AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- Maine utility regulators says FairPoint Communications will begin paying customer rebates in March because of the company's poor customer service.

The Maine Public Utilities Commission said a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge on Tuesday approved an order that forces FairPoint to begin paying rebates in the form of $1.72 a line per month for 12 months -- a total of more than $8 million.

The commission last November ordered the rebates because FairPoint failed to meet specific quality performance standards in 2008 and 2009. But the rebates were put on hold after FairPoint filed a motion asking that it not be forced to pay the rebates while it works its way through bankruptcy.

North Carolina-based FairPoint, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October, submitted its bankruptcy reorganization plan on Monday.