In short: Lewiston and Auburn are served by Central Maine Power: $27.37 a month plus about 24.7¢ per kWh over 50 since July 1, 2026 (Maine PUC). CMP customers lost about 1,894 outage minutes in 2024, nearly 32 hours (EIA), and Androscoggin County is rated “very high” for winter weather. Plan backup for cold, long outages.
This page covers what is local to the Twin Cities on the Androscoggin River: your utility’s numbers, the 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.
Lewiston–Auburn at a glance
- Utility: Central Maine Power (CMP) serves all of Androscoggin County (EIA-861). 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).
- Outages (2024, CMP-wide): about 1,894 minutes per customer counting major storms, 215 without; 3.4 interruptions a year (EIA-861).
- Sun: about 3.64 kWh per square meter per day in Lewiston (NASA POWER, 2001 to 2020). Our rough estimate: about 1,060 kWh a year per kW of panels, a little less than on the coast.
- Top hazards: Androscoggin County is rated “very high” for winter weather and “relatively high” for ice storms; drought, hurricanes and lightning are “relatively moderate” (FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025).
- Public charging: 36 ports in Auburn and 20 in Lewiston (AFDC, October 3, 2026).
Your utility and what it means
CMP delivers the power on both sides of the river. Your supply comes from the Standard Offer unless you choose a competitive electricity provider; in 2024, about one CMP household in ten did (EIA-861). The 2026 Standard Offer rose from 10.61¢ to 12.72¢ per kWh, which the Maine PUC ties mainly to natural gas prices.
- Solar: Net Energy Billing gives a one-for-one kWh credit on CMP (terms on our state page). Credits offset the per-kWh charges, not the $27.37 monthly charge.
- Rate options: we could not read CMP’s own program pages, so ask CMP about time-of-use options before counting on overnight EV or battery savings.
Backup power in Lewiston–Auburn
Almost nine-tenths of CMP’s 2024 outage minutes came on major event days, and with storms included the average interruption lasted about nine hours. Inland Androscoggin County gets FEMA’s top rating for winter weather. That is the outage to size for: a cold day or two in a house whose heating system needs electricity.
- Apartment in a downtown building: a portable power station keeps phones, lights, Wi-Fi and medical devices going without fumes.
- Single-family home: cover the boiler or furnace, the sump pump and any well pump. A standby generator handles multi-day storms; a home battery covers shorter ones quietly. Use the generator sizing tool or the battery backup calculator, and see backup power for a side-by-side comparison.
Generator safety (CPSC): outdoors only, at least 20 feet from the house, exhaust away from doors and windows, never in a garage, and keep it and its vents clear of snow. Use battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms on every level. A transfer switch or interlock is a licensed electrician’s job with a permit; see generator installation.
Solar in Lewiston–Auburn
By our rough estimate, each kW of panels makes about 1,060 kWh a year here. Credited at CMP’s July 2026 price of 24.68¢, that is worth about $260 a year per kW (an estimate, not a promise). Snow and shade matter more inland, so check your roof in the solar potential tool and compare quotes in the solar savings calculator. The steps are in solar installation; small plug-in kits are covered on our state page.
Batteries
On CMP, a battery adds little to solar savings because credits are already one-for-one; it earns its place in winter outages. If you join Efficiency Maine’s battery program (state page), ask how much charge stays reserved for your own backup. See battery cost and home battery installation.
EV charging
Public charging is thinner here than in Portland: 36 ports in Auburn and 20 in Lewiston (AFDC, October 2026), so most drivers rely on home charging. At about 30 kWh per 100 miles, that costs roughly $7.40 per 100 miles at CMP’s July 2026 per-kWh price (an estimate; more in winter). Try the EV charging cost calculator and see EV charger installation.
Drive on another fuel? See every alternative fuel station in Lewiston: hydrogen, propane, natural gas, E85 ethanol, biodiesel and renewable diesel.
Permits and inspections
- Auburn: all permit applications go through the city’s online portal, SmartGov. Permitting and Code Enforcement at Auburn Hall, 60 Court Street, handles building, electrical and plumbing permits; work in a flood hazard area needs a separate Flood Hazard Development Permit. See the city’s permits page.
- Lewiston: the Planning and Code Enforcement Department at City Hall, 27 Pine Street, publishes a handout on residential solar electrical systems; permits and inspections are required for any solar system connected to the home’s wiring.
- Who does the work: a Maine-licensed electrician pulls electrical permits, and CMP must approve solar and battery interconnection. Condo owners need association approval.
Cities we cover
- Lewiston
- Auburn
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Lewiston–Auburn energy FAQ
Who is the electric utility in Lewiston and Auburn?
Central Maine Power delivers electricity throughout Androscoggin County. You can buy supply from the Standard Offer (12.72¢ per kWh in 2026) or from a competitive electricity provider; CMP still delivers it and sends the bill.
Do I need a permit for solar panels in Lewiston?
Yes. Lewiston’s code office requires permits and inspections for any solar system that connects to your home’s electrical system, and roof- or ground-mounted arrays also need a building permit. Your installer or electrician normally applies, and CMP must approve the interconnection.
How do I apply for an electrical permit in Auburn?
Through SmartGov, Auburn’s online permit portal, which the city uses for all permit applications. Permitting and Code Enforcement at Auburn Hall answers questions. If the property is in a flood hazard area, ask whether a Flood Hazard Development Permit is also needed for a generator or ground equipment.
Is a generator worth it in Lewiston–Auburn?
For many houses, yes. CMP customers averaged nearly 32 hours without power in 2024, mostly in storms, and the county’s winter weather risk is rated very high. If your heat, water or medical equipment depends on electricity, size a generator or battery for those loads first.
Sources
Current rates and Standard Offer: Maine Public Utilities Commission (rates as of July 1, 2026; 2025 Annual Report). Utility area, outages and supply shopping: 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 Auburn and City of Lewiston. Generator safety: CPSC. Checked October 3, 2026.