AUGUSTA — The following statement was issued just after 10 p.m. Nov. 7 by Avangrid, owner of Central Maine Power, as election results predicted that Question 3 to create a consumer-owned utility, Pine Tree Power, would be rejected by Maine voters.

“Fifty years ago, in 1973, voters in Maine soundly rejected a proposal to seize Maine’s electric grid and replace it with a political board. Maine voters have once again overwhelmingly rejected this idea.

Next year our company will mark 125 years since our founding, and our commitment to delivering safe and reliable service remains unchanged. From our response to the 2022 Christmas storm, to exceeding our customer service metrics for more than three years running, to being voted one of Maine’s best places to work, our company remains completely committed to our customers, our employees, and to Maine.

With this referendum behind us, we are turning the page. As we look forward, we must continue to modernize our grid to support Maine’s climate change goals, connect new renewable resources, and electrify our communities.

Thank you to our 660,000 customers for putting their continued trust in Central Maine Power. We will have more to say in the coming days.”