A historic referendum asked voters in Maine if they wanted to replace their privately owned utilities with a publicly owned one.

The measure, called Question 3, prompted heated debate in the months leading up to the election. Central Maine Power and Versant Power, the state’s dominant utilities, poured more than $40 million into a campaign opposing the referendum, outspending Pine Tree Power advocates 34 to 1. Political groups funded by the utilities and their parent companies mailed flyers and aired ads on TV, radio, and social media, urging Mainers to reject the measure, which would have effectively put the two companies out of business.

  • Kestrel [comrade/them]@hexbear.netOPEnglish
    50·
    1 year ago

    One of their arguments I believe was that it would actually be more expensive under public, because the cost of the buyout would be passed on to customers’ bills. That probably resonated even though the cost of the buyout was overinflated by them.