Plan to pull out of grid is debated (Maine)

[jpak]

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/news/state/060216power.shtml

AUGUSTA — A bill that allows the Maine Public Utilities Commission to pull Maine out of the New England power grid won endorsements from several large manufacturers at a legislative hearing Wednesday, but opponents warned that it could hurt Maine consumers in the long run. Maine is now battling with southern New England over a rate increase to be imposed later this year by ISO New England, which manages the flow of electricity on the region's 8,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines. The not-for-profit agency also oversees the region's wholesale electricity market.

The increase would cost Maine electricity users $300 million to $400 million over the next four to five years. It is a payout to power companies so they'll stop legal challenges to a new system for expanding the region's electrical capacity, according to Kurt Adams, chairman of the commission.

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[phantom power]

1. I could save them the trouble of arguing...

with a very large pair of wire-cutters
:evilgrin:

[phantom power]

2. On a more serious note...

news items like this might be read as the eary signs of civilization breaking down. A reversal of the trend toward unification, back towards regionalism. Circling the wagons. Raising the drawbridge. Digging the bunker...

[rfkrfk]

3. why do the people of Maine, need these Creetans? .n/t