What To Do When You Can’t Pay Your Central Maine Power Bill
Central Maine Power is an electric company servicing central Maine and surrounding areas. If you are having trouble making your payments on time, read this to learn more about what your options are.
How To Pay The Bill
Central Maine Power offers several different online CMP bill pay options to make paying your bill more convenient. Your payment options include: eBill, AutoPay, online, by mail and in person.
eBill is a service that sends an electronic copy of your bill to your email address and allows you pay online or by bank draft. Sign up for the service through your online account. To enroll in this service, you must have an account in good standing.
AutoPay is a service that automatically drafts money from your bank account on a certain day each month to pay your bill. Enroll online or with customer service.
To pay your bill by mail, send a check or money order with the payment stub from your bill to the following address:
Central Maine Power Company
PO Box 11752
Newark, NJ 07101-4752.
To pay your bill in person visit the payment center locator to find the location nearest you.
Questions About Your Billing Statement or Account?
Central Maine Power offers a Pricing FAQs page for customers who have questions about prices, fees and charges including alternative pricing plans and delivery charges. The customer service phone number is 1-800-750-4000.
How The Penalty Fees Work
CMP charges a late fee as a small percentage of the overall bill due. If you have your service disconnected due to non-payment, you may have to pay a fee to have service restored.
- Late payment fee: If your payment is not received by the 25th day after the date your bill was printed, you will be charged a late payment fee at the maximum rate allowed by the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
- Returned payment charge: $12 per account the payment was applied. For instance, if your payment was applied to two accounts, you will be charged $24 in returned payment charges.
I Can’t Make A Payment
CMP will work with you if you cannot make a payment. The best thing you can do is call customer service at 1-800-750-4000 to discuss a payment arrangement. This will allow you to keep your service on and give you more time to pay your bill. If you still need help, customer service can point you in the direction of various assistance agencies in your service area that may be able to help.Specific programs offered by Central Maine Power include:
- LIHEAP home energy assistance program: The federal program is available to low-income customers of CMP. The program offers financial assistance so customers can pay your current or past due bill. LIHEAP has limited funds, so customers are encouraged to apply for funding early.
- Friend Alert: A friend, family member or organization receives a copy of all important communication, including late notices and disconnect notices.
- Electricity Lifeline: Qualified customers receive a credit on their electric bill. Open to low-income customers and families.
- Lifelight Service: Customers with life support systems requiring electricicty are notified of planned outages in advance.
Community action programs are available throughout the service area to help customers having trouble paying electric bills. Some of the agencies include:
- Keenebec Valley Community Action in Augusta: 1-800-542-8227
- Peoples Regional Opportunity Program in Portland: 1-800-698-4959
- Penquis Community Action Program in Bangor: 1-800-215-4942
- York Community Action Program in Sanford: 1-800-965-5762
Will They Work With Me To Pay My Bill?
CMP has several different ways they can help you. Low income customers may be eligible for a billing credit every month. If you cannot pay, there are several community agencies that can help you make the payments. Contact customer service to learn more about the available programs and options to ensure that you will never go without service. Customers with special needs that depend on electricity will be given advanced notice of any work done in their area that may cause an outage. There is also a program that will allow you to designate another person, such as a friend or family member who lives at another address to receive copies of all correspondence you get from them, so you will have reminders.
