The City of Augusta, ME, which faces a loss of $200,000 in excise tax revenue under a proposed legislative change, has claimed that Central Maine Power is backing the change in retaliation for the city choosing a company unaffiliated with CMP for natural gas supply.

Specifically, a bill before the Maine legislature would require vehicle excise taxes on CMP's vehicles to be paid to the locality where such vehicles are garaged, not to the city in which CMP is headquartered (Augusta)

Augusta Mayor William Stokes told the Portland Press Herald that CMP wants to punish Augusta for selecting Summit Natural Gas for natural gas supply, rather than CMP affiliate Maine Natural Gas (CMP and Maine Natural Gas are both owned by Iberdrola).

According to the Kennebec Journal, Augusta has also filed a complaint at the Maine PUC , "alleging CMP improperly used company resources to wage its battle of retribution against the city on behalf of its partner company Maine Natural Gas."

Read more details at:

Portland Press Herald: Augusta Mayor Says CMP Wants To Punish City

Kennebec Journal: Legislators Leery Of Being Caught In Feud Between City Of Augusta, CMP

Maine Public Broadcasting Network: Augusta Files Complaint Against CMP Over Natural Gas Contract