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The Legislature can and must lower energy bills |
House Republicans will again heed the warnings of the outgoing Public Advocate and address the problem of net energy billing and artificially high energy bills
This is Representative of Reagan Paul of Winterport with the Weekly Republican Address.
Last session, legislative Republicans repeatedly proposed legislation that directly lowers electric bills by sharply reducing or eliminating excessive profits generated by artificially high electric bills associated with net energy billing.
Maine’s Public Advocate, William Harwood has been sounding the alarm about addressing the $4 billion in net energy billing costs that consumers will pay over the next 20 years.
We thank him for his advocacy on the issue of net energy billing and his efforts to bring awareness to the problem as it relates to increases on your monthly bill.
Last session, a handful of elected Democrats joined with us in pursuing lower electric bills by addressing some of the most glaring problems.
Sadly powerful out-of-state solar companies, their lobbyists and Democrat allies defeated every attempt at reining in excessive profits and lowering consumer electric bills.
Most recently, Public Advocate Harwood announced that he will step down when his term ends January 31, 2025.
But now, Governor Mills has nominated a former Democrat state legislator from Portland, who served in both the House and Senate, to take his place.
While in the Senate, she voted against eliminating Net Energy Billing, the very program that continues to inflate energy costs.
Maine needs a Public Advocate who understands that their job description is in their job title…to advocate for the public at all times.
This begs the question:
Is the Public Advocate nominee being installed to protect solar company profits?
This session Republicans will again propose to directly lower your energy bills by sharply reducing or eliminating net energy billing profits to out of state solar companies.
Consumers should not have to pay companies .21 cents a kilowatt hour for a product that can cost as little as .05 cents to produce.
We want to know if the Public Advocate’s office will continue to fight for the public.
When the Legislature reconvenes in January, the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee will hold a confirmation hearing to make a recommendation to the full Senate on the new Public Advocate’s appointment.
Republican committee members will be asking fair, tough questions, including whether or not the new Public Advocate stands with consumers or solar companies?
Will she prioritize the “green agenda” over affordability and reliability for ratepayers?
What are her thoughts on the rolling blackouts that “green energy” states have experienced?
Is she aware of the competitive disadvantage that New England states have attracting and keeping jobs because of high energy costs?
Does she support efforts to move away from the most expensive and destructive form of energy, offshore wind?
These are important questions and we hope we receive real answers.
This has been Representative Reagan Paul with the Weekly Republican Radio Address.
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Representative Reagan Paul
is currently serving her second term in the Maine House representing House District 37, which includes the towns of Prospect, Searsport, Stockton Springs, Winterport and part of Frankfort. She serves on the 132nd Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Technology.
Rep. Paul earned dual bachelor’s degrees from Liberty University in both Christian Entrepreneurship and Digital Marketing and Advertising. Reagan is self-employed, and a partner with a telecommunication consulting company. She also serves her local community by coaching a varsity basketball team, and volunteering for the past 15 years at Living Waters Bible Conference.
Reagan enjoys spending her free time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and gardening
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