An Act To Prohibit an Electric Utility from Charging a Customer for Using an Electromechanical Meter
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0229
Committee Amendment CA_A_S176 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 75, L.D. 229, Bill, "An Act To Prohibit 
an Electric Utility from Charging a Customer for Using an Electromechanical Meter" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Quantify and Ensure Actual Ratepayer Benefits from the Deployment 
of Advanced Metering Infrastructure' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Public Utilities Commission evaluation. Resolved: That the Public 
Utilities Commission shall quantify the total accrued costs and benefits to ratepayers and 
taxpayers of advanced metering infrastructure from the initial purchase and deployment 
of advanced metering infrastructure to the effective date of this resolve. The commission 
shall identify baniers to achieving benefits from the deployment of advanced metering 
technology and propose solutions to ensure that advanced metering infrastructure 
deployed by transmission and distribution utilities benefit ratepayers and taxpayers, 
reduce costs and advance the State's smart grid policy goals set out in the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3143, subsection 3. The commission shall also evaluate the 
fee imposed on customers that decline the installation of advanced metering infrastructure 
and instead choose to continue to use an electromechanical meter. The commission shall 
consider a discount to be provided to customers that install advanced metering 
infrastructure rather than imposing a fee to those customers that decline the installation of 
advanced metering infrastruc_ture. 
The commission shall submit a report, including any recommendations, to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology by January 30, 2018. The 
committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature 
based on the report. 
For the purposes of this section, "electromechanical meter" means a meter used to 
measure electricity consumption that is not a wireless smart meter.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 75, L.D. 229 
SUMMARY 
This amendment is the minority repo1i of the committee and replaces the bill. It 
requires the Public Utilities Commission to quantify the costs and benefits of advanced 
metering infrastructure from the initial purchase and deployment to the effective date of 
the resolve. 
It requires the commission to identify baiTiers to achieving benefits of 
advanced metering infrastructure and to propose solutions to realize benefits such as 
reducing costs and advancing state policy. It also requires the commission to consider 
providing a discount to customers that use advanced metering infrastructure instead of an 
electromechanical meter, rather than charging a fee to those customers that decline the 
installation of advanced metering infrastructure. The commission is directed to submit a 
rep01i, including recommendations, to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities 
and Technology by January 30, 2018. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/26/17 :::Wac 
LD229 
LR 667(02) 
An Act To Prohibit an Electric Utility from Charging a Customer for Using an Electromechanical 
Meter 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "~._' ( S - ~ 1 lP) 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission as a result of the analysis of advanced metering infrastructure 
and the impact on electric ratepayers are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR0667(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1