LIMESTONE, Maine — The Maine Public Utilities Commission is giving the Loring Development Authority more time to respond to a complaint about sharp hikes in local water rates.
In October, 10 residents and business owners alleged the authority did not notify them of proposed rate increases and that many did not learn of the proposal until after the Maine PUC approved new rates. The new rates would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
The Maine PUC opened an initial investigation into the complaint in early November.
“We also ask that the PUC put the new rates on hold so that we do not have to pay higher bills until this complaint is investigated,” wrote Tim McCabe, co-owner of The Bunker Inn, who filed the complaint on behalf of the group.
McCabe was one of many business owners who spoke in October on the hardship that the spiked water rates could have on their ability to pay bills and stay afloat. For instance, McCabe and wife Sandy would see their quarterly water bills increase from $1,700 per quarter to $5,340 per quarter. Homeowners who own property at Loring, many of whom are senior citizens, also said that even with a 50-percent subsidy, the new rates burden their already fixed incomes.
Under the new rates, the authority will charge $471.30 per quarter for at least 900 cubic feet of water usage, whereas the 2016-era rates charged $40 or 4 cents per cubic foot, whichever was greater, for up to 1,199 cubic feet and an additional 40 cents for each additional cubic foot above 1,200, according to the authority’s proposal to the Maine PUC. Other rates will go up based on the size of their home or business’s water meter.
The Maine PUC notified the authority on Nov. 6 that they would have 10 calendar days to respond to the complaint. According to Maine PUC rules, that gives the authority a deadline of Monday, Nov. 18, since the last day of the 10-day period falls on a weekend.
Loring Development Authority interim president and CEO Jonathan Judkins requested on Wednesday that the Maine PUC extend the deadline to Friday, Nov. 22. Judkins did not give a reason in his letter. The Maine PUC approved Judkins’ request Wednesday.
Judkins was not immediately available for comment Thursday.
If the Maine PUC later finds that the authority has taken “adequate steps to remove the cause of the complaint” or that the complaint is without merit, the PUC can dismiss the complaint. If they do not dismiss the complaint, the PUC would proceed with their investigation, wrote PUC officials in their letter acknowledging the complaint.
