In short: Greater Portland is Central Maine Power country. Since July 1, 2026, a CMP household on the standard supply pays $27.37 a month plus about 24.7¢ for each kWh over 50 (Maine PUC). In 2024, CMP customers lost about 1,894 minutes to outages, nearly 32 hours, almost all of it in major storms (EIA).
This page covers what is local to Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Westbrook, Falmouth and Brunswick: your utility’s numbers, Cumberland County’s storm risk, permits and charging. Statewide rules (Net Energy Billing, the plug-in solar law, Efficiency Maine incentives and electrician licensing) are in our Maine energy guide.
Greater Portland at a glance
- Utility: Central Maine Power (CMP) in all six of our cities. From July 1, 2026: $27.37 a month including the first 50 kWh, then 24.68¢ per kWh, of which 12.72¢ is the 2026 Standard Offer supply price (Maine PUC). CMP’s 2024 average was 23.4¢ (EIA-861).
- Outages (2024, CMP-wide): about 1,894 minutes per customer counting major storms, 215 without them; 3.4 interruptions a year, 1.8 on normal days (EIA-861).
- Sun: about 3.76 kWh per square meter per day in Portland (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,100 kWh a year per kW of panels.
- Top hazards: Cumberland County is rated “very high” for ice storms and winter weather and “relatively high” for lightning; coastal flooding, hurricanes, hail and strong wind are “relatively moderate” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 218 ports in Portland, 56 in Scarborough, 54 in Brunswick, 52 in South Portland, 25 in Falmouth and 17 in Westbrook (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
CMP owns the poles and wires in Cumberland County and bills delivery. The supply part of the bill is the Standard Offer unless you pick a competitive electricity provider; in 2024, about one CMP household in ten bought supply elsewhere (EIA-861). The 2026 Standard Offer rose from 10.61¢ to 12.72¢ per kWh, mainly because of natural gas prices, and the Maine PUC dismissed CMP’s proposed five-year rate plan in November 2025 (Maine PUC 2025 Annual Report). Former Navy land at Brunswick Landing has its own small utility, listed separately in the PUC’s rate table.
- Solar: home systems on CMP use Net Energy Billing with a one-for-one kWh credit; the details are on our state page. CMP counted 12,880 net-metered home solar systems in 2024 (EIA-861).
- Fixed charge: credits offset the per-kWh part of the bill, not the $27.37 monthly charge, so even a large system leaves a bill.
- Time-of-use and EV rates: we could not read CMP’s own program pages, so ask CMP which residential rate options exist before you buy a charger or battery for rate savings.
Backup power in Greater Portland
The gap between 215 minutes on normal days and 1,894 with storms tells the story: almost nine-tenths of the time CMP customers spent without power in 2024 came on major event days. With storms included, the average interruption lasted about nine hours. FEMA rates Cumberland County “very high” for both ice storms and winter weather, and the Maine PUC opened an inquiry in 2024 into storm resiliency and rising restoration costs. Plan for a cold outage that runs into a second day.
- Apartment or condo in Portland or South Portland: a portable power station keeps phones, Wi-Fi, lights and a CPAP going with no fumes or permit.
- House in Scarborough, Falmouth, Westbrook or Brunswick: size backup for the boiler or furnace, sump pump and, on a private well, the well pump. A standby generator covers a multi-day ice storm; a home battery handles shorter outages quietly. Run the generator sizing tool or the battery backup calculator, and compare options in backup power.
Generator safety (CPSC): outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors, windows and vents, never in a garage or breezeway, and keep the unit and its vents clear of snow. Put battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms on every level. A transfer switch or interlock needs a licensed electrician and a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Greater Portland
By our rough estimate, a kW of well-placed panels in Portland makes about 1,100 kWh a year. Credited one-for-one at CMP’s July 2026 price of 24.68¢, that is worth about $270 a year per kW (an estimate, not a promise; supply prices change every year). Old trees, dormers and snow cut output, so start with the solar potential tool and test real quotes in the solar savings calculator.
Small plug-in kits are legal in Maine under LD 1730, with a 420-watt limit for do-it-yourself installs; the rules are on our state page. For a rooftop system, see the steps from contract to switch-on in solar installation.
Batteries
With one-for-one kWh credits, a battery adds little to solar savings on CMP; its value here is riding through storm outages. Efficiency Maine’s battery payments (on our state page) can offset part of the cost, but a battery enrolled in that program shares power at peak times, so ask how much charge stays reserved for your own outage before an ice storm. Prices and installation: battery cost and home battery installation.
EV charging
Portland has 218 public ports, more than the other five towns combined (AFDC, October 2026). At home, at about 30 kWh per 100 miles, charging costs roughly $7.40 per 100 miles at CMP’s July 2026 per-kWh price (an estimate; winter raises use). Efficiency Maine’s off-peak charger incentive is described on our state page. Run your numbers in the EV charging cost calculator; a Level 2 charger needs a 240-volt circuit and an electrical permit, see EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Portland: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Portland: the Permitting & Inspections Department at City Hall, 389 Congress Street, takes applications through its Citizen Self Service portal and publishes a “How to Apply for a Permit” guide and a permit types guide. Since January 12, 2026, portal accounts must be linked to a Tyler Community Access ID.
- Historic districts in Portland: exterior work visible from a public way on a property in a historic district needs historic preservation review first, and solar panels count. Check your address before you sign a contract.
- South Portland: Code Enforcement. Scarborough, Westbrook, Falmouth, Brunswick: your town’s code office.
- Who does the work: a Maine-licensed electrician pulls the electrical permit for a charger, transfer switch, battery or solar system, and CMP must approve solar and battery interconnection. Condo owners need association approval first.
Cities we cover
- Portland
- South Portland
- Scarborough
- Westbrook
- Falmouth
- Brunswick
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Greater Portland energy FAQ
What does electricity cost in Portland, Maine in 2026?
On CMP with the Standard Offer, from July 1, 2026: $27.37 a month, which includes the first 50 kWh, plus 24.68¢ for each kWh after that (Maine PUC). A home using 550 kWh a month would pay roughly $151 before taxes. A competitive supplier changes only the supply part, 12.72¢ of that price.
Why did my CMP supply price go up in 2026?
The Standard Offer for CMP homes rose from 10.61¢ to 12.72¢ per kWh for 2026. The Maine PUC says the 2026 contracts raise an average residential bill by $11 to $16 a month depending on the utility, driven mainly by market prices, especially natural gas.
How long do power outages last around Portland?
Across CMP’s territory in 2024, the average customer lost about 1,894 minutes of power, nearly 32 hours, and an average interruption lasted about nine hours. On normal days it was 215 minutes. EIA reports CMP as a whole, so your street may differ, but ice storms are the event to plan for.
Can I put solar panels on a house in a Portland historic district?
Possibly, but not without review. Portland requires historic preservation approval before exterior changes visible from a public way in a historic district, and solar collectors are on that list. Check the city’s historic district map, then ask installers to plan panel placement with the review in mind.
Sources
Current rates and Standard Offer: Maine Public Utilities Commission residential rate table (as of July 1, 2026) and Standard Offer pages. Rate case, supply increase and storm inquiry: Maine PUC 2025 Annual Report (February 2026). Utility areas, 2024 prices, outages, supply shopping and solar counts: EIA-861, 2024 data. Hazards: FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025. Sun: NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020. Charging ports: AFDC Station Locator, October 3, 2026. Permits: City of Portland. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.