CMP standard offer 2027: when Maine's price changes

If you get electricity from Central Maine Power (CMP) and never picked a supplier, you pay the Standard Offer. It changes once a year, on January 1. The 2027 price had not been set when we checked on October 12, 2026.

Here is what's known: today's price, how the 2027 price gets set, when it's usually announced, and how it has moved since 2018. I'll update this post when the 2027 price is announced. The newest number always shows first on our CMP Standard Offer page and on Maine price changes.

Today's price

CMP's Standard Offer for homes and small businesses is 12.721¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for January 1 through December 31, 2026. A kWh is one unit of electricity. Your bill shows how many you used.

The Standard Offer covers only the supply part of your bill, the electricity itself. Delivery, for the wires and poles, is separate. You pay it to CMP no matter who supplies your power.

How the 2027 price is set

CMP doesn't set its own Standard Offer price. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) asks energy suppliers to bid for the job of supplying Standard Offer customers, then accepts the winning bids. The price comes from those bids.

For 2027, the MPUC has done this in steps (docket 2026-00065):

• May 26, 2026: it asked for bids for up to half of CMP's home and small business supply.
• July 22, 2026: it awarded 20% of that supply.
• September 15, 2026: it asked for bids for the rest. First bids were due October 9, 2026.
• Final bids: the MPUC said the dates "have not yet been established."

When the last bids are accepted, the MPUC announces the price. In last year's request for bids, it said Standard Offer prices are released the same day as its final decision.

When was it announced in past years? For 2023, the MPUC announced CMP's new price on November 16, 2022. For 2027, the MPUC hasn't set a date yet.

CMP's Standard Offer since 2018

From the MPUC's history of CMP's Standard Offer for homes and small businesses:

| Year | Price per kWh | | --- | --- | | 2018 | 7.921¢ | | 2019 | 9.003¢ | | 2020 | 7.304¢ | | 2021 | 6.449¢ | | 2022 | 11.816¢ | | 2023 (Jan 1 to July 14) | 17.631¢ | | 2023 (July 15 to Dec 31) | 16.631¢ | | 2024 (Jan to June) | 10.836¢ | | 2024 (July to Dec) | 10.636¢ | | 2025 | 10.613¢ | | 2026 | 12.721¢ |

The price has moved a lot. It jumped 49% for 2023, then fell back. It went up about 20% for 2026. Past years don't tell you 2027's number. They do show why it's worth checking the new price as soon as it's out.

Should I pick a supplier before January?

Only if an offer beats the Standard Offer by enough to matter. Today, few do. On the state's price list from the Office of the Public Advocate (dated October 1, 2026), CMP customers had 23 offers. The lowest was 13.99¢ per kWh, above CMP's 12.721¢.

Before you sign anything:

1. Wait for the 2027 price if you can. Then you can compare with the real number instead of a guess.
2. Read the term and the fee to leave early.
3. Ignore "prices are going up" pressure. Until the MPUC announces the price, nobody knows it.

Your rights in Maine

• Changed your mind? You have at least 5 calendar days after you get the new supplier's first bill to cancel.
• Contract ending? Suppliers must send you two notices, 30 to 60 days before a contract ends.
• Going back to the Standard Offer happens at your next meter read, usually within one or two bills.

Versant Power customers

Versant Power's two areas also change on January 1. See Versant Power Bangor Hydro's Standard Offer and Versant Power Maine Public's Standard Offer.

Who to call

• Central Maine Power: 1-800-750-4000
• Maine Public Utilities Commission, Consumer Assistance: 1-800-452-4699
• Maine Office of the Public Advocate: 207-624-3687

What to do next

• Check the CMP Standard Offer page for today's price and the 2027 price once it's posted.
• See every Maine utility on the Maine Standard Offer page.
• Send a photo of your bill to the free bill check. I'll compare your price with CMP's and every offer on the state's list.

Judy Saves is independent. I don't sell electricity, and no supplier pays me.

Sources

• Maine Public Utilities Commission: Standard Offer rates for Central Maine Power (opens a new tab) (prices 2018 to 2026, and the November 16, 2022 press release on 2023 prices)
• MPUC: Standard Offer bid solicitations, docket 2026-00065 (opens a new tab) (the 2027 steps; checked October 12, 2026)
• MPUC: Request for proposals for CMP Standard Offer, 2026 (opens a new tab) (prices released with the final decision)
• Maine Office of the Public Advocate: Electricity supply price list (opens a new tab) (offers as of October 1, 2026) and frequently asked questions (opens a new tab)
• MPUC: Chapter 305 rule (opens a new tab) (5 days to cancel after the first bill)
• MPUC: Consumer Assistance contact (opens a new tab)