Are You Struggling to Activate Your Electricity Maine Refund Card? You're Not Alone!

Electricity Maine has recently begun sending out refunds to thousands of customers as part of a settlement with the state. This is great news for many, but some Mainers are facing troubles accessing their funds.

Judith reached out to the CBS13 I-Team expressing her frustration:

"I recently got the prepaid Visa card from Electricity Maine. I've followed the instructions to activate it, but nothing seems to work. I would like to find out if other people are having this problem and what I need to do to get this money."

Judith is not alone; Maine's Office of the Public Advocate has received numerous calls from residents encountering similar activation issues.

These refunds are part of a settlement where Electricity Maine agreed to refund 20,000 customers after overcharging them. If you’re having trouble activating your prepaid card, here’s what you can do:

1. Check the activation code: Ensure that you are using the last four digits of your utility account number correctly.
2. Contact customer service: If the activation code is correct, reach out to Electricity Maine’s customer service at 1-866-573-2674.
3. Public Advocate assistance: You can also contact the Office of the Public Advocate at (207) 624-3687, which may be able to help.

Earlier this month, Public Advocate Bill Harwood expressed concerns about the debit card system, stating:

"The reality is the debit cards were a compromise on the settlement. I would have preferred to see a check go in the mail to those folks, and I think what Electricity Maine is counting on is that some of those customers will ignore them, throw them in the waste basket or forget about them. I'm hoping I'm wrong, that the customers recognize they're entitled to this refund."

Some customers may receive two debit cards, while others will get one. Act quickly to activate your card, as the deadline is February 22; after that, the funds will no longer be available.

Have a question for CBS13 I-Team? Call their tip line at (207) 228-7713 or send an email to tips@wgme.com.