Maine’s supply price does not change in October. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) sets the standard offer once a year through a competitive bid, and the 2026 price runs from January 1 to December 31.
This article covers the standard offer for Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant Power’s Bangor Hydro District. It does not cover Versant’s Maine Public District, delivery rates or consumer-owned utilities.
Quick Summary: Residential Standard Offer
| Utility area | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Power | 10.6128¢/kWh | 12.7210¢/kWh | +2.1082¢ (about 20%) |
| Versant, Bangor Hydro District | 10.5628¢/kWh | 12.9540¢/kWh | +2.3912¢ (about 23%) |
Source: Maine PUC standard offer rate pages. Changes are our subtraction.
What It Means for a Bill
Our math:
- CMP at 550 kWh: 550 × $0.021082 = $11.60 more a month than 2025.
- Versant at 550 kWh: 550 × $0.023912 = $13.15 more a month.
A Portland TV station reported the CMP figure as about $11 a month for an average household using 550 kWh.
This is the supply portion only. Delivery is billed separately and is set in different proceedings.
Why It Rose
The PUC chair said the 2026 price “reflects current market realities.” Maine’s Public Advocate pointed to higher natural gas prices and changes in the wholesale market that added pricing risk for suppliers.
For context, the CMP standard offer was 6.4494¢ in 2021 and 17.6310¢ in early 2023, so 2026 sits between those.
Who Supplies It
For 2026, CMP’s residential standard offer is supplied by NextEra Energy Marketing (50%), Constellation (25%) and New Brunswick Energy Marketing (25%), under Docket 2025-00157. Versant’s Bangor Hydro District is supplied entirely by New Brunswick Energy Marketing.
What This Means for Homeowners With Solar
We did not verify Maine’s current net metering or export credit rules for this article, so we give no export rates here. Ask your utility for its current solar tariff, and check how exported energy is credited before sizing a system. Fixed monthly charges are not reduced by solar.
Our solar payback guide shows how the retail rate and the export credit change the math.
What to Check on Your Bill
- The supply line: standard offer or a competitive supplier.
- Delivery charges, which are set separately.
- Any stranded cost or public policy charges within delivery.
For help sorting the lines on your bill, see our guide to reading your electric bill.
Limitations
We verified supply prices on the PUC’s site. We did not research 2026 delivery rate changes or the 2027 standard offer, which had not been announced when we checked.
Sources
- Maine PUC, Standard Offer Rates for Central Maine Power, residential and small commercial
- Maine PUC, Standard Offer Rates for Versant Power, Bangor Hydro District
- WGME, “Maine electric bills set to rise next year as PUC sets new Standard Offer rate”
Frequently asked questions
Did Maine electric rates change on October 1, 2026?
We found no change on that date. The standard offer supply price is fixed from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
What is Maine's standard offer rate in 2026?
12.7210 cents per kWh for Central Maine Power residential customers and 12.9540 cents for Versant's Bangor Hydro District, according to the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
When does the standard offer change next?
On January 1, 2027, when a new annual price takes effect.
