Skip to main content
Agencies
Online Services
Help
Search Maine.gov
Home
Case Details
Loading...
-
+
Case Details:
Case Number:
2026-00028
Case Status:
Open
Utility/Industry Type :
Water
Utility/Industry Subtype :
Water
Case Type :
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL
Case Subtype :
RATE CHANGE - 307
Pertaining to Utility/Company :
THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
Case Title :
REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OF RATE CHANGE -307 PERTAINING TO THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
Initiating Filer :
THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
Case Start Date :
1/30/2026
Assigned Staff :
Dale.Coty,
Jordan.D.McColman,
Leslie.Raber,
Lucretia.Smith,
Nora.Healy,
Stephani.Morancie,
Hailey.Rizzo,
Jason.Marco
View Case References
Filings (15)
Data Requests (0)
Public Comments (14)
Active Party and Notification List (15)
Assigned Staff (8)
Loading...
Item No.
Date Filed
Description Of Filing
Filing Party
Filed By
No of Attachments
Deleted Filings
15
4/30/2026
Procedural Order (scheduling)
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
2
14
4/30/2026
TRANSCRIPT 4/29/26
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
1
13
4/29/2026
John Spanos Work Papers (Depreciation)
THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
Hewitt, William
1
12
4/28/2026
Procedural Order
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
1
11
4/27/2026
petition to intervene
zaluski, donnie s
zaluski, donnie s
1
10
4/22/2026
Suspension Order
COMMISSION, MPUC
COMMISSION, MPUC
1
9
4/15/2026
Office of the Public Advocate's Petition to Intervene
OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE
PUBLIC ADVOCATE, MAINE OFFICE OF THE
1
8
4/14/2026
Confidential Exhibit MWC-26 and Lyons Work Paper (COSS) for MWC's April 13 General Rate Case Filing
THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
Hewitt, William
2
7
4/14/2026
Protective Order No. 2 (Proprietary Consultant Models)
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
1
6
4/14/2026
Protective Order No. 1
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
COMMISSION STAFF, CMS
1
Per Page
1
of
2
First
Prev
Next
Last
Go To
1
2
View By Set
View By Question
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Posted By
Posted Date
Comments
Attachment(s)
Edward Miller
83 Oak Hill Dr Oakland ME 04963
4/30/2026
The proposed 34.6% increase in water supply costs in Oakland is unacceptable and brings one thing to mind - mismanagement. Citizens living on a fixed income and lower income working families simply can not afford these types of sudden increases. Added together with out of control electric rates, rising income taxes, and constantly rising property taxes people are being squeezed in Maine. There is no mention of employee wage increases or compensation for the management employees of the Maine Water Company in the rate increase request, why is that ? Full disclosure of all expenditures, including employee salaries and expected wage increases, should be made public along with any requested rate increase so rate payers fully understand where the increase will go. 34.6% is simply too much at one time and should not be approved. Better planning by MWC and MPUC officials would see a gradual increase spread over the next 5 years along with action by Maine politicians to secure Federal assistance for any large water infrastructure expenditures.
Jeff Murphy
Millinocket, Maine
Email ID: jeff.murphy98@yahoo.com
4/30/2026
The Maine Water Company, owned and operated by H20 America (a subsidiary of Blackrock Inc. which is the WORLDS LARGEST asset manager owning $12.5 trillion in assets throughout the world) seeks a rate increase for the towns of Berwick, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard, Scarborough, Camden, Rockland, Bucksport, Rockport, Owls Head, Thomaston, West Rockport, Glen Cove, South Warren, Freeport, Fryeburg, Greenville, Hartland, Kezar Falls, Oakland, Port Clyde, Skowhegan, Tenants Harbor, Vinalhaven, Waldoboro, and Millinocket. Mater Water Company and the Maine PUC have scheduled a SINGLE "public" meeting on May 6, 2026 in the town of Saco, Maine to discuss the rate hike. Clearly, by design, neither the Maine Water Company nor the Maine PUC is interested in receiving any public input from the residents of 25 towns not named Saco - otherwise they would hold "public" meetings in each of these towns as well. The Maine PUC is FAILING the citizens of Maine. The Maine PUC will rubber stamp the rate hike (albeit at a slightly lessor rate than requested) as they are beholden to Blackrock, Inc. I expect shortly after the Maine PUC grants Blackrock Inc. their outrageously high rate hike, several Maine PUC staff and/or Commissioners will be leaving the PUC for a new, well-paid job in the private sector as we have oftentimes seen in the past (see below). Yes folks, the system is rigged. ? Carlisle McLean (Commissioner, 2014-2017): Resigned to become senior counsel at Avangrid, the parent company of Central Maine Power (CMP), in 2017. ? Kurt Adams (Chairman, 2007-2008): Left the commission to join First Wind, a leading wind energy company, as a senior vice president. ? Mark Vannoy (Chair/Commissioner, 2012-2020): After leaving the commission, he worked with an infrastructure and civil practice group, and later appeared in private sector speaker bios.
Soren G Larsen
11 Camelot Circle, Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064
Email ID: sorkat1@bluetiehome.com
Phone No.: 2079372356
4/30/2026
Today, 4/30, we received Maine Public Utilities Commission Required Customer Notice. Reading through the material we notice that the Commission will hold the initial case conference for this case on April 29, 2026. Would you be kind enough to tell us how we can be able to send comments to the conference when we receive the notice after the conference has taken place. This is a matter of principle. It would be easy for you to say that there were no objections when customers do not have a chance to send anything in. Soren Larsen
Steven Lane
Resident of Millinocket / MWC Customer
62 New York Street Millinocket, Maine 04462
Email ID: smlane@katahdinmaine.net
Phone No.: 2078522720
4/29/2026
While infrastructure improvements are very costly these days they are necessary for the long term system reliability and safe drinking water for the consumer. As a MWC customer I received the notice of filing however there is no information as to what the rate adjustment is for. Some of the documents in the case management system are protected from public view. This is a very large rate adjustment that appears to blanket all of MWC's privately owned water utilities. Many of these communities are struggling with low income and senior residents on fixed incomes. Without knowing what the rate adjustment is covering for improvements I would suggest a phased-in approach over a period of time. Once a project is completed and debt service encumbered for said project then adjust rates accordingly to cover the increased debt service. Water rates can be better planned with small inflationary adjustments each year to lesson the impact / burden on MWC's customer base.
Mary Orear
11 Forest Glen Drive Rockport, ME 04856
Email ID: mainelygirls2@gmail.com
Phone No.: 207-236-4532
4/29/2026
I was astonished to receive your required customer notice on April 27, 2026 that informed me of your proposed water rate increase hearing scheduled for May 6, 2026 - a mere nine days later. Everything about the way you have sprung this on consumers is irresponsible. First of all, your proposed increase is roughly 30% - THIRTY PERCENT! Maine is a poor state, and with tariffs and war and Trump's tax cuts for billionaires, food prices soaring, gas prices, rents and home prices - costs of living in nearly every area stretching many beyond their ability to pay - you then propose this outrageous increase. This is reminiscent of the proposals made almost yearly through the last decades by the electricity companies. And they were almost always granted. I see nothing in your letter (though the back page was nearly blank, meaning there was plenty of room to EXPLAIN) WHY suddenly out-of-the-blue you think you need such an enormous increase. You provide no explanation or justification for it. I see no numbers aside from the amount you want ratepayers to cough up. What is your income and expense budget for these changes? It's easy to ask for much more than you need when someone else is being told to pay for it. I think it should be turned down, you should provide a detailed explanation to the public, along with the budget, and any increase in rates should be tied to last year's increase in social security. This is a disgrace. Mary Orear
Rodney Boucher
4 Marial Ave Biddeford Maine
Email ID: rbouche1@maine.rr.com
Phone No.: 2073918697
4/29/2026
Back in 2018 and before was paying around 50 60 dollars for every 3 months for water,2020 was paying between high 60-80 dollars, 2025 was paying between 139-156 dollars every 3 months just keeps going up water only on my own septic system, just keeps going up I believe the water company has had enough increases over the past few years just like everyone else, I will be 68 this June my piece of pie is getting smaller and smaller between property taxes, Maine taxes, CMP, now the water company again it has to stop at some point people just are not going to be able to afford the basic things in life, Maine the way life should be I do not think so one the worst states to live in. Thank you for your time Rod
Jeff Murphy
29 New Jersey St. Millinocket, Maine 04462
Email ID: jeff.murphy98@yahoo.com
Phone No.: 207-299-7339
4/27/2026
Today, April 27, 2026, I received notice that Maine Water Company (owned by the the Wall Street investor owned company of h20 America: NASDAQ: HTO) intends to raise its rates by 34.6% throughout Maine. The April 27, 2026 notice establishes a deadline to file a petition to intervene in the matter on April 27, 2026 (today). Clearly, neither h20 America nor the Maine PUC is serious about engaging rate payers in this matter. I fully expect the PUC to rubber stamp the proposed rate increase. However, given the embarrassment of this "filed today/due today" fiasco, I suspect they will extend the deadline to file comments and motions to intervene. Its worth noting that h20 America filed their General Rate Case on April 13, 2026. The Maine PUC issued their Notice of Proceeding and Protective Order #1 and Protective Order #2 the very next day (April 14, 2026). Any reasonable rate payer can assume that the Maine PUC and h20 America has been intensively engaged in this matter behind the curtains leaving little doubt that the process is compromised and not in the best interest of rate payers. It's long overdue for the PUC to practice ex parte for the benefits of rate holders and not corporations. The State of Maine has not been well served by the PUC in this matter.
Jennifer Mazzaro
Honeysuckle Drive OOB Maine
4/27/2026
I respectfully urge the Commission to take a cautious approach to any proposed rate increase in Docket No. 2026-00028. I understand the need for infrastructure investment, but we have to be mindful of the impact on customers. Affordability matters, and any increase should be clearly justified and tied to real improvements. It states that if this goes into effect, a typical residential customer would see an increase of about $11.32 per month, representing approximately a 26.2% increase in the total bill. Additionally, this reflects roughly $10 million in additional annual revenue. Customers are already stretched thin, and any additional increase without clear, transparent justification risks placing unnecessary burden on Maine households. This level of increase feels excessive and warrants further review. Before approving any increase, I ask that the Commission require clear evidence that all cost-saving measures have been exhausted and that proposed investments are both necessary and timed appropriately. Rate increases should not be the default solution, particularly when affordability remains a critical concern across the state. At the end of the day, the total bill for a typical residential customer cannot become too much.
donald zaluski
town of skowhegan
225 water st
Email ID: townmanager@skowhegan.gov
Phone No.: 474-6900
4/27/2026
i just received this announcement on 4/27/26. the cut off date for petition is 4/27/26. i dont think this is enough time for the community to respond. also a 59.8% increase should be given more time for the community to assess. skowhegans demographics do not have the resources for an increase of this scale. thanks, donnie zaluski
Julian
8 Labonte Ave E Saco, ME 04972
Email ID: jmaggs31@gmail.com
Phone No.: 2074758829
4/27/2026
As a customer of Maine Water it seems a little ridiculous to have rate increases and decreases for general maintenance and upgrades to the system. I wont bother commenting how unprepared Maine Water seems to be when it comes to addressing the cost of maintenance and upgrades, but I think I have a simple solution. Maine Water can increase rates 0.05% or 1%, or a general bill increase of $1-$5 (whatever) that is used to address FUTURE infrastructure maintenance and upgrades. This would help customers better prepare for the cost of purchasing a house that uses Maine Water. This should of been something considered when Maine Water was founded, as it seems like under funding is the reason rates need to be increased to fund maintenance that we all know would be needed eventually. These rate increases should go into a fund that help address ongoing maintenance and upgrades in the FUTURE, so future Maine Water customers don't need to pay even higher costs for under collected fees from past decades.
Per Page
1
of
2
First
Prev
Next
Last
Go To
1
2
Notification List
Active Party List
Loading...
Name of Person/Company
Representing Company
Mailing Address
Email/Phone/Fax
Hevey, Richard
112 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333 0112
Email ID: richard.p.hevey@maine.gov
Phone Ph: 207-557-0290
Fax:
Hewitt, William
THE MAINE WATER COMPANY
PO Box 797
Yarmouth ME 04096
Email ID: whewitt@HewittLegalAdvisors.com
Phone Ph: 207-846-8600
Fax:
Johnson, Suzanne
ME
Email ID: suzrog1@gmail.com
Phone
Fax:
Lane, Steven M.
109 Center Street
Old Town ME 04468
Email ID: slane@oldtownwater.org
Phone Ph: 207-827-2145
Fax: Fax: 207-827-2191
Larsen, Soren
ME
Email ID: sorkat1@bluetiehome.com
Phone
Fax:
Libby, Marcia A
PO Box 9729
Portland ME 04104 5029
Email ID: mlibby@bernsteinshur.com
Phone Ph: 207-228-7346
Fax:
Mierzwa, Jerome D
10480 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 300
Columbia MD 21044
Email ID: jmierzwa@exeterassociates.com
Phone Ph: 410-992-7500
Fax: Fax: 410-992-3445
Morgan, Lafayette
10480 Little Patuxent Parkway Suite 300
Columbia MD 21044
Email ID: lmorgan@exeterassociates.com
Phone Ph: 410-992-7500
Fax:
Murphy, Jeff
ME
Email ID: jeff.murphy98@yahoo.com
Phone
Fax:
Pilon, Donald
ME
Email ID: donpilonmaine@gmail.com
Phone
Fax:
Per Page
1
of
2
First
Prev
Next
Last
Go To
1
2
Loading...
Loading...
Staff Name
Role
Coty, Dale
Support Staff
Healy, Nora
Hearing Examiner
Marco, Jason
Staff Analyst
McColman, Jordan
Reviewer
Morancie, Stephani
Staff Analyst
Raber, Leslie
Hearing Examiner
Rizzo, Hailey
Hearing Examiner
Smith, Lucretia
Staff Analyst
Per Page
1
of
1
First
Prev
Next
Last
Go To
1