maine Clean Power?
If you are a Maine business and your rate class is 'SGS' as a Central
Maine Power customer or 'Rate Class B' as a Bangor Hydro customer
(these are identified on your electricity bills) then you can sign
up for Maine Clean Power.
P.O. Box 4834 - Portland, ME 04112-4834 / (207) 721-0444 / info@meipl.org
