PUC invites comment at hearing on Emera Maine sale

5 years ago

HALLOWELL and PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Maine Public Utilities Commission announced Oct. 4 that it will hold public witness hearings at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, in Presque Isle and Orono regarding the proposed sale of Emera Maine to a Canadian firm.

MPUC officials seek public input on the proposal by Emera Inc., based in Nova Scotia, to sell its subsidiary Emera Maine to ENMAX Corporation of Calgary, Alberta.  Emera Inc. announced the sale in March.

The hearing will take place simultaneously via videoconference at the University of Maine in Orono and at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s MMG Center, located in Kelly Commons. Video will initiate at the Orono campus location, and will stream to include the local campus.

The public may comment on any aspect of the proposed acquisition. 

“Public input regarding this proposed acquisition is critical to the commission’s decision-making process,” said Maine Public Utilities Commission Chairman Philip L. Bartlett.  “Maine law requires that net benefits accrue to the people of Maine for an acquisition like this to be approved. The commission will carefully review all aspects of this proposal before any decision is made.” 

A commissioner will attend at each location, as will commission staff and a transcriptionist.  

In a public witness hearing, any member of the public may participate by providing sworn testimony or they may present argument without being sworn; however, only sworn testimony becomes evidence in the case.  

Transcripts of the hearings will be publicly available in each case file (Docket No. 2019-00097) which may be accessed via the commission’s case management system.