An Act To Require Transmission Lines To Be Placed Underground near Certain Facilities
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0398
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: VALENTINO, BARTLETT, ADAMS, BLANCHARD, BLISS, HOGAN, MAZUREK, PILON, HOBBINS
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3132, 35-A MRSA §3132-A

Legislative Document 
No. 398 
H.P.314 
House of Representatives, January 29, 2007 
An Act To Require Transmission Lines To Be Placed Underground 
near Certain Facilities 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative VALENTINO of Saco. 
Cosponsored by Senator BARTLETT of Cumberland and 
/J'j~ /J7.77I~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: ADAMS of Portland, BLANCHARD of Old Town, BLISS of South Portland, 
HOGAN of Old Orchard Beach, MAZUREK of Rockland, PILON of Saco, Senator: 
HOBBINS of York. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3132, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is 
amended to read: 
5. Commission approval of a proposed line. The commission may approve or 
disapprove all or portions of a proposed transmission line and shall make such orders 
regarding its character, size, installation and maintenance as are necessary, having regard 
for any increased costs caused by the orders. 
The commission may not approve a 
proposed transmission line capable of operating at 115 kilovolts or more unless it satisfies 
the requirements of section 3132-A. 
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Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3132-A is enacted to read: 
§3132-A. Underground transmission lines required near certain facilities 
.. 
1. 
Underground requirement. Any portion of a transmission line capable of 
operating at 115 kilovolts or more that is constructed, rebuilt or relocated on or after 
October 1. 2007 must be placed underground if it is located adjacent to: 
A. A residential area; 
B. A public playground; 
C. A private school or public school, as defined in Title 20-A, section 1; 
D. A child care facility, as defined in Title 22, section 830 I-A, subsection I-A; or 
E. A recreational camp. as defined in Title 22. section 2491. that serves children. 
2. Exemption. A transmission and distribution utility may obtain an exemption to 
the requirement in subsection 1 by demonstrating to the commission that it is 
technologically infeasible to place the transmission line underground. In determining 
such infeasibility the commission shall consider the effect of placing the transmission line 
underground on the reliability of the electricity transmission system in the State. 
3. 
Rules. The commission shall adopt rules to implement this section. Rules 
adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, 
chapter 375. subchapter 2-A. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that high-voltage transmission lines capable of operating at 115 
kilovolts or more constructed, rebuilt or relocated on or after October 1, 2007 near areas 
• 
that are frequently used by children, including residential areas, public playgrounds, 
schools, child care facilities and children's camps, be placed underground. The bill 
directs the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules regarding this requirement, and it 
provides an exemption from the requirement if a transmission and distribution utility can 
demonstrate to the Public Utilities Commission that it is technologically infeasible to 
place the transmission line underground.