Question 1

What is the structure of the cooperative and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

Our cooperative is member-owned and non-extractive, keeping energy dollars circulating in Maine. Our member-owners, Board of Directors, staff, and installation partners are all based right here in Maine.
The cooperative is made up of member-owners: residential and small business (SGS) customers of Central Maine Power. When you join the cooperative and subscribe to our community solar program, you become a member-owner.
The cooperative is governed by a Board of Directors, made up entirely of member-owners.
The Board oversees the operation of the cooperative on behalf of all member-owners. Members vote on decisions about how the cooperative is run at our Annual Meeting each spring.
This model ensures that decisions impacting our members are always made by members, for members.

Question 2

Who can serve on the Board of Directors?

Accepted Answer

The Board is made up entirely of member-owners who are subscribers to our community solar program. You can learn more about the Board on the About page.
Members can run for a seat on the Board at our Annual Meeting each spring. If you're interested in learning more, keep an eye out for updates in our monthly email newsletters or email secretary@mainecommunitypower.com.

Question 3

What is a membership share and why do I have to purchase one?

Accepted Answer

A membership share represents your ownership stake in the cooperative.
It is a one-time payment that gives you full membership rights, including access to cooperative services, and voting privileges. Your membership share is fully refundable if you choose to leave the cooperative.

Question 4

What makes MCPC different from other community solar?

Accepted Answer

MCPC is still cooperatively owned and run by members like you. Members will continue to receive a full 10, 15, or 20% discount including fixed charges. We are still the only cooperative community solar provider in Maine and offer the highest possible discount for income-eligible members.

Question 5

How have legislative changes impacted the cooperative? What happened to LD1966?

Accepted Answer

The changes to net energy billing made by the legislature last year posed challenges to MCPC’s plans to grow the cooperative and build additional projects to match membership growth. With support from you (our members), community partners, and key supportive legislators, we were able to successfully pass LD1966 which provided a stop-gap measure for MCPC to continue building projects until the successor program to NEB is established later this year. Due to this and additional challenges on the federal, state, and utility levels, we are taking steps to reduce operating costs and continue to provide the greatest possible discount for members. We will reach out with additional updates as we continue to plan for the future of the cooperative.

Question 6

Are you taking new members?

Accepted Answer

Any residential or small business (SGS) customers of Central Maine Power (CMP) is eligible to join the cooperative.
We are temporarily pausing new member enrollment. Our projects are currently full. We'll begin enrolling new members as soon as we have available capacity in future solar projects. You can stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter.

Question 7

What if I want to cancel my membership?

Accepted Answer

You can reach out to support@mainecommunitypower.com to cancel your membership at any time. We'll cancel your membership and refund your membership share payment.
If you're subscribed to one of our solar projects, we will let PowerMarket know and they will cancel your subscription for you. Depending on the date of your cancellation, you may still be billed for 1-2 billing cycles.

Question 8

How can I get more involved with the cooperative?

Accepted Answer

Join us at the MCPC annual meeting on October 3rd from 10am to 12pm at the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy office in Norway, Maine. The Board of Directors will share updates from the past year and plans for the future of the cooperative. 
You can also join the Board of Directors. Any member of the cooperative is encouraged to join the Board of Directors. The Board will steward MCPC into its next phase. You can get in touch with a member of the Board to learn more about their work and what it means by emailing secretary@mainecommunitypower.com.

Question 9

Will rates go up in the future?

Accepted Answer

Unlike other community solar programs, the cooperative owns its entire portfolio of solar projects and controls the rates charged to members.
The Board reviews utility rates and operational costs to approve rates annually. While rates may be adjusted to cover the cost of operating the cooperative, members are not exposed to the energy price volatility experienced in the open market.
If rates do increase in the future, members are not locked into long term contracts and can cancel their memberships at any time.

Frequently asked questions