NECEC Transmission Line & Cross Town Storage: Welcome Additions to New England’s Electricity Mix
By Eben Perkins, Chief Strategy Officer As we turn the page on 2025 and look forward to the new year, we are set to see two notable changes to the power grid here in New England. First, New England Clean Energy Connect (“NECEC”) is nearing commercial operation after years of delay and controversy. Second, the […]
Maine Electric Prices to Hit Highest Level in Three Years
Maine Public | By Peter McGuire, Published November 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM EST Mainers’ power bills will go up again in 2026 after the Maine Public Utilities Commission approves new annual contracts to supply electricity to the state’s investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities. Commissioners said increasing costs were linked to rising prices of natural gas across […]
2025 Year in Review: CES Insights
By Nina Callanan, Managing Director of Communications & Human Relations Throughout 2025, CES energy experts shared insights on a variety of topics including energy master planning, rate design and the act of changing the peak window to benefit the future of the grid, the U.S. renewable energy sector and how it’s evolving amid policy shifts, […]
2025 ISO-NE Peak Load Hour and CES Self-Help Program Recap
By Andrew Price, President & CEO There was little suspense as we waited for the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE) to formally identify the annual peak load for 2025. Temperatures on June 24 hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit across much of New England and electricity demand spiked to the highest level since 2013, as […]
Cold Weather Months: How CES Helps Clients Power Through
By Zack Hallock, Senior Energy Services Advisor Focusing on seasonal and annual weather patterns may not be top of mind, but for some of us at Competitive Energy Services (CES) it’s critical to keep on the front burner. Whether we like it or not, climate trends and seasonal weather patterns are a critical focus when […]
Electricity Rates for Mainers are Going Up Because More Natural Gas is Being Sold Overseas
By Tux Turkel, tuxturkel@gmail.com Most Maine homes and small businesses can expect the cost of their electricity supply to go up in January. Nine out of 10 Maine homes receive their electricity supply through the state-run standard offer program. They’re likely to see an estimated 15 percent or so jump in rates, according to an […]
What Goes into a CES Client Meeting?
By Eliza Pohle, Senior Energy Analyst As a senior member of the Analytics Team here at Competitive Energy Services (CES), I ensure that we are compiling and presenting accurate and useful energy data, reporting on relevant market trends and policy updates, and maintaining strong working relationships with our clients. A key element of building long-term […]
Energy Master Planning: Create a Plan Not a Study
By Zac Bloom, Vice President, Head of Sustainability and Renewables An Energy Master Planning exercise can be undertaken for a multitude of reasons and at a variety of levels. Establishing a clear intent for the plan is essential to making the most of the time and money invested in the plan. If done correctly, it should […]
The OBBBA vs. the IRA: Crystalizing Energy Policy Changes
By Lakshya, Bharadwaj, Senior Energy Analyst On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed into law a budget reconciliation bill championed by Republicans and branded the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). While there is a long list of measures in the act that will have tangible and transformative impacts on public policy in the country, […]
New England Legislative Updates: Balancing Renewable Goals with Energy Affordability
By Thea Aslanian, Energy Analyst Introduction and Background Across New England, state legislatures are rebalancing ambitious climate goals with rising concerns over energy affordability. Costs of living in the Northeast have risen 3% year-over-year as of June, with household energy costs rising almost 13%. In the first half of 2025, several states passed major reforms […]