An Act To Promote the More Efficient Use of Natural Gas
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0397
Committee Amendment CA_A_H185 (House)

COMMITTEE 
AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 300, L.D. 397, Bill, 
Act To Promote the More Efficient Use of Natural Gas" 
"An 
Amend the bill in section 1 in that part designated "S4711." 
in subsection 1 
by striking out all of the first underlined 
sentence (page 1, lines 7 to 11 in L.D.) and inserting in its 
place the following: 
• In accordance with rules adopted by the 
commission, each natural gas utility in the State that serves 
5,000 or more residential consumers shall offer cost effective 
conservation programs designed to promote the efficient use of 
natural gas.' 
Further amend the bill in section 1 in that part designated 
"S4711." in subsection 1 by striking out all of paragraph Band 
inserting in its place the following: 
• B. 
The gas utility shall apportion available funds under 
subsection 
in 
accordance 
with 
rules 
adopted 
by 
the 
commission. 
(1) 
The 
commission shall ensure that 
a 
reasonable 
percentage 
of 
the 
available 
funds 
is 
directed 
to 
programs 
for 
low income 
residential 
consumers, 
as 
defined by 
the commission by rule. 
The 
commission 
shall establish the percentage based on an assessment 
of 
the 
opportunity 
for 
cost effective 
conservation 
measures for such consumers, including an assessment of 
the number of low-income residential consumers that may 
be eligible for such programs. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT {>r" to H.P. 300, L.D. 397 
(2) 
The 
commission shall ensure that a 
reasonable 
percentage 
of 
the 
available 
funds 
is 
directed 
to 
programs for small business consumers. as defined by 
the commission by rule. 
The commission shall establish 
the 
percentage 
based 
on 
an 
assessment 
of 
the 
opportunity for 
cost-effective conservation measures 
for such consumers. 
In defining "small business" for 
the purposes of this subparagraph. the commission shall 
consider 
definitions 
of 
that 
term 
used 
for 
other 
programs in this State that assist small businesses. 
(3) 
The commission shall ensure that. to the greatest 
extent practicable. the remaining available funds are 
apportioned in a manner that allows all other consumers 
to have a reasonable opportunity to participate in one 
or more conservation programs. ' 
Further amend the bill in section 1 in that part designated 
"§4711." by striking out all of subsection 3 and inserting in its 
place the following: 
'3. 
Funding 1eve1. 
Each gas utility to which this section 
applies shall undertake energy efficiency programs designed to 
operate within a budget, upon full implementation, that is nQ 
less than 3~ of the gas utility'S delivery revenues as defined by 
the commission by rule.' 
Further amend the bill in section 1 in that part designated 
"§4711." in subsection 5 by striking out all of paragraph C and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'C. 
For each gas utility to which this section applies. 
total expenditures for its conservation programs during the 
prior 12 months and projected expenditures during the next 
months; and' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill. 
1. 
It provides that the apportionment of a gas utility's 
available funds for conservation programs must be in accordance 
with rules adopted by the Public Utilities Commission. It directs 
the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that 
a 
reasonable 
percentage of funds is available to low-income consumers and to 
small-business 
consumers 
based 
on 
an 
assessment 
of 
the 
opportunity for cost-effective conservation measures 
for 
such 
consumers. 
It also directs the 
commission to define 
"small 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·Pt " to H.P. 300, L.D. 397 
business" and to consider definitions of that term used for other 
programs that assist small businesses. 
2. 
It changes the funding level for conservation programs 
so that it is calculated using delivery revenues rather than 
total revenues. 
3. 
It clarifies some language of the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/29/05 ~~C 
LD397 
LR 0601(02) 
An Act To Promote the More Efficient Use of Natural Gas 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment fJr' 
Committee: Utilities and Energy 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
LR0601(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1