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.

  • ArsenLupin [comrade/them, he/him]
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Hydro Québec. Don't get me wrong, they aren't perfect. But they are way ahead of basically everyone else. 0.065CAD/kWh, while still bringing in billions in revenue to the state every year.

    • meatballs12345 [he/him,they/them]
      ·
      1 year ago

      Part of the reason it's so cheap is because they sell a lot of power to the US NW, in addition to contracts providing reserve power through reverse-pumping the dams.

      • ArsenLupin [comrade/them, he/him]
        ·
        1 year ago

        It's part of it, but it was this cheap even before those deals were made. Of course geography has a lot to do with it too!

        • Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip
          ·
          1 year ago

          Regions who have a good source of hydro power usually the most flexibility to change up systems relating to electricity.

          Its why for example Norway is capable to flip to EVs so quickly (in 2022, 80%+ vehicles sold were EVs). 95% of Norway's electricity is hydro power.

    • ChapoKrautHaus [none/use name]
      ·
      1 year ago

      But they are way ahead of basically everyone else. 0.065CAD/kWh

      Lol I have to pay 0.37€ per kWh, literally two orders of magnitude higher.

      • BountifulEggnog [she/her]
        ·
        edit-2
        1 year ago

        I think your math is wrong. .37 / .065 is 5~. A pound is worth around 1.7 cad. So you're paying around 9x the price with currency conversion, or a bit less then an order of magnitude. Two orders of magnitude would be 100 times the price.