Stay Warm and Save: CMP Tools to Reduce Winter Energy Expenses

With the cold start to the winter season, CMP customers can use tools like Energy Manager to stay on top of their energy use and costs

AUGUSTA, ME - January 6, 2026- Central Maine Power (CMP), a subsidiary of Avangrid, is continuing to raise awareness around tools and programs available to help customers manage their costs during a record-breaking cold start to the winter season. In addition, the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) announced in December that Standard Offer electricity supply rates would increase by approximately $11-12 per month for the average CMP residential customer using 550kwh a month starting on January 1, 2026. This price change is not set by CMP and does not generate inco
me or profit for CMP.

The result of these two factors means some customers could see higher than normal electric bills during their next billing cycle.

Electricity bills have two parts: delivery and supply. CMP is an electric delivery company maintaining wires and poles, reading meters and restoring power during an outage. Supply rates are determined annually by the MPUC. CMP is legally required to collect these charges on behalf of unregulated energy suppliers. Your supplier is your choice. To learn more, visit choose a supplier.

Heat pumps and other heating sources can result in higher electricity usage, especially during cold-weather months. This means longer nights might require more light use and colder temperatures may require heating systems to use more energy to maintain temperatures. There are convenient ways for customers to monitor how much energy they use so they can take steps to manage costs.

Digital tools include:

• Signing Up for Usage Alerts -Through your online account, you can sign up for alerts via text, phone or email. These can update you with your weekly usage and its estimated cost. You can also set a usage or target for yourself and receive an alert if you exceed your target.
• Energy Manager - Can show you your daily energy usage online and can give you a breakdown of your usage by category, like heating, lighting, and cooking, and compare your household's use to households like yours so you can understand how you're using energy and make informed energy decisions.

Cold weather plays a major role in increasing your energy use, which can have a big impact on your bill. A few simple changes can make a big difference in usage. Here are some tips on how to reduce your energy use:

• Adjust thermostat:unless you have a heat pump, making small changes to your thermostat can help you save. Keeping the temperature at 65 degrees during the day can reduce hearing use by up to 15%.
• Check your hot water heater:properly insulate your hot water tank and the pipes leading from it to minimize heat loss and set the thermostat to 120 degrees.
• Block any drafts:install door sweeps to entry doors to eliminant cold air from sneaking in. Check for drafts in windows as well.
• Follow here for more hints, tips, tools, programs and rebates to help save on energy use.

If customers are struggling to pay their bills, assistance programs are available:

• Electricity Lifeline Program (ELP) -- CMP's ELP Program offers qualified customers a credit of up to $1,200 annually on their electric bill. The amount of your ELP credit is based on household income and estimated electricity usage. Customers can view CMP's ELP fact sheet for more information.
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) -- HEAP provides federal grant money to qualified customers to help pay their heating costs and may also assist with weatherization needs. Customers can visit mainehousing.org for financial guidelines.
• Home Weatherization through Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) - Efficiency Maine Trust has programs for customers who qualify that offer incentives and energy audits for those seeking better air sealing and other energy efficiency improvements in their homes. Customers can visit the EMT website for more information.
• For a full list of assistance programs, visit Help with Your Bill.

Customers have several convenient ways to reach CMP for questions about electricity use, assistance programs, or our digital tools. You can speak directly with our customer service team by calling 800.750.4000 (available Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.), visit our website or mobile app, or chat with Ava, your new virtual energy assistant. We also host in-person Community Connection events across Maine, where customers can meet with our representatives face-to-face.

The list below includes upcoming Community Connection events.

In addition, if you or someone you know needs utility or heating assistance, call 2-1-1 if calling from Maine, or call 877.463.6207, or text your zip code to 898-211, or visit 211maine.org for information about services available throughout the state. 2-1-1 is Maine's 24/7 health and human services information and referral system.