CMP customers allege disconnect notices are misleading, ask court to intervene

PORTLAND (WGME) -- A group of customers is asking a judge to stop Central Maine Power from issuing disconnect notices that they claim are misleading.

The company says it's changed the language in those notices, which resulted in a $500,000 fine earlier this year.

CMP admits disconnect notices were sent out in error

Leaders of CMP Ratepayers Unite said on Monday that they’ve been inundated with phone calls from customers who’ve received disconnect notices and are under the impression the company already has permission from state regulators to cut them off.

"My family and I feel very misled," customer Sarah Levine said. "We feel CMP's being dishonest sending out these notices."

Levine she got a disconnect notice, telling her to pay $1365 dollars or risk losing power.

"It would be very cold," Levine said. "And my children would have a very hard time attending school remote, when we don’t have electricity for them to get on their Zooms."

Maine utilities allowed to resume some disconnections on Nov. 1

Attorneys representing Levine and other customers are asking the court to stop CMP from sending disconnect notices, or disconnecting anyone during the winter period.

Lawyers to file lawsuit against CMP over disconnect notices

Earlier this year, the company was fined $500,000 for sending improper notices that told customers they could be disconnected during the winter period without approval from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, which isn’t true.

A CMP spokesperson released a statement.

CMP’s disconnection notices have been recently updated with collaboration from the MPUC’s Consumer Assistance and Safety Division and the Office of the Public Advocate, to ensure clarity for our customers and compliance with MPUC regulations. We continue to urge customers to call as we may be able to connect them with assistance programs, many of which are only available to customers who demonstrate they are at risk of disconnection.

The notices now say With permission from the Maine Public Utilities Commission, your service could be disconnected” on a certain date or within 20 business days.

"What about that is misleading?" CBS13 I-Team Reporter Marissa Bodnar said.

"Well, most of the folks we talked to received these disconnections saying, 'They’ve already given the thumbs up, the green light to CMP to cut it off,'" Attorney Cyrus Cheslak said. "They're not experts in the annals of PUC rules. CMP is. And I think a fair reading of that statement is that the PUC has already signed off on it."

Cheslak said customers interpret that to say CMP already has permission from the state.

"When I got my notice, I assumed because it had been sent out, everything was approved, it was good to go," CMP customer Karen George said.

A spokesperson for the PUC said the commission has not approved any disconnections since the winter period began, and will make every effort to help customers find a reasonable alternative. But first, they encourage customers to work directly with their utility to try to resolve any unpaid balances.