An Act Regarding Certain Activities of Electric and Gas Utilities
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2135
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: BROMLEY, BLISS, DIAMOND, MARRACI-IE, MARTIN, MITCHELL, ROTUNDO, EBERLE
Amends: 35-A MRSA §2523

Legislative Document 
No. 2135 
S.P. 815 
January 8, 2008 
An Act Regarding Certain Activities of Electric and Gas Utilities 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator BROMLEY of Cumberland. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Representative BLISS of South Portland and Senators: DIAMOND of 
Cumberland, MARRACI-IE of Kennebec, MARTIN of Aroostook, MITCHELL of Kennebec, 
ROTUNDO of Androscoggin, Representative: EBERLE of South Portland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §2523 is enacted to read: 
§2523. Notice to disconnect vulnerable systems and equipment 
A consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility, a large, investor-owned 
transmission and distribution utility or a small, investor-owned transmission and 
distribution utility, as defined in section 3201, subsections 6, 12 and 16, respectively, 
shall make reasonable efforts to advise customers of those utilities to disconnect systems, 
equipment and devices that use electricity that may be vulnerable to damage during 
testing, repair or replacement of utility equipment before that utility performs that testing, 
repair or replacement of utility equipment. 
Sec. 2. Public Utilities Commission to study statutes and rules governing 
electric utilities and report. The Public Utilities Commission shall study the statutes 
and rules governing the rights and responsibilities of electric utilities and consumers 
when electric utilities are testing, repairing or replacing utility equipment and report to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters 
no later than November 5, 2008. The Public Utilities Commission shall include in its 
report recommendations regarding how to improve these statutes and rules. The joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters may report 
out legislation regarding the report in this section to the First Regular Session of the 
124th Legislature. 
Sec. 3. 
Public Utilities Commission to amend rules regarding public 
awareness of electric utility work. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its 
rules governing electric utilities to require electric utilities to undertake a program to 
increase public awareness of the rights and responsibilities of electric utilities and 
consumers when electric utilities are testing, repairing or replacing utility equipment. 
Sec. 4. Public Utilities Commission to amend rules governing gas utilities. 
The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules governing gas utilities to require a 
gas utility to provide notice to all owners and tenants of property within 500 feet of an 
excavation performed by a gas utility or an agent of that utility at least 2 business days 
before the excavation. The notice must contain the type and location of the excavation 
activity and must be made in writing or by telephone. 
Sec. 5. Public Utilities Commission to study statutes and rules governing 
gas utilities and report. The Public Utilities Commission shall study the statutes and 
rules governing the protection of public safety as it relates to gas utilities and report to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters no 
later than November 5, 2008. The Public Utilities Commission shall include in its report 
recommendations regarding how to improve these statutes and rules. The joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters may report out 
legislation regarding the report in this section to the First Regular Session of the 124th 
Legislature. 
Sec. 6. 
Public Utilities Commission to amend rules regarding public 
awareness of gas utility work. The Public Utilities Commission shall amend its rules 
governing gas utilities to require gas utilities to undertake a program to increase public 
awareness of the responsibilities of gas utilities with respect to excavation activity. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires an electric utility to make reasonable efforts to advise customers of 
that utility to disconnect systems, equipment and devices that use electricity that may be 
vulnerable to damage during testing, repair or replacement of utility equipment before 
that utility performs that testing, repair or replacement of utility equipment. 
It directs the Public Utilities Commission to study the statutes and rules governing the 
rights and responsibilities of electric utilities and consumers when electric utilities are 
testing, repairing or replacing utility equipment and report to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters no later than November 5, 
2008. 
It directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules governing gas utilities to 
require a gas utility to provide notice to all owners and tenants of property within 500 feet 
of an excavation performed by a gas utility or an agent of that utility at least 2 business 
days before the excavation. 
It directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules governing electric 
utilities to require electric utilities to undertake a program to increase public awareness of 
the rights and responsibilities of electric utilities and consumers when electric utilities are 
testing, repairing or replacing utility equipment. 
It directs the Public Utilities Commission to study the statutes and rules governing the 
protection of public safety as it relates to gas utilities and report to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters no later than 
November 5, 2008. 
It directs the Public Utilities Commission to amend its rules governing gas utilities to 
require gas utilities to undertake a program to increase public awareness of the 
responsibilities of gas utilities with respect to excavation activity.