Many island electrical consumers have experienced sharp increases in their rates for service. Most are wondering what the future winter heating season — and years to come — might look like in terms of rates.
The story varies from community to community, as there are a number of different service providers. This month, Working Waterfront looks at electrical service from island to island, including the communities of Monhegan, Frenchboro, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Matinicus, North Haven, Swan’s Island, Vinalhaven, the Cranberry Isles, and the Casco Bay communities of Chebeague, Long, Peaks, Great Diamond, Little Diamond, Cushing, Cliff, and Hope Islands.
Some islands, most notably Swan’s, Vinalhaven and North Haven, are currently looking at alternative power generation through wind generators, in the hope these islands may someday become net energy exporters. (WWF May 2007).
On the mainland: For comparison, Central Maine Power (CMP), which covers most of southwestern Maine, charges residential customers 7.56 cents for delivery of up to the first 100 kilowatt hours (kWh), and a fixed rate of 8.76 cents for power, for a total bill of 16.32 cents per kWh. Technically CMP does not provide the electricity, only the delivery, but it all appears on the same bill. Maine has only 12 power providers, four of which are exclusive to islands. CMP and Bangor Hydro together serve the majority of the ratepayers in Maine.
Three of the islands in the town of Cranberry Isles — Islesford, Great Cranberry and Sutton, are served by Bangor Hydro Electric Company. Bangor Hydro, like CMP, is only a distribution company, and does not own the means of production of electricity. These islands pay the same general service rate as other company customers — 8.38 cents for delivery, and 9.01 cents for power, for a total of 17.39 cents per kWh. Bangor Hydro does allow for net metering, which means that a customer generating power through alternative means, such as fuel cells, tidal, solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal installations, or solid waste or biomass incineration generators, can deduct this power generation from a bill, down to zero. A customer cannot sell excess power back and receive a check, however.
Casco Bay: The Casco Bay communities of Chebeague, Long, Peaks, Great Diamond, Little Diamond, Cushing Cliff, and Hope Islands are served by CMP. The larger islands were served by a separate utility, known as The Casco Bay Light and Power Company, until 1958. This company had a network of cables to the outer islands, and CMP had to run just one cable when they took them over. Their rates are the same as residents of Portland or any other CMP customers.
Criehaven Island: There is no central electrical service on Criehaven, and homes are served by private generator, if needed, and often have kerosene or natural gas lights.
Frenchboro and Swan’s Island: The Swan’s Island Electrical Cooperative (SIEC) covers both communities, with four underwater cables running in a group first from the mainland to Swan’s, and then another cable on out to the smaller community of Frenchboro about three miles southeast. Consumers are currently charged 24.5 cents per (kWh) on Swan’s, and 27.5 cents on Frenchboro. The additional charge goes to SIEC to cover its costs for the second cable. These total charges for Frenchboro are 168 percent of the standard CMP mainland price. Power itself for these islands comes from Bangor Hydro, so the difference is all in delivery. A wind study has estimated that two large turbines could supply all the wintertime needs of the island, and there has also been interest in tidal power, which used to be used on the island to run a sawmill, and could perhaps be utilized again.
Isle au Haut: Bangor Hydro also sells to the Isle au Haut Electric Cooperative, and rates are similar to Frenchboro and Swan’s Island, with an additional delivery charge added on to the basic mainland energy price.
Islesboro: CMP provides the electrical service to Islesboro through a cable from the Northport area. Residents pay the same as any other CMP customer. There has been some small-scale individual interest on the island in solar, wind and tidal generation, but the island has not seen the large price increases of some of the other islands that have led to discussion of on-island generation.
Matinicus Island: Being 22 miles out to sea means that Matinicus Plantation Electric Power Co. generates all its own electricity from diesel generators. It charges residential customers a total of 41.58 cents per kWh, or 254% of the mainland rate. The company began service in 1965, and serves 120 accounts. Variation in the charges is driven mainly by the price of diesel fuel. It does not provide power to the neighboring island of Criehaven, which has no central utility. Reliability is better than the mainland, according to Bill Hoadley, the Clerk and Treasurer. Wind power has been looked at for the island, but was judged to provide too strong in winter and not enough in summer.
Monhegan: about 10 years ago, islanders built a new building with three generators and a fuel tank to provide all their electricity. There had been a patchwork system before. Electricity on the island costs 55 cents per kWh. There is some interest in solar, and when the system was put in, there was going to be a solar component. People would still like it to happen somehow, but high winds in the winter would make a project difficult.
Vinalhaven and North Haven: Fox Islands Electric Cooperative is island based, but buys most of its power from the mainland, and transmits it to the island through a new $4.1 million cable. It has 1,900 accounts, making it the largest of the four island power entities. Rates in July were 10.2 cents for power, and 17.3 cents for delivery, for a total of 27.5 cents per kWh total, or 168 percent of mainland rates. According to Chip Farrington, the Interim Manager, 29 percent of the rate goes to pay for debt service and depreciation for the recent cable upgrade. In order to reduce costs, the Coop is interested in large-scale wind power for the island, and feel it is a real option for the future in keeping rates stable. Solar power is also an option, and the Coop already owns some small installations on the island, and tidal power has been mentioned as well, but is “at too early a stage of development” according to Manager Farrington. The island also has a diesel generator, but this is used primarily for emergencies.