Editor:

I am one of the 1,499 who want to be released from the bondage of Central Maine Power. To CMP’s Spanish owners we are just revenue. During the two storms of 2007, I “flipped the switch” for a total of 63 1/2 hours and they weren’t there. They even closed their customer  service department so they wouldn’t have to tell us when they would be there. CMP’s arrogant spokesperson has named us their assets. I want to be a Kennebunk Light and Power District customer, not a CMP asset, and I want to be able to “flip the switch” and know that reliable KLPD is there. Who knows, that sole dissident may even find the superior service favorable.

J. R. Kraus

Kennebunk

Correct an historical relic

Editor:

Voters in Kennebunk will decide on Tuesday, Nov. 4 on Question No. 1, asking whether they favor allowing the Kennebunk Light and Power District (KLPD) to provide electricity to the entire town. A “yes” vote is the right vote for all Kennebunk citizens. 

Due to unknown reasons, in 1903 the Maine State Legislature, with the stroke of a pen, imposed an arbitrary line known as the “1903 Line” which in essence broke-off a portion of Kennebunk, thus prohibiting KLPD the right and obligation of servicing the entire town of Kennebunk. 

For years a group of Kennebunk residents, known as CEEK, has worked tirelessly to once and for all correct this injustice and to bring reliable, consistent, local electric power to all citizens of Kennebunk. 

Recently, some have suggested, that because today the cost of power from Central Maine Power (CMP) and KLPD are relatively the same, that the voters of Kennebunk should not bother with this vote. That it really doesn’t matter, that the dollars and cents don’t add up.

I would like to suggest that this vote does matter and that it matters more now then ever. Today, it is true that the direct cost of power from either CMP or KLPD is relatively the same. What is also true, is the fact that the level of service, reliability, continuity, local access and indirect costs are night and day apart between CMP and KLPD.

A 30 month long study of both CMP and KLPD revealed that CMP customers in Kennebunk were almost twice as likely to experience outages, which would last five times as long as KLPD outages. How does that impact families with young children, our sick and our elderly? Voltage surges and sags were also more prevalent in the CMP coverage area, which could damage sensitive electrical motors found in homes and area businesses. Again, impacting the wellbeing of our fellow citizens. The study also noted that while KLPD conducts annual tree trimming and pole repair and replacement, CMP usually does not until there is a power outage or issue.

 The Kennebunk town manager and fire chief have pointed out that it costs the taxpayers of Kennebunk more in the way of “emergency response” to CMP outages than those of KLPD due in large part to the time it takes CMP to respond to downed power lines and/or outages. Our tax dollars are being spent having to have police and fire personnel “on scene” for longer periods of time. A call to CMP is always met with a pre-recorded message whereas a phone call to KLPD is usually answered by a live person. A service call for CMP is routed out of their Alfred service center; some 25-plus miles away and can take hours for a response team.

A service call for KLPD begins at 4 Factory Pasture Lane, centrally located in downtown Kennebunk.

CMP is owned by a huge utility company, Energy East from New York, with more than three million customers. The approximately 1,500 CMP customers in Kennebunk represent about .0005 percent of Energy East’s total customer base, whereas those same 1,500 customers will represent more than a 20 percent increase in KLPD’s base which over time will help cut costs to all KLPD customers. KLPD is owned by the citizens of Kennebunk.

The time is right, the time is now for the voters of Kennebunk to vote “Yes” on Question No. 1 of the Kennebunk Municipal Ballot and tell CMP and the State Legislature that the citizens of Kennebunk want KLPD to be the electric utility for all of Kennebunk.

John P. Hughes III 

Kennebunk

No confidence in CMP service

Editor:

Like clockwork “Leave It To Beaver” reruns manage to invade the lower part of Sea Road every tourist season in Kennebunk in the form of CMP. That’s when Eddie Haskell instructs the seemingly “higher” concentration of squirrels in this area of town to walk across the power lines, We are stuck calling the customer “no” service department at CMP.

Let’s take a harder look at at this CMP/KLPD thing before we decide whether to take it another step. Here is what happens when the power goes out.Your pipes will not discriminate. They will freeze. Basements flood because your sump pump can’t kick on. People on oxygen lose their ability to breathe. The food in your refrigerator/freezer can spoil. People slip and fall in the dark. Your lobster supper for your summer guests goes into free fall. Businesses close. 

Have you ever fought with an insurance company and ended up on the short end of the stick? Didn’t have the proper riders? What’s the cost of a generator? Stress and anxiety have a price as well. This vote on Nov. 4 is simply to get it to the next level. The true cost goes far beyond writing a check each month to either utility with similar rates. With CMP we have had a very poor experience.

On July 19, our power went out for 11 hours. And like the gentleman in the road working the detail on upper Beach Avenue said to me. “If KLPD had this section of town , guy, we would all be home watching “Get Smart”.

Thank you Peter Hansen and the CEEK organization for all of your spade work for this “extended warranty” vote and potential future insurance policy. See you at the polls.

Paul Bennett

Kennebunk