An Act To Encourage Energy Independence for Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1931
Committee Amendment CA_A_S523 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3211-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1931, Bill, "An 
Act To Encourage Energy Independence for Maine" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 1, 2 and 3 
and inserting in their place the following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§2, ,A, as enacted by PL 200l, 
c. 624, §4, is amended to read: 
A. 
The 
commission 
shall 
consider, 
without 
limitation, 
conservation programs that: 
(1) 
Increase 
consumer 
awareness 
of 
cost-effective 
options for conserving energy; 
(2 ) 
Create more favorable market conditions for the 
increased use of efficient products and services; aBe 
(3) 
Promote 
sustainable 
economic 
development 
and 
reduced environmental damageT; and 
(4) 
Reduce the price of electricity over time for all 
consumers 
by 
achieving 
reductions 
in 
demand 
for 
electricity during peak use periods. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§2"J is enacted to read: 
Page l-LR2695(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,~" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1931 
J. 
The commission shall encourage school facility managers 
to complete an energy efficiency training and certification 
I>rogram established and conducted by the commission under 
this 
section. 
To 
the 
extent 
the 
commission 
determines 
necessary 
and 
aI>I>roI>riate 
to 
meet 
the 
goals 
of 
this 
I>aragraI>h. 
the 
commission 
may, 
in 
accordance 
with 
the 
requirements of this section, establish incentive mechanisms 
to encourage I>articiI>ation in this I>rogram. 
For I>urI>0ses of 
this 
I>aragraI>h, 
"school facility managers" 
means 
persons 
emI>loyed by school administrative units in this State who 
are 
resI>onsible 
for 
the 
design or 
oI>eration of 
school 
administrative unit facilities or the heating, ventilation 
or air conditioning 
systems 
or 
equipment 
used 
in 
such 
facilities.' 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 to 
and inserting in their place the following: 
'Sec. 6. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§ll, 1fD is enacted to read: 
D. 
The status of the progress towards meeting the goals of 
subsection 2, paragraph J and the strategies that have been 
imI>lemented to meet 
those goals. 
The 
report also must 
include 
an accounting, 
to the extent available, 
of the 
energy 
savings 
that 
have 
been 
achieved 
by 
school 
administrative units after their school facility managers 
have been certified pursuant to subsection 2, I>aragraI>h J. 
A 
school 
administrative unit is not 
required to 
incur 
additional costs in order to 
supply information to the 
commission for its reI>ort. 
Sec. 7. 35-A MRSA §3211-A, sub-§12 is enacted to read: 
12. 
Independent analysis of programs. 
The commission shall 
arrange for 
an independent evaluation of each major 
program 
implemented under this section. 
Each major 
program must 
be 
evaluated at least once every 5 years. 
The evaluation must 
include an accounting audit of the program and an evaluation of 
the 
program's 
effectiveness 
in 
meeting 
the 
goals 
of 
this 
section. 
The 
evaluations 
must 
be 
conducted 
by 
a 
competent 
I>rofessional 
with 
eXI>ertise 
in 
energy 
efficiency 
matters, 
including the 
management 
of cost-effective energy efficiency 
I>rograms. 
The 
commission 
shall 
include 
the 
results 
of all 
evaluations conducted under this subsection in the annual report 
submitted pursuant 
to 
subsection 
11. 
For 
I>urposes 
of this 
subsection. "major program" means a program with an annual budget 
of more than $500.000. 
COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT 
,~ 
,.:~ '. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1931 
Sec. 8. Public Utilities Commission Efficiency Maine program. 
The 
Public Utilities 
Commission 
shall 
develop 
a 
plan 
for 
using 
revenues from any increase in the assessment on transmission and 
distribution utilities pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 35-A, section 32ll-A, subsection 4. 
The plan must include 
a description of how the funds would contribute to the goals of 
increasing 
energy 
efficiency 
for 
program 
participants 
and 
reducing electricity prices for all consumers. 
The commission 
shall 
consider 
using 
funds 
resulting 
from 
any 
increased 
assessments to increase the per-business incentive cap imposed on 
large businesses under the business program established pursuant 
to Title 35-A, section 32ll-A. 
The 
commission shall submit its plan, together with any 
recommendations for increases in the assessment consistent with 
that 
plan 
and 
any 
suggested 
legislation 
to 
implement 
its 
recommendations 
to 
the 
joint 
standing 
committee 
of 
the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters 
by January 1, 2007. 
The joint standing committee may report out 
legislation regarding energy efficiency to the First Regular 
Session of the l23rd Legislature. 
Sec. 9. Public Utilities Commission analysis of certain programs. 
By 
December 
31, 
2007, 
the Public Utilities Commission shall 
arrange for and complete in accordance with the Maine Revised 
Statutes, 
Title 
35-A, 
section 
32ll-A, 
subsection 
an 
independent evaluation of the following programs established by 
the 
commission pursuant to Title 
35-A, 
section 32ll-A: 
the 
business program, 
the low-income appliance replacement program 
and the residential lighting program. 
Sec. 10. Home heating. 
The 
Governor's 
Office 
of 
Energy 
Independence 
and 
Security in the 
Executive 
Department 
shall 
examine and submit a report concerning the state of home heating 
in Maine to the Joint Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy 
by November 30, 2006. 
The report must include recent trends in: 
1. 
Total 
statewide 
and 
average 
Maine 
household 
annual 
consumption of heating energy by fuel type; 
2. 
Prices, including taxes, fees and other charges assessed 
on home heating fuels sold in Maine; 
3. 
Total 
statewide 
and 
average 
Maine 
household 
annual 
expenditures for home heating by fuel type; 
4. 
currently 
changes 
Policies 
and programs 
employed in Maine 
and 
in the 
Low-income 
Home 
to 
reduce 
outside 
Energy 
home 
heating bills 
of Maine, 
including 
Assistance Program to 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
c-::-: 
'., ,.4'; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1931 
provide benefits to low-income persons whose heating costs are 
included in their rent; 
5. 
The energy efficiency and cost of home heating equipment 
sold and used in Maine; and 
6. 
The point of origin for energy sources used in home 
heating in Maine. ' 
Further amend the 
nonconsecutive 
Part 
consecutively. 
bill by relettering 
letter 
or 
section 
SUMMARY 
This amendment accomplishes the following. 
or renumbering any 
number 
to 
read 
1. 
It requires the Public Utilities Commission to encourage 
school facility managers to receive energy efficiency training 
under the commission's so-called "Efficiency Maine" program. 
It 
authorizes the commission to establish incentive mechanisms in 
order 
to 
encourage participation in this 
program. 
It also 
defines "school facility managers" to mean persons employed by 
school administrative units and responsible for the design or 
operation of school facilities or the heating, ventilation or air 
condi tioning systems or equipment used in such facilities. 
It 
requires the commission to report annually on its progress in 
meeting these goals 
and, 
to 
the extent possible, 
on 
energy 
savings achieved as a result of such training; 
2. 
It amends the so-called "Efficiency Maine" program to 
require the commission to consider conservation programs that 
reduce peak demand. 
It also directs the commission to develop a 
plan for using revenues from any increase in the assessment on 
transmission and distribution utilities pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 32ll-A, subsection 4. 
It 
directs the commission to consider using funds resulting from any 
increased assessments to increase the per-business incentive cap 
imposed on large businesses. 
The 
commission is required to 
submit its plan, together with any recommendations for increases 
in the assessment consistent with that plan and any suggested 
legislation 
to 
implement 
its 
recommendations, 
to 
the 
joint 
standing committee of the LegiSlature having jurisdiction over 
utilities and energy matters by January 1, 
2007. 
The joint 
standing committee is authorized to report out legislation on 
this matter to the First Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
3. 
It removes 
those portions of the bill relating to 
adoption of the model energy building code, the development of a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to s. P. 731, L.D. 1931 
new 
compensation 
method 
for 
transmission 
and 
distribution 
utilities, standards for boilers and furnaces and the examination 
of fuel-saving tires; and 
4. 
It adds a provision requiring the Governor's Office of 
Energy Independence and Security in the Executive Department to 
compile a report on home heating issues. 
FISCA.L \UTL i{EVLlRED 
(~ee attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/23/06 ;t;p'ae. 
LD 1931 
LR 2695(02) 
An Act To Encourage Energy Independence for Maine 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,~ " 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
The additional costs associated with this legislation can be absorbed by the Public Utilities Commission and the Office 
of Energy Independence and Security utilizing existing budgeted resources. 
LR2695(2) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1