The Maine Public Utilities Commission ordered a full investigation Tuesday into the billing and metering systems of Central Maine Power.Customer service complaints will be rolled into a separate case involving rates, the PUC said.An independent audit ordered by the PUC found that increases in bills for CMP customers were not the result of a new billing and metering system.Frustrated customers pushed for a more thorough review after getting unusually high monthly bills from CMP.The Office of the Public Advocate also urged the PUC to move forward with a full investigation."Right now, Central Maine Power Company has lost the faith and trust of their customers," public advocate Barry Hobbins said.Hobbins said his office was not allowed to be involved with the initial audit."After a year of unanswered questions and turmoil for thousands of CMP's customers, the need to engage in a full and robust investigation is more urgent than ever," Hobbins said.CMP responded to the PUC decision in a statement saying, "CMP finds the MPUC decision to examine the metering, billing and bill error questions in a new, fully adjudicated investigation while addressing the customer communications and customer service questions through the rate case to be a reasonable approach."

The Maine Public Utilities Commission ordered a full investigation Tuesday into the billing and metering systems of Central Maine Power.

Customer service complaints will be rolled into a separate case involving rates, the PUC said.


An independent audit ordered by the PUC found that increases in bills for CMP customers were not the result of a new billing and metering system.

Frustrated customers pushed for a more thorough review after getting unusually high monthly bills from CMP.

The Office of the Public Advocate also urged the PUC to move forward with a full investigation.

"Right now, Central Maine Power Company has lost the faith and trust of their customers," public advocate Barry Hobbins said.

Hobbins said his office was not allowed to be involved with the initial audit.

"After a year of unanswered questions and turmoil for thousands of CMP's customers, the need to engage in a full and robust investigation is more urgent than ever," Hobbins said.

CMP responded to the PUC decision in a statement saying, "CMP finds the MPUC decision to examine the metering, billing and bill error questions in a new, fully adjudicated investigation while addressing the customer communications and customer service questions through the rate case to be a reasonable approach."