What drives electric bills in Maine
Residential electricity in Maine averaged 30.0¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 9.2% from 27.5¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 32.4¢. The typical home here used 550 kWh a month in 2024, 36% less than the U.S. average, so a high bill usually points to the price per kWh or to one big appliance.
- The standard offer changes every January. The supply price most Mainers pay is set by the Public Utilities Commission once a year, based on wholesale market bids. A rise in natural gas prices shows up on your January bill.
- Delivery rates and storm costs. Repeated wind and ice storms have added the cost of restoring lines and trimming trees to delivery charges.
- More homes heat with electricity. Maine has one of the fastest-growing numbers of heat pumps in the country. That cuts oil bills a lot but moves heating onto the electric bill, so winter electric bills grow.
Who supplies your power
Central Maine Power (CMP) serves the southern and central parts of the state and Versant Power serves the north and Down East. A handful of small municipal and cooperative utilities cover the rest.
Ways to pay less in Maine
- If you heat with a heat pump, leave it at one steady setting instead of turning it down at night. Big setbacks make it work harder in the morning, and in deep cold it may switch to backup heat.
- Check Efficiency Maine before you buy a heat pump, heat pump water heater or weatherization: it offers rebates, and larger ones for lower-income households.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $109 a month at Maine prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Maine.
Shopping for a cheaper plan in Maine
Maine lets many homes choose who supplies their electricity. Before you switch, compare offers at your own usage, not just the advertised price: at the 550 kWh a typical home here uses, every 1¢ per kWh is worth about $66 a year. Prefer fixed-rate plans of 12 months or more, check the early cancellation fee, and note when the contract ends.
Help paying your bill in Maine
- Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP): CMP and Versant customers who qualify for LIHEAP can get a discount on their electric bill. Apply through your local community action agency.
- Winter disconnection rules: from November 15 to April 15, your utility needs Public Utilities Commission approval to disconnect a home for nonpayment, so call and set up a payment plan before the deadline.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Maine?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Maine produces roughly 8,400 kWh a year, about 100% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 30.0¢, that power is worth about $2,519 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Maine compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | 30.0¢ | 550 | $165 |
| Vermont | 24.0¢ | 574 | $137 |
| New Hampshire | 26.8¢ | 619 | $166 |
| Massachusetts | 30.1¢ | 570 | $172 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.