Maine’s Public Advocate is warning that low-income electric customers can end up paying more if they sign up for community solar offers. Public Advocate Heather Sanborn said in an Oct. 21 letter to community solar companies that “our office is concerned that some Maine ratepayers may be being misled.” Her point is that a discount advertised by a solar company can sit on top of a bigger one the customer already gets, or already should get, from the state.
The state’s Low Income Assistance Program, known as LIAP, gives eligible customers a fixed percentage discount on their electric bill. That discount applies only to the amounts the utility bills. A payment to a solar provider is not discounted, so an offer that looks like savings can leave a struggling household worse off.
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How can a solar discount cost a customer more?
Under the new LIAP structure, the Public Advocate’s office says, discounts apply to the utility’s billed amounts and not to what is paid to a solar provider. Sanborn said: “An offer advertised as a special discount can leave a struggling household paying more.” The letter adds that LIAP customers “will not benefit from enrolling in a community solar subscription” because their LIAP discount would already exceed 20 percent.
The office learned that at least one company “made a targeted offer of a 20% discount to LIAP-eligible customers.” It also cites “promises of special discounts and sign-up bonuses.” The office said those offers may violate Chapter 313, Section 4(B) of the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s rules.
The letter asks providers to stop advertising special discounts to LIAP customers unless they match the LIAP tier rates. If they will not, the office says they should unenroll LIAP-participating customers from all community solar farms. It warns of possible enforcement at the Public Utilities Commission or another appropriate venue.
What discount does LIAP give?
Governor Janet Mills’s office announced automatic electric bill discounts on Oct. 1 for eligible low-income customers of Central Maine Power and Versant. CMP customers could get a monthly discount of 25 percent to 81 percent, and Versant customers 17 percent to 83 percent, depending on income. Households must have income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines or qualify for the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program.
The state Department of Health and Human Services began identifying eligible households Oct. 1, and discounts should show up on or soon after November bills because billing cycles vary. About 44,000 ratepayers took part in LIAP last year and the department notified roughly 67,000 eligible households. LIAP funding rose from $22.5 million in 2025 to $40.5 million this year.
The Public Advocate’s office publishes a fact sheet on the changes. It says Versant customers will no longer get LIAP as one or two lump sums and instead will see “a monthly discount on your bill.” The sheet’s example, at an average use of 550 kilowatt-hours a month, puts the discount for the lowest-income Versant group at 79 percent, or an estimated $141.10 a month, and for the 126 percent to 150 percent group at 17 percent, or about $30.52.
Who is enrolled automatically?
People in DHHS programs such as SNAP, TANF, MaineCare or the Home Energy Assistance Program are enrolled automatically and need to take no action, according to the governor’s office. Returning participants should check that the discount appears on their bills. Others can apply through their local Community Action Agency, and anyone who was enrolled through one of those agencies must reapply through it.
Customers of smaller consumer-owned utilities will continue to receive a lump-sum discount. The governor’s release says questions about discounts or enrollment should go to the customer’s electric company. Mainers can also call 2-1-1 to reach their local Community Action Agency, and the income group lookup is at mainehousing.org/charts.
What should a customer ask before signing a solar offer?
The Public Advocate’s letter is addressed to solar companies and gives no direct step-by-step advice for households. The office’s release says Mainers “should not lose out on assistance they are entitled to receive.” The numbers above point to a few questions worth asking any salesperson.
The first is whether the discount is calculated on the utility bill or on the solar payment, and whether it is better than the customer’s own LIAP tier. A 20 percent offer is below most LIAP tiers, though the lowest Versant tier is 17 percent. The second is whether signing up changes how the LIAP discount appears on the bill.
The Public Advocate’s letter also names the stakes in plain terms: Mainers who are eligible for LIAP are entitled to that discount, and an enrollment elsewhere should not cost them any of it. A household that is unsure which tier it falls in can use the income group lookup before answering any sales call.
Customers who already signed up and see a higher total than expected can call the Public Advocate’s office at (207) 624-3687. The office’s address is 112 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333.
Signed up for a solar offer while on Maine’s LIAP discount?
The Public Advocate says a solar discount can leave a LIAP household paying more, and a customer who has already enrolled may be stuck with a subscription that costs more than the state discount would have saved. The first step is a call that asks to cancel or pause.
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This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.
Warren Cohen is a finance writer based in Phoenix, Arizona, covering personal finance topics including credit, banking, and beginner investing. He earned his degree in business administration from Arizona State University and began his career working in consumer finance, where he gained direct experience with lending and credit systems. He now writes for personal finance websites and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, practical content that helps readers make informed financial decisions.
