Voluntary Participation: Your participation adds strength to the organization however; active participation in the program is entirely voluntary. By joining Maine PowerOptions, your organization is not obligated to purchase energy through the program. By actively participating you bring added value and greater purchasing power to the program which in-turn benefits all members.

Education & Savings: Energy markets are constantly evolving and Members benefit greatly from an unbiased resource keeping them informed. MPO staff keeps members updated on pricing opportunities, as well as regulatory changes, and market and default pricing changes and trends. The information provided to Members helps them make informed decisions so they can achieve savings.

Market Expertise & Pro-Active Pricing for Members: The key to electricity savings is pro-active management of competitive contracts. MPO constantly reviews market pricing and brings savings opportunities to Members for their review. Individual Members can take advantage of market dips to lock in prices or extend contracts, bringing budget protection and risk mitigation.

Administrative Support for Members: The program maintains Member's energy data and provides account, usage, and contract tracking and analysis for Members. Staff pro-actively works with suppliers to identify savings opportunities and presents those opportunities to Members.

 Involvement: Any contract negotiated by Maine PowerOptions is for the benefit of its participants. In support of that, it is important that the recipients of the program have ample representation as the program(s) are developed. The program uses an Institutional Advisory Committee to help determine what elements of the program are important for their types of organizations.

Low Cost with No Hidden Fees: This program is unique in that it exists to provide the maximum benefits to the participants. The program membership fee is a one time, low or in many cases non-existent and is designed to be returned through savings to the participants. The Bond Bank and MHHEFA have invested significantly in the program development costs so those participants will not have to spend their much-needed funds trying to accomplish the very same thing. This provides all participating organizations with an equal opportunity to benefit in group purchasing initiatives while not having to spend the necessary time and effort to achieve the same results on a smaller scale.

Access to Programs Regardless of Institution Size: Most programs of this type want to focus on the larger institutions or market groups. This only further serves to limit the options of the smaller institution already handicapped with far less resources. MPO is unique in that its primary goal and legislative mandate is to provide opportunities (education, access to contracts, etc) to all eligible institutions regardless of size.

Legal Support:Maine PowerOptions works with attorneys who specialize in energy and regulatory law to negotiate contracts that are favorable for Members. This is very important in today's complex energy market and saves individual Members significant legal fees.