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Maine · Updated October 2026
What Central Maine Power customers are actually paying, where the number comes from, and what it means for your bill. Serving Portland, Augusta, Lewiston, Brunswick, Waterville and most of central and southern Maine. Supply alone is 11.96¢ — the all-in figure adds delivery and riders.
27.0¢All-in residential rateRanked #1 by Solar Power World · Inc. 5000 · 20,000+ installations
Enter your bill and we’ll size the array that would cover it, and show the gross value of that production at your rate. It does not net off the customer charge, taxes or what you would still draw at night — for that, use the bill savings calculator. Nothing is sent anywhere; this runs in your browser.
An estimate from your own numbers, not a quote, and not a savings figure. It assumes 400 W panels, an 80% system derate and no roof constraints. Your real number depends on orientation, roof area and your utility’s export credit. Savings are not guaranteed.
The numbers
| Measure | Current | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Offer (supply) | 12.721¢ | Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2026 — up from 10.613¢ in 2025, a 20% jump. Set annually |
| All-in residential estimate | ~27¢ | Supply + delivery + stranded costs |
| Maine, year over year | +22.6% | Steepest increase of any state, August 2026 |
| Typical household | ~550 kWh/mo | Below the national average |
Figures as published August 2026. Utility rates change on published schedules — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.
Why the number is what it is
The Maine PUC sets the Standard Offer annually on January 1 through a competitive bid. On January 1, 2026 it rose from 10.613¢ to 12.721¢ — about 20%. A mid-year adjustment brought it to 11.959¢ on July 1, largely because 2023 and 2024 storm recovery costs finished being paid off. We would rather tell you that than pretend the direction is only one way.
Across the twelve months to August 2026, Maine electricity rates rose 22.6% — more than any other state. Idaho was second at 15.3%. That is the number that matters, not this July's adjustment.
Maine sits at the far end of New England's natural gas pipeline system. When winter demand tightens capacity, wholesale prices spike sharply. New England averages 25.91¢ residential against a national 18.44¢ — 38% higher — and six of the ten most expensive states are in the region.
The honest cost picture
You own the equipment, you keep any renewable energy credits, and you carry the maintenance responsibility. Installed pricing varies by roof, shading and system size.
$0 upfront. We install and own the system; you buy the power it produces at a rate set in your agreement, and you only pay for what it actually generates. The system owner carries maintenance for the life of the agreement.
How $0-down solar works in Maine → · What solar costs in Maine →
Cities we cover in this utility area: Solar in Lewiston → · Solar in Portland → · Solar in South Portland →
You will still see ads promising a 30% credit that “ends December 31.” Read the date on them. If you buy a system today as a homeowner, you cannot claim that credit. What remains applies to the owner of the system — which, under a PPA, is us. SolarAmerica does not provide tax advice; talk to your tax professional about your situation.
Going solar with Central Maine Power
When your panels make more power than your home is using, the extra flows onto Central Maine Power’s grid and is credited on your Central Maine Power bill under Maine’s net metering rules. How much each exported kilowatt-hour is worth is set by those rules, and it is one of the biggest factors in how your system should be sized. How net metering works in Maine.
Central Maine Power connects home solar systems to its grid and credits the power you send back, but it does not install panels. State incentives are covered in our Maine solar incentives guide, and SolarAmerica handles the Central Maine Power interconnection application for you.
There is no separate sign-up. It is set up as part of the interconnection application your installer files with Central Maine Power before your system is turned on, and SolarAmerica files it for you.
$0-down solar in Maine → · Solar panel installation cost in Maine → · Net metering credit calculator →
Local SolarAmerica installations
SolarAmerica has installed solar for homeowners served by Central Maine Power. Homes shown here: South Berwick and Biddeford.
South Berwick · York County, Maine
SolarAmerica designed this system and managed the project; a licensed local partner installed it.
Biddeford · York County, Maine
SolarAmerica designed this system and managed the project; a licensed local partner installed it.
Your electricity use, utility plan and roof shape your options. Request a review for your home.
Electric bill & solar offset calculator · Solar system size calculator · Solar panel installation cost in Maine · All local solar projects
Homeowner names and addresses are kept private. SolarAmerica designs systems and manages projects; licensed partner contractors perform installation.
Who you would be working with
We design your system and manage the project; installation is performed by vetted licensed partners in your area.
Central Maine Power questions
Central Maine Power's Standard Offer fell from 12.721¢ to 11.959¢ on July 1, 2026, mainly because 2023–24 storm recovery costs were paid off. But the January 1 reset had raised it about 20%, and Maine still posted the steepest year-over-year increase of any state.
Your bill names the utility. Central Maine Power covers most of central and southern Maine including Portland and Augusta. Versant Power serves northern and eastern Maine.
Panels generate from light rather than heat and run more efficiently in cold weather. Maine's all-in residential rate near 27 cents is well above the national average, and the per-kilowatt-hour math is what decides whether solar pays — not annual sunshine hours.
About 60 seconds. No cost, no obligation, and we will tell you if solar does not make sense for your home.
Ranked #1 by Solar Power World · 20,000+ installations · Licensed installers
Sources
Every figure on this page is drawn from a public filing or a published rate schedule. We update it when the utility resets.
Last updated October 2026. Rates change on each utility's published schedule — check your own bill for the rate that applies to your account.