An Act To Increase Energy Options
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1676
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: RAYE, RECTOR, SNOWE-MELLO, BURNS, CRAFTS, MAKER, MORISSETTE, MOULTON, TURNER
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3212, 35-A MRSA §3908, 35-A MRSA §3912

Legislative Document 
No. 1676 
S.P. 575 
In Senate, December 21, 2011 
An Act To Increase Energy Options 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 19, 2011.  Referred to the Committee 
on Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant 
to Joint Rule 218. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President RAYE of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Senators: RECTOR of Knox, SNOWE-MELLO of Androscoggin, 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, CRAFTS of Lisbon, MAKER of Calais, MORISSETTE 
of Winslow, MOULTON of York, TURNER of Burlington. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §3212, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2003, c. 141, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
6.  Consumer-owned utilities.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 
the commission is not required to conduct a competitive bidding process or select a 
standard-offer service provider or providers for the territory of a consumer-owned 
transmission and distribution utility or the territory of a municipal power district under 
chapter 39 that is not a transmission and distribution utility if the consumer-owned 
transmission and distribution utility or municipal power district chooses one or more 
standard-offer service providers for its territory through a competitive bidding process 
conducted in accordance with the commission's rules governing the selection and criteria 
for approval of a standard-offer service provider, or if the consumer-owned transmission 
and distribution utility or municipal power district enters into one or more contracts to 
purchase power at wholesale for the purpose of providing retail generation service within 
its service territory.  Selection of a standard-offer service provider or providers and 
agreements with or purchases from a standard-offer service provider or providers or other 
wholesale power supply providers are not subject to the approval requirements of section 
3133 or 3133-A.  A consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility or municipal 
power district may choose a single standard-offer service provider.  A consumer-owned 
transmission and distribution utility or municipal power district that intends to choose a 
standard-offer service provider or providers, or to enter into a wholesale power purchase 
contract for the purpose of providing retail generation service within its service territory, 
in accordance with this subsection shall notify the commission. 
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §3908, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is 
amended to read: 
2.  Electricity.  Generate, manufacture, purchase, acquire, accumulate, transmit, 
distribute, sell, supply and dispose of electricity to individuals and corporations within the 
district and, if it chooses, provide standard-offer service in accordance with section 3212, 
subsection 6 whether or not the district serves as a transmission and distribution utility; 
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §3912, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is 
amended to read: 
1.  Payment of current expenses of operation and maintenance.  To pay the 
current expenses for operating and maintaining the electric system or associated with 
providing standard-offer service, including the cost of fuel and to provide for normal 
renewals and replacements; 
SUMMARY 
This bill grants to communities not served by consumer-owned utilities the 
opportunity to manage their own standard-offer electricity supply in the same manner 
permitted for communities served by consumer-owned utilities.