how would you vote on Maine Ballot Q 3? (state ownership of electricity production/distribution)

[dead0man]

link to initiative

Groups against:the Maine AFL-CIO
the local chapter of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
the Dem Governor
Maine Chamber of Commerce

Groups/people for:Bernie Sanders
some Maine progressives
Sierra Club
Common Dreams

article from the left

A ballot initiative up in November, backed by Mainers who are fed up with that status quo, aims to take back the monopoly privileges granted to those private utilities and convert them into Pine Tree Power, a nonprofit authority that would be run by an independent board.

Backers say it would improve reliability and bring down rates. And, they argue, this is a critical time to take back public control of utilities, as Maine embarks on a mass electrification drive that will transform its energy system.

The Pine Tree Power campaign has won the support of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and environmental groups like the Sierra Club. But despite progressive backing, fault lines have emerged over the proposal that do not split neatly by political affiliation.

More from Lee Harris

Opponents, including some Democrats and utility workers, are skeptical that the authority can deliver the savings it promises, and worry about the risks involved in overthrowing incumbent utilities.

Meanwhile, Pine Tree Power’s supporters include right-wing residents who are tired of high rates and outages, and a diverse coalition aiming to wrest back control of electric transmission from foreign-owned corporations.

“They have been granted a monopoly franchise,” said Jill Linzee, a supporter of the ballot initiative who lives in Bristol. “The people of Maine have the right to say, you guys are not living up to what we need in our utilities, and we’re ready to replace you.”

Reason

Residents of Maine can't be blamed if they want changes in how their state's electric utilities operate. Central Maine and Versant ranked dead last in customer satisfaction within their respective categories in last year's J.D. Power surveys.

But a state takeover is unlikely to solve that problem. Indeed, the best way to force those utility companies to improve is to subject them to more competition. But Ballot Question 3 will take competition out of the equation by creating a state-run monopoly and then just hoping for the best.

[gerritcole]

in theory i want to vote yes, but the fact that it will be run by an 'independent board' means it'll turn into some sinecure of sorts that will be bloated/inefficient. And no this is not a criticism of socialism because state ownership works best when you can use the government's monopoly in violence to enforce your will which Maine won't allow. Ideally, they'd outsource the board operations to McKinsey or ErnstYoung and they'd optimize the system

[TransfemmeGoreVidal]

This is a rare instance in which I’m inclined to disagree with Bernie and would probably vote no.

[Vice President Christian Man]

No

[Vosem]

Hell no, never anything remotely like this in a million years, anyone who supported this is disqualified from receiving my support for anything ever again.

[BigZuck08]

No, why do we need a publicly owned electricity company if the privately owned one is doing their job just fine?

[dead0man]

No, why do we need a publicly owned electricity company if the privately owned one is doing their job just fine?

Maine's is the worst in the nation (according to the story, which cites a JD Power survey), but this would still be a bad choice

[BigZuck08]

No, why do we need a publicly owned electricity company if the privately owned one is doing their job just fine?

Maine's is the worst in the nation (according to the story, which cites a JD Power survey), but this would still be a bad choice

Oh ok. But still, no.