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Get a Free QuoteCentral Maine Power rates have increased over 30% since 2024, reaching ~$0.22/kWh in 2026. A 10kW solar system locks your effective rate at $0/kWh through Net Energy Billing, saving the average Maine homeowner $2,400–$3,200/year.
30%+
CMP Increase Since 2024
$0.22
2026 CMP Rate (/kWh)
$0
Solar Rate With NEB
$58K+
25-Year Net Savings
Central Maine Power's all-in residential rate has risen steadily since 2022. These are the total rates including supply and delivery — what you actually pay per kWh on your bill.
| Year | All-In Rate | Annual Bill (10,800 kWh) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~$0.15/kWh | $1,620 | --- |
| 2023 | ~$0.17/kWh | $1,836 | +13% |
| 2024 | ~$0.18/kWh | $1,944 | +6% |
| 2025 | ~$0.20/kWh | $2,160 | +11% |
| 2026CURRENT | ~$0.22/kWh | $2,376 | +10% |
Source: CMP rate filings with Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). Rates shown are approximate total all-in residential rates including supply and delivery components. Trend: 10-15% annual increases.
This is not entirely CMP's fault. These are structural forces that will continue driving rates higher for years. Understanding them explains why waiting for rates to “come back down” is not a viable strategy.
Maine is investing billions in replacing aging transmission lines, substations, and poles. CMP has over $1B in planned grid upgrades through 2030.
Nor'easters and ice storms cause millions in damage annually. Storm hardening costs (underground lines, stronger poles) are passed to ratepayers.
ISO New England transmission costs have grown 6-8% per year. Maine pays a disproportionate share as an "end of the line" state in the regional grid.
Maine's 80% by 2030 RPS mandate requires new renewable contracts. These long-term power purchase agreements flow through as higher supply costs.
CMP's rate trajectory is driven by infrastructure, not market fluctuation. Transmission projects alone total over $1 billion through 2030. Storm hardening after increasingly severe nor'easters adds hundreds of millions more. These costs are approved by MPUC and will be collected from ratepayers over decades. The only question is how fast, not whether, rates will keep climbing.
Solar panels combined with Maine's Net Energy Billing (NEB) program create a permanent rate lock. Here is the mechanism:
Your solar panels produce electricity at a fixed cost — the system price divided by 25+ years of production. No fuel costs, no rate changes.
NEB gives you 1:1 retail-rate credits for every kWh exported to CMP's grid. Credits roll over monthly. Your effective rate: $0/kWh.
Every CMP rate increase makes your NEB credits worth MORE. You are not betting on rates staying high — you are hedging against them going higher.
Without Solar
$0.22/kWh today
Rising 3-5% every year. $0.29/kWh by 2031. $0.40/kWh by 2040. You have zero control.
With Solar + NEB
$0.00/kWh — locked
Fixed from day one. NEB credits offset your entire bill. Every CMP increase widens your savings gap.
Here is a transparent projection comparing staying on CMP vs. installing a 10kW solar system. We assume 3% annual rate increases — conservative based on CMP's recent 10-15% annual jumps.
System Size
10 kW
System Cost
$29,000 ($2.90/W)
2026 CMP Rate
$0.22/kWh
Annual Rate Increase
3% (conservative)
25-Year Net Savings
$57,626
That is the difference between paying CMP $86,626 over 25 years vs. paying $29,000 once for solar. And this uses a conservative 3% annual rate increase — CMP has been averaging 10-15%.
| Year | CMP Annual Cost | CMP Cumulative | Solar Savings vs CMP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,376 | $2,376 | -$26,624 |
| 2030 | $2,674 | $12,614 | -$16,386 |
| 2035 | $3,100 | $27,237 | -$1,763 |
| 2040 | $3,594 | $44,190 | +$15,190 |
| 2045 | $4,166 | $63,843 | +$34,843 |
| 2050 | $4,830 | $86,626 | +$57,626 |
CMP serves ~70% of Maine, Versant serves ~30%. Versant rates are actually higher ($0.25/kWh vs $0.22/kWh), which means even faster solar payback for Versant customers. Both utilities offer 1:1 NEB credits.
| Utility | Territory | 2026 Rate | Annual Bill | Solar Payback | 25-Yr Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Power (CMP) | Southern & central (~70%) | $0.22/kWh | $2,376 | ~12 years | $58K+ |
| Versant Power | Northern & eastern (~30%) | $0.25/kWh | $2,700 | ~10 years | $48K+ |
Southern and central Maine. Rate of ~$0.22/kWh and climbing. Solar payback around 12 years with cash purchase. With Propel financing, payments start below your current CMP bill from day one.
Northern and eastern Maine. Higher rate (~$0.25/kWh) means faster payback — around 10 years. Same 1:1 NEB credits. Same property tax exemption. Versant rates are rising too, driven by the same structural forces.
CMP customers can also join community solar through NEB. It is a valid option for renters, condo owners, or heavily shaded roofs — but it is not the same as owning your own panels.
Community solar is best for people who cannot install rooftop solar. If your roof is viable, rooftop solar with 1:1 NEB credits delivers significantly more value. Learn more about Maine community solar →
Cannot afford $29,000 upfront? Propel makes solar accessible with $0 down and a fixed monthly payment that is lower than your current CMP bill.
Propel Price = 70% of system cost
A third-party financing company claims the Section 48 commercial ITC (30%), reducing your effective cost to 70%.
$0 down, fixed payments
25-year term, 8.99% APR, $0 dealer fee. Your payment never changes, even as CMP rates keep rising.
FEOC-compliant Silfab 440W panels
American-made panels required for Section 48 eligibility. Manufactured in the USA, no foreign entity of concern supply chain.
You own it
Full ownership from day one. Keep 100% of NEB credits. Minimum 660 credit score.
Maine law exempts solar equipment from property tax statewide. A $29,000 system adds home value but $0 to your property tax bill. Saves ~$400/year at Maine's 1.39% average effective rate.
Full retail-rate credits for every kWh exported. Rooftop NEB is protected from LD 1777 changes (which only affected community solar). Credits roll over monthly.
National studies show solar adds 3-4% to home value. On a $350,000 Maine home, that is $10,500-$14,000 in added resale value — tax-free under Maine's property tax exemption.
Common questions about CMP rates, solar economics, and going solar in Maine.
CMP rates have increased over 30% since 2024, driven by a combination of factors: massive grid infrastructure upgrades costing over $1B through 2030, rising ISO New England transmission cost allocations, winter storm damage repair costs, and compliance with Maine's 80% by 2030 renewable portfolio standard. Both the supply and delivery components of your bill have risen.
When you install solar in Maine, your panels generate electricity at a fixed cost — the cost of the system divided by its lifetime production. Through Net Energy Billing (NEB), CMP credits you at the full retail rate for every kWh you export. Your effective electricity cost becomes $0/kWh because your NEB credits offset your bill. Every time CMP raises rates, your NEB credits become MORE valuable.
Net Energy Billing (NEB) is Maine's net metering program. For rooftop solar, you receive 1:1 retail-rate bill credits for electricity sent to the grid. Credits roll over monthly and true up annually. When CMP raises rates from $0.22 to $0.25/kWh, your NEB credits automatically increase to match — your savings grow with every rate increase.
A 10kW solar system in Maine costs approximately $29,000 ($2.90/W) in 2026. There is no federal residential solar tax credit — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. However, Maine offers 100% property tax exemption (statewide) and 1:1 NEB credits. With Propel financing, you can go solar for $0 down with a fixed monthly payment.
All indicators point to continued increases. CMP has over $1B in planned grid infrastructure projects through 2030, ISO New England transmission costs continue rising 6-8% annually, and Maine's renewable mandate compliance will require additional investment. Industry analysts project 3-5% annual increases as a reasonable baseline.
Yes. While the 25D residential ITC expired, Maine's high electricity rates ($0.22-$0.25/kWh) and strong 1:1 NEB program make solar financially compelling. A 10kW system saves $30,000+ over 25 years compared to CMP at 3% annual rate increases. Every CMP rate hike makes solar more valuable, not less.
Propel is a $0-down financing option available in Maine. The system price is calculated at 70% of gross cost because a third-party financing company claims the Section 48 commercial ITC (30%). You get a fixed 25-year payment at 8.99% APR. Requires FEOC-compliant Silfab 440W panels and a minimum 660 credit score. You own the panels around year 5.
Waiting is unlikely to help. CMP rates have trended upward for 5+ consecutive years, and the structural drivers (grid upgrades, transmission costs, storm hardening) are long-term. Every year you wait, you pay another $2,400-$3,200 to CMP instead of building equity in your own solar system. Solar panel costs are also rising due to tariffs.
Every month on CMP is another month of rising rates. A 10kW solar system pays for itself and then saves you $58K+ over 25 years. Get your free solar assessment in 60 seconds.
No commitment. No hard credit pull. Free roof assessment included.
Supply rate breakdown, town-by-town bill comparison, and Propel payment calculator.
Current pricing by city, system size, and financing option. No ITC.
How NEB works, 1:1 credits, monthly rollover, and annual true-up explained.