AUGUSTA, ME — As Maine endures one of the coldest winters in recent memory, residents are grappling with another harsh reality: monthly electricity bills that rank among the highest in the country.
Maine households experience electricity costs that are forty percent (40%) higher compared to five years ago, with eighty-four percent (84%) saying they are paying more for energy than they were five years ago, according to new polling from Independent Women’s New England Energy Survey.
The findings reveal deep frustration among Maine women over rising energy costs, concerns about grid reliability, and growing skepticism about the tradeoffs embedded in the region’s aggressive green-energy agenda.
More than half (57%) of Maine women believe politicians have misled voters about the effectiveness and costs of green mandates.
Maine was an early adopter of green energy policies:
- In 1999, the state approved a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). An updated Clean Energy Standard mandated at least 90% of the grid be powered by renewables by 2040.
- In 2007, it joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to regulate carbon emissions, despite the cap-and-trade program not delivering on this goal.
- In 2024, a state board recommended against adopting California’s EV mandate.
- In 2020, the state adopted a Maine Can’t Wait Climate Action plan to force electric vehicles, heat pumps, and clean energy adoption. It renewed the plan in 2024, listing more aggressive climate targets.
- In January 2025, the Maine Energy Plan was adopted further to usher in the state’s transition to 100% renewable energy by 2040.
KEY FINDINGS
The New England Women’s Energy Survey was conducted by Wick Insights among a sample of 3,000 women who are likely 2026 general election voters across the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont—the region with the highest electricity rates in the nation.
- 94% are concerned about rising energy costs
- 84% say they are paying more for energy than they were five years ago
- 57% believe Maine politicians have misled voters about the effectiveness and costs of the green-energy transition
“Maine is suffering from energy insecurity due to costly climate policies mandating a transition to 100% renewables. Over the last five years, green energy policies passed in Augusta have had negative downstream effects on Mainers. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If Governor Mills is serious about energy affordability, she must promote reliable, abundant sources like natural gas and nuclear – not exclusively solar and wind,” said Gabriella Hoffman, director of Independent Women’s Center for Energy and Conservation.
Twenty-seven percent (27.5%) of female Maine voters blamed rising energy costs on utility companies, and twelve percent (12.8%) attributed them to federal policies, demonstrating a significant knowledge gap about the state policies behind rising costs.
Additionally, fifty-eight percent (58.4%) of female voters in Maine did not know about the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a policy adopted by the state government, limiting energy diversity and a more affordable energy grid, increasing electricity prices, and reducing flexibility during periods of high demand.
“Harsh winters and soaring energy costs are putting real pressure on Maine households. Residents shouldn’t be paying more to keep the lights on when there are many practical reforms Maine legislators can make to drive down costs today,” said Jordanne Kemper, vice president of Independent Women’s Voice. “Lawmakers must focus on making power affordable for everyone by removing regulatory barriers preventing a diverse, affordable, and reliable clean energy grid.”
More detailed poll results can be found here.
The New England region is frequently an early adopter of policy changes that can inform or influence legislation elsewhere in the country over time. The results of this poll offer a cautionary signal for states considering New England’s energy standards.
View poll results here.
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