In the News: John Farrell
May 21, 2019
Media Outlet: Portland Press-Herald
Director of the Energy Democracy initiative, John Farrell, explains why a public takeover of Central Maine Power and Emera is the logical alternative to protecting a monopoly utility company that makes bad bets, provides poor service and raises prices.
Here is an excerpt:
Signs of monopoly failure have popped up across the country. The multi-utility V.C. Summer nuclear power plant project collapsed last year, leaving a $9 billion bill for South Carolina customers. California’s Pacific Gas & Electric recently declared bankruptcy, caught between wildfire threats to their expensive power lines and competition, as thousands of customers have left for community utilities. In Maine, thousands of electricity customers have seen their bills jump by 50 percent or more.
When competitive businesses make mistakes, they pay the price. When monopolies make mistakes, we pay the price.
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