An Act To Clarify the Regulation of Private Natural Gas Pipelines
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1883
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: RAYE, FITTS, BARTLETT, HOBBINS, THIBODEAU, CAIN
Amends: 35-A MRSA §4517

Legislative Document 
No. 1883 
S.P. 660 
In Senate, March 15, 2012 
An Act To Clarify the Regulation of Private Natural Gas Pipelines 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President RAYE of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Representative FITTS of Pittsfield and 
Senators: BARTLETT of Cumberland, HOBBINS of York, THIBODEAU of Waldo, 
Representative: CAIN of Orono. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §4517, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 110, §1, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Private natural gas pipelines; customer; definitions.  As used in this section, 
"private natural gas pipeline" means a pipeline that is used solely for the transport of 
natural gas to a single customer, is owned by the customer or an affiliate of the customer 
and whose owner or operator is not otherwise regulated by the commission as a natural 
gas pipeline utility or gas utility.  For purposes of this subsection, "customer" includes an 
affiliate of a customer. 
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §4517, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Sale by affiliate of liquefied natural gas or compressed natural gas.  A private 
natural gas pipeline that delivers natural gas to its affiliate who then liquefies or 
compresses the natural gas for sale or distribution to others by means other than by a 
pipeline is not, as a result of the delivery, considered a public utility.  The owner or 
operator of an affiliate of a private natural gas pipeline that receives deliveries of natural 
gas that it liquefies or compresses for sale or distribution to others by means other than by 
a pipeline is not considered a public utility if the owner or operator of the affiliate is not 
otherwise regulated by the commission as a public utility. 
SUMMARY 
This bill: 
1.  Specifies that only private natural gas pipelines whose owners and operators are 
not otherwise regulated by the Public Utilities Commission as a utility are private natural 
gas pipelines, and specifies that the term "customer" includes the affiliate of a customer, 
for the purposes of the laws governing such pipelines; 
2.  Provides that a private natural gas pipeline that delivers natural gas to its affiliate 
who then liquefies or compresses the natural gas for sale or distribution to others by 
means other than by a pipeline is not, as a result of the delivery, considered a public 
utility; and 
3.  Provides that the owner or operator of an affiliate of a private natural gas pipeline 
that receives deliveries of natural gas that it liquefies or compresses for sale or 
distribution to others by means other than by a pipeline is not considered a public utility if 
the owner or operator of the affiliate is not otherwise regulated by the commission as a 
public utility.