Governor Mills Announces Automatic Electric Bill Discounts for Thousands of Maine Families

Official release

October 1, 2026

Through SupportLink, low-income Mainers will be automatically enrolled for $40 million in electricity discounts, other services

Augusta, MAINE – Governor Janet Mills announced today that eligible low-income customers of Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant will soon begin receiving automatic discounts on their electric bill.

Beginning today, Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will use existing information from programs such as SNAP, TANF, and MaineCare to identify households eligible for $40 million in electric discounts through Maine’s Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP). Beneficiaries will have their information securely shared with participating utilities who will automatically apply discounts to their monthly electric bills thanks to the move by the Governor.

The arrangement is part of SupportLink, a new Mills Administration initiative through DHHS that will securely connect eligible Maine households with discounts and relief programs they may qualify for, unless they have otherwise opted out. SupportLink currently includes nine electric utilities, Efficiency Maine, and the Portland Water District, with plans to expand the program to include additional services and benefits over time. Mainers who do not participate in a DHHS program can apply for the LIAP through their local Community Action Agency (CAA).

Households participating in the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will also automatically be enrolled in LIAP through a secure information sharing arrangement facilitated by MaineHousing.

“Maine families are being pushed to the brink by the President’s whipsaw tariffs and his reckless war in Iran. At a time when every dollar matters, my Administration is making it easier for vulnerable Mainers to lower their electric bills without unnecessary paperwork or bureaucratic hurdles,” said Governor Janet Mills. “I thank Maine's Public Advocate, Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Health and Human Services, MaineHousing, and Maine’s electric utilities for their partnership to make this automatic enrollment possible.”

“With Maine household budgets strained to the breaking point, these changes come at a critical moment,” said Heather Sanborn, Maine’s Public Advocate. “The redesigned program will provide meaningful, predictable support to struggling households and will help ensure that no Mainer has to choose between keeping the lights on and meeting other essential needs.”

"These changes will make it easier for Maine families to get help with their electric bills,” said Public Utilities Commission Chair Philip L. Bartlett II. “By enrolling eligible customers automatically and directing the largest discounts to those with the greatest need, we expect this program to reach more people and make a real difference on their monthly bills at a time when they need it most."

“As the cost of everyday necessities continues to put pressure on Maine household budgets, it is more important than ever that eligible families can access the assistance available to them as easily as possible,” said Ian Yaffe, Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Director for the Office for Family Independence. “SupportLink is about making that process easier. Families should not have to navigate multiple applications or send paperwork from one agency to another when we can securely share the information needed to connect them with help. This is a meaningful step toward making services easier to access.”

“As we head into winter facing record heating costs, this is a welcome change that will allow more people in need to access savings on their electricity bills,” said Celina Cunningham, Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Energy Resources. “Automatic enrollment in LIAP will reduce the steps qualifying households need to take to access this assistance, making it easier for families to prepare for the winter ahead.”

“Any move that can remove barriers or make access to the financial aid many Mainers will need this winter is a good move,” said Dan Brennan, Director of MaineHousing. “Combined with other heating and energy assistance programs, this change is going to help take some of the complications and pressures off our most vulnerable households.”

To qualify for LIAP, customers must have household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or be eligible for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Last year, about 44,000 Maine ratepayers participated in LIAP, while DHHS identified and notified approximately 67,000 households that they were eligible. The new automatic enrollment process is intended to help close that gap by eliminating the additional step of requiring ratepayers to provide eligibility documentation directly to their utility.

In previous years, LIAP funds were applied to a customer’s bill as a lump sum – meaning that customers might be hit with higher bills at the end of the winter. Funds will now be applied by Versant and CMP as a monthly discount. LIAP participants who get their power from Maine’s smaller consumer-owned utilities will continue to have their discount applied as a lump sum.

Amounts vary by income, but a CMP customer could receive a monthly discount between 25% and 81% off of their monthly bill. Versant customers could see a monthly discount between 17% and 83%. Fact sheets from the Office of the Public Advocate for CMP and Versant customers are available for customer review. Customers with questions about their discount or enrollment should contact their electric company.

Returning LIAP participants who were enrolled as a result of participating in a DHHS program do not need to do anything to enroll – but should pay close attention to their electric bills to ensure their discount has been applied. Returning LIAP participants who were enrolled through a CAA should again contact their local CAA to apply. Because electric bills do not always follow the calendar month, eligible customers should expect to see discounts take effect on or soon after their November bill.

Funding for LIAP has grown from $22.5 million in 2025 to $40.5 million this year, including an additional $7.5 million approved in the most recent supplemental budget with bipartisan support. The program is largely funded by a small ratepayer monthly surcharge of about $2, along with additional support from the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC).

Release text attributed to Maine Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.