An Act To Support Electrification of Certain Technologies for the Benefit of Maine Consumers and Utility Systems and the Environment
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1464
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: RILEY, WOODSOME, CAIAZZO, DOUDERA, GROHOSKI, HUBBELL, RYKERSON
Amends: 35-A MRSA §10102, 35-A MRSA §10110

Legislative Document
No. 1464
H.P. 1071
House of Representatives, April 2, 2019
An Act To Support Electrification of Certain Technologies for the 
Benefit of Maine Consumers and Utility Systems and the 
Environment
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RILEY of Jay.
Cosponsored by Senator WOODSOME of York and
Representatives: CAIAZZO of Scarborough, DOUDERA of Camden, GROHOSKI of 
Ellsworth, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, RYKERSON of Kittery.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §10102, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:
3-A.  Beneficial electrification.  "Beneficial electrification" means electrification of 
a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a 
benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the 
electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, 
§3, is amended to read:
C.  "Conservation programs" means programs developed by the trust pursuant to this 
section designed to reduce inefficient electricity use or to increase the efficiency with 
which electricity is used.
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, 
§3, is amended to read:
A.  The trust shall consider, without limitation, conservation programs that:
(1)  Increase consumer awareness of cost-effective options for conserving energy;
(2)  Create more favorable market conditions for the increased use of energy-
efficient products and services;
(3)  Promote sustainable economic development and reduce environmental 
damage; 
(4)  Reduce the price of electricity over time for all consumers by achieving 
reductions in demand for electricity during peak use periods, including by the 
implementation of beneficial electrification; and
(5)  Reduce total energy costs for electricity consumers in the State by increasing 
the efficiency with which electricity is consumed.
Sec. 4.  Efficiency Maine Trust to study barriers to beneficial 
electrification.  The Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 35-A, section 10103, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, shall 
study barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating sectors in the 
State.  The study must identify social, technological, legal, regulatory and economic 
barriers to beneficial electrification for the transportation and heating sectors in the State.  
The study must include information, which the trust may request the commission to 
compile, on potential roles for electric utilities, natural gas utilities and competitive 
markets in supporting beneficial electrification, including benefits and drawbacks of these 
potential roles and examples of specific activities that may be conducted and specific 
needs that may be best served by the electric utilities, natural gas utilities or competitive 
markets.  The Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority shall 
provide information to the trust on potential barriers to beneficial electrification and 
solutions to overcome those barriers in areas under their jurisdiction.  The trust may seek 
information regarding the study from other agencies or from private persons, 
organizations or interest groups.  The trust shall provide public notice of the opportunity 
for the public to submit written information or comments to the trust before and after a 
draft of the study is completed.  The trust shall develop a report based on the study.  The 
report must:
1.  Identify barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating 
sectors of the State;
2.  Identify additional information that the trust may require to make additional 
recommendations or analyses;
3.  Consider potential roles of utilities in supporting beneficial electrification;
4.  Identify areas or populations in the State less likely to benefit directly from 
beneficial electrification without additional policy development or utility intervention; 
and
5.  Recommend opportunities for beneficial electrification.
By February 1, 2020, the trust shall submit its report and any recommended 
legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology.  The 
committee may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th 
Legislature related to the report.
For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" means electrification of a 
technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a benefit 
to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the electricity 
grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.
Sec. 5.  Public Utilities Commission to request proposals for pilot 
program to implement beneficial electrification in the transportation sector.  
The Public Utilities Commission, referred to in this section as "the commission," shall 
request proposals from utilities and from entities that are not utilities, including the 
Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 
10103 for pilot programs that are limited in duration and scope to support beneficial 
electrification of the transportation sector of the State.
1.  Proposals under this section must be submitted to the commission no later than 
February 1, 2020 and must consider and implement the analysis and recommendations of 
the study conducted under section 4.  A proposal under this section may address:
A.  Electric vehicle chargers that make use of load management.  For purposes of this 
paragraph, "load management" means the process of balancing the supply of 
electricity on a network with the electrical load by adjusting the load rather than the 
power station output;
B.  Utility investment in electricity delivery infrastructure for direct current electric 
vehicle fast-charging technology, including polyphase electric service;
C.  Fees for the delivery of electricity for direct current electric vehicle fast-charging 
technology, including the use of financial incentives or short-term waivers of the 
fees; and
D.  Customer engagement and awareness programs.  An applicant shall include the 
participation of the Efficiency Maine Trust as a neutral 3rd party to provide input into 
the development and content of information submitted under this paragraph.
The commission shall allow public comment on a proposal submitted under this section.  
On or before October 1, 2020, the commission may select one or more proposals 
submitted under this section that further the efforts regarding beneficial electrification.
2.  Subsequent to the selection of proposals under subsection 1, the commission may 
request additional proposals under this section that include criteria under subsection 1 and 
other criteria the commission determines necessary to be submitted no earlier than 
December 1, 2020.  A proposal submitted under this subsection must be reviewed 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4.  The 
commission shall allow public comment on a proposal submitted under this subsection.  
On or before August 1, 2021, the commission may select one or more proposals 
submitted under this subsection that are reasonably likely to result in beneficial 
electrification.
3.  The commission shall determine a schedule to implement a proposal selected 
under subsection 1 or 2.  By December 1, 2022, the commission shall complete a review 
of the implemented pilot program that assesses the effectiveness of each of the program's 
elements in supporting beneficial electrification of the transportation sector of the State.
4.  For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" means electrification of a 
technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a benefit 
to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the electricity 
grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1.  Amends provisions in the law regarding the conservation programs of the 
Efficiency Maine Trust by clarifying that conservation programs seek to increase the 
efficiency with which electricity is used and defining "beneficial electrification" as the 
electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that 
provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency 
of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon 
emissions;
2.  Requires the Efficiency Maine Trust to conduct a study regarding the barriers to 
beneficial electrification of the transportation and heating sectors in the State; and
3.  Requires the Public Utilities Commission to issue a request for proposals from 
utilities and entities that are not utilities to conduct a pilot program to support beneficial 
electrification of the transportation sector of the State.