An Act To Assist Low-income Electricity Consumers
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1382
Committee Amendment CA_A_S364 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 511, L.D. 1382, Bill, "An Act To 
Assist Low-income Electricity Consumers" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §27, sub-§3 is repealed and the following 
enacted in its place: 
3. Fiscal years 2016-17 to 2019-20. Beginning with fiscal year 2016-17 and 
continuing through fiscal year 2019-20, the Public Utilities Commission shall require the 
payment of 50% of settlement funds received by a transmission and distribution utility to 
the Efficiency Maine Trust to be used by the trust, as determined by the Efficiency Maine 
Trust Board, for measures, investments, loans, arrangements and technical assistance to 
assist low-income residential electric utility customers in making energy efficiency 
improvements to residential buildings and upgrades to efficient heating systems that will 
reduce both overall residential energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The 
commission shall require the payment of 50% of settlement funds to be used to reduce the 
transmission and distribution utility's rates in a manner that provides maximum benefit to 
the economy of the State. 
Sec. 2. PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §27, sub-§4 is enacted to read: 
4. Mter fiscal year 2019-20. After fiscal year 2019-20, the Public Utilities 
Commission shall require the remaining settlement funds to be used to reduce a 
transmission and distribution utility's rates in a manner that provides maximum benefit to 
the economy of the State.' 
SUMMARY 
This is the minority report of the committee and replaces the bill. This amendment 
amends Public Law 2013, chapter 369 to require the Public Utilities Commission to 
distribute 50% of funds received by transmission and distribution utilities pursuant to 
litigation with the United States Department of Energy concerning decommissioning 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 511, L.D. 1382 
costs related to Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company to the Efficiency Maine Trust 
from fiscal year 2016-17 to fiscal year 2019-20. The amendment requires that settlement 
funds received by the trust be used for measures, investments, loans, arrangements and 
technical assistance to assist low-income residential electric utility customers with energy 
efficiency improvements to residential buildings and upgrades to efficient heating 
systems that will reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. 
The 
amendment also specifies that the other 50% of the settlement funds must be used to 
reduce a transmission and distribution utility's rates in a manner that provides maximum 
benefit to the economy of the State. Lastly, the amendment specifies that after fiscal year 
2019-20 the commission shall require the remaining funds to be used to reduce a 
transmission and distribution utility's rates in a manner that provides maximum benefit to 
the economy of the State. 
l'IICAL NOTE IIIQIIJllelJ 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Fiscal Detail and Notes 
• 
Approved: 02/19/16 
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LD 1382 
LR 1118(02) 
An Act To Assist Low-income Electricity Consumers 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment •A,(S-3£o"'t) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium revenue increase - Efficiency Maine Trust 
Minor cost increase - Efficiency Maine Trust 
Under current law, starting in fiscal year 2016-17, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) must ensure that 
transmission and distribution utilities receiving settlement funds from litigation related to the decommissioning costs 
of the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company are to be distributed in a manner that provides maximum benefit to the 
economy. Under this bill, from fiscal year 2016-17 through fiscal year 2019-20, 50% of these settlement funds would 
be directed to the Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) to assist low-income residential electric utility customers in making 
certain energy efficiency improvements and upgrades. The remaining 50% of settlement funds would be used to 
reduce the utility rates of transmission and distribution utilities in a manner providing maximum benefit to the 
economy, with the percentage rising to 100% of settlement funds in fiscal year 2020-21 and in every subsequent fiscal 
year. The PUC has indicated that the amount of settlement funds, or whether there will be any settlement funds, in 
fiscal year 2016-17 and beyond cannot currently be detennined. 
Any additional costs to the EMT are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LRl 118(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1