Contact

Customer service

207-868-3321

Mon to Fri, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET

After-hours outage

207-868-3321

Same number; press the on-call prompt

Office address

51 Main Street, Suite 102
Van Buren, ME 04785

Email / fax

[email protected]

Fax: 207-868-2285

Utility fact sheet

Type
Consumer-owned utility (COU)
Town
Van Buren, ME (Aroostook Co.)
ZIP
04785
Service area
Town of Van Buren only
Retail choice?
No (COU territory)
Governance
Elected Board of Trustees
Grid operator
NMISA (Northern Maine)

Quick actions

  • 1

    Start service

    Call 207-868-3321 or stop by 51 Main St #102. Bring photo ID and a deposit (refunded after 12 months of on-time payment).

  • 2

    Stop service

    Same line. Give your move-out date and a forwarding address for the final bill.

  • 3

    Report an outage

    Use the main number day or night. Never call Versant or CMP for a Van Buren outage; they do not serve the town.

See the ME energy guide

Why a Maine consumer-owned utility is not Versant or CMP

Most of Maine is served by two investor-owned utilities, Central Maine Power (CMP) and Versant Power. A small number of consumer-owned utilities (COUs) exist in towns that built their own systems decades ago. Van Buren is one of those carve-outs. The rules and economics are different.

CMP / Versant (IOU)

  • ·Owned by shareholders.
  • ·Regulated by the Maine PUC.
  • ·You can shop a Competitive Electricity Provider (CEP) for supply; default supply is the Standard Offer Service.

Van Buren L&P (COU)

  • ·Owned by the town residents it serves.
  • ·Governed by an elected Board of Trustees.
  • ·Supplier choice is not available; the District supplies all the power.
  • ·Rates set locally; typically lower than CMP/Versant.

Insider tip

A small district can buy power from across the border

Aroostook County is electrically isolated from the rest of Maine. The Northern Maine Independent System Administrator (NMISA) area, which covers Van Buren, links into the New Brunswick (Canada) grid more strongly than into ISO New England. Some northern Maine COUs purchase part of their wholesale power directly from NB Power at hydro-driven prices that the rest of New England never sees.

What that means for you: When ISO-NE wholesale prices spike during a winter cold snap, Van Buren is partly insulated because some of its supply is locked into long-term Canadian hydro contracts. That is one structural reason small Aroostook COU bills tend to come in below what CMP charges in the south. The Aroostook County connector line currently under construction will eventually link NMISA to ISO-NE and could change that dynamic.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pick a competitive supplier in Van Buren?
No. Maine's competitive electricity provider law applies in CMP and Versant territory. Consumer-owned utilities, including Van Buren Light & Power District, supply all the energy their customers use.
My power is out. Who do I call?
Van Buren Light & Power District at 207-868-3321, day or night. Never call Versant or CMP; they do not serve Van Buren. If a power line is down, call 911 first.
Can I get help paying my bill?
Yes. Maine's LIHEAP Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), administered by Aroostook County Action Program (ACAP), helps with electric, heating fuel, and weatherization costs. Apply between November and April for the winter heating season.
18 deregulated jurisdictions

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