14 Jan WCME Midcoast News January 14, 2015

Lower Electricity Rates

Due to a decision by the Public Utilities Commission, home and small business customers served by Central Maine Power  and buying electricity through the state’s standard offer will see their rates drop rather than increase, as had been feared. The P-U-C has accepted two bids for standard-offer service that will lead to a 13 percent drop in electric supply rates. The new standard-offer rate will cover a ten month period ending December 31.

Leaving

In West Bath, voters have overwhelmingly decided to withdraw from Regional School Unit One and create an independent district. The vote was 468-97. Still left in the regional district are Bath, Woolwich, Phippsburg and Arrowsic. West Bath elementary students will attend West Bath School, while middle and high school students will be able to tuition out to other schools.

Another Step Forward

In Brunswick, unanimous approval has come from the Planning Board for a design sketch from Topsham developer Jim Howard for two office buildings as well as a bank building at the entrance to Brunswick Landing, the site of the former naval air station. Final approval is still needed before construction begins. So far there is no word on the project’s future timetable.