An Act To Ensure Just and Reasonable Sewer Utility Rates
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1342
Committee Amendment CA_A_H352 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §1714, 38 MRSA §1252, 38 MRSA §1259

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 959, L.D. 1342, Bill, "An Act To 
Ensure Just and Reasonable Sewer Utility Rates" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Authorize the Public Advocate To Mediate Disputes Related to Rates for 
Sewer Service' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §1714 is enacted to read: 
§1714. Sewer rate mediation services 
Notwithstanding section 1710, the Public Advocate may provide mediation services 
for disputes regarding rate changes between a sewer district as defined in Title 38, section 
1251 and its customers. The Public Advocate may charge reasonable fees for these 
services. Any fee must be charged evenly between a sewer district and its customers 
participating in a mediation. 
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1252, sub-§l, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 466, §13, is amended 
to read: 
1. Adoption of new rates. Prior to the adoption of a new rate schedule, the trustees 
shall hold a public hearing regarding the proposed rate schedule. The trustees shall 
publish the proposed rates and notice of the hearing not less than once in a newspaper 
having a general circulation in the district not less than 7 days prior to the hearing. The 
district shall mail to each ratepayer a notice of the public hearing and the proposed new 
rate at least 14 days prior to the hearing. The notice must include a statement describing 
the amount of the rate change, the percentage change for each customer class and the 
customer's right to request information relating to the present and proposed rates. The 
sewer district shall maintain adequate records to provide justification for the proposed 
rate and any rate set by the sewer district. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROFS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 'i1 "to H.P. 959, L.D. 1342 
Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §1259 is enacted to read: 
§1259. Mediation services 
If, within 30 days of the public hearing for a rate change under section 1252, 
subsection 1, 15% of the customers of a sewer district or 1,000 customers, whichever is 
less, file with the treasurer of the district and with the Public Advocate a petition 
requesting mediation services regarding the proposed rate, the sewer district and the 
customers, upon agreement of both parties, may request mediation services from the 
Public Advocate under Title 35-A, section 1714.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It authorizes the Public Advocate to mediate 
between a sewer district and its customers with respect to a proposed rate change if 15% 
of the customers or 1,000 customers, whichever is less, petition the Public Advocate to 
mediate. 
FISCAL NOTE REQU1RED 
(See Attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/02/13 :;tvae 
LD 1342 
LR 1744(02) 
An Act To Ensure Just and Reasonable Sewer Utility Rates 
Fiscal Note for BiD as Amended by Committee Amendment ~' L~ -35~ 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) is given the authority to mediate disputes between a sewer district and its 
customers regarding sewer rate increases. The bill allows the OP A to charge a reasonable fee as compensation for the 
services rendered. The amount of any cost or revenue increase cannot be determined at this time. 
LR1744(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1