An Act To Assist Electric Utility Ratepayers II
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1825
Committee Amendment CA_A_S482 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3214

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1825, Bill, "An Act To 
Assist Electric Utility Ratepayers" 
II 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A is enacted to read: 
2-A. Arrearage management program. Each transmission and distribution utility 
shall implement pursuant to this subsection an arrearage management program to assist 
eligible low-income residential customers who are in arrears on their electricity bills. An 
arrearage management program implemented pursuant to this subsection is a plan under 
which a transmission and distribution utility works with an eligible 
low~income 
residential customer to establish an affordable payment plan and provide credit to that 
customer toward the customer's accumulated arrears as long as that customer remains in 
compliance with the terms of the program. The commission shall establish requirements 
relating to the arrearage management programs by rule. Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
In adopting rules regarding arrearage management programs, the commission shall: 
A. Consider best practices as developed and implemented in other states or regions; 
B. 
Require that an arrearage management program include an electricity usage 
assessment at no cost to the participant; 
C. Permit each transmission and distribution utility to propose a start date for its 
program that is no later than October 1, 2015; 
D. 
Ensure that each transmission and distribution utility develops terms and 
conditions for its arrearage management program in a manner that is consistent with 
the program's objectives and is in the best interests of all ratepayers; and 
E. Ensure that a transmission and distribution utility recovers in rates all costs of 
arrearage management programs, including incremental costs, reconnection fees and 
administrative and marketing costs but not including the amount of any arrearage 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 731, L.D. 1825 
forgiven that is treated as bad debt for purposes of cost recovery by the transmission 
and distribution utility. 
The Efficiency Maine Trust shall work with transmission and distribution utilities and 
other stakeholders to provide access to a complementary low-income energy efficiency 
program for participants in arrearage management programs in order to help reduce 
participants' energy consumption. 
No later than January 28, 2018, the commission shall prepare a report assessing the 
effectiveness of arrearage management programs, including the number of participants 
enrolled in the programs, the number of participants completing the programs, the 
number of participants who have failed to complete the programs, the payment patterns of 
participating customers after completing the programs, the dollar amount of arrears 
forgiven, a comparison of outcomes for those participating in the programs and those not 
participating, the impact on a transmission and distribution utility's bad debt as a result of 
the programs, the costs and benefits to all ratepayers associated with the programs and 
recommendations for ways in which the programs might be improved or continued for 
the benefit of all ratepayers. In preparing its report, the commission shall hold at least 
one formal stakeholder meeting involving affected parties, including the Office of the 
Public Advocate and the participating transmission and distribution utilities. Parties must 
also be provided an opportunity to submit written comments to the commission regarding 
the performance of the programs. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters 
may report out a bill relating to the commission report to the Second Regular Session of 
the 128th Legislature. 
This subsection is repealed September 30,2018. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRS A §10110, sub-§2, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
L. Pursuant to section 3214, subsection 2-A, the trust shall work with transmission 
and distribution utilities and other stakeholders to provide access to a complementary 
low-income energy efficiency program for participants in the arrearage management 
programs in order to help reduce participants' energy consumption. 
This paragraph is repealed September 30, 2018.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds to the bill the requirement that the arrearage management 
programs begin no later than October 15, 2015 and that the terms and conditions of the 
programs be in the best interest of ratepayers. This amendment adds payment patterns to 
the topics for the Public Utilities Commission to include in its report on the arrearage 
management programs and allows the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over utilities matters to report out a bill relating to the report. This 
amendment makes other minor technical changes. 
PllCALItO'I'IIIQlIIIIO 
........ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Fiscal Detail and Notes 
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Approved: 03/31/14 
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LD 1825 
LR 2623(02) 
An Act To Assist Electric Utility Ratepayers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'f'{' (s -(.1f;d) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
The bill requires transmission and distribution utilities to implement an arrearage management program to assist 
certain low-income customers who are in arrears on their electricity bills. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) 
must adopt rules to establish the terms and conditions of this program. The Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) will work 
with the utilities to provide access to a complementary low income energy efficiency program for those customers in 
the arrearage management program until September 30, 2018. The PUC must prepare and submit a report by January 
28, 2018 to the Legislature on the effectiveness of the arrearage management program. Any additional costs to PUC 
and EMT to undertake these activities are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR2623(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1