Resolve, To Study Transmission Grid Reliability and Rate Stability in Northern Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1796
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: STEWART, JACKSON, DeVEAU, JOHANSEN, MARTIN, SWALLOW, WHITE, CARPENTER

Legislative Document
No. 1796
H.P. 1275
House of Representatives, May 29, 2019
Resolve, To Study Transmission Grid Reliability and Rate Stability 
in Northern Maine
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative STEWART of Presque Isle.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook and
Representatives: DeVEAU of Caribou, JOHANSEN of Monticello, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, 
MARTIN of Sinclair, McCREA of Fort Fairfield, SWALLOW of Houlton, WHITE of 
Washburn, Senator: CARPENTER of Aroostook.
Sec. 1.  Convene stakeholder group.  Resolved:  That the Governor's Energy 
Office shall convene a stakeholder group to identify and develop strategies to address the 
transmission grid reliability and electric rate stability for the northern Maine service 
territory.  The stakeholder group must consist of representatives of:
1.  The Governor's Energy Office;
2.  The Public Utilities Commission;
3.  The Office of the Public Advocate;
4.  The Northern Maine Independent System Administrator;
5.  A municipal government in northern Maine;
6.  A large industrial electric utility customer located in northern Maine;
7.  A trade association representing businesses located in northern Maine;
8.  A trade association representing the forest products industry;
9.  An investor-owned transmission and distribution utility serving northern Maine;
10.  Two different consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities located in 
northern Maine; and
11.  An energy generator located in northern Maine.
Sec. 2.  Review and recommendations.  Resolved:  That, in its review of 
transmission grid reliability and electric rate stability for the northern Maine service 
territory, the stakeholder group convened pursuant to section 1 shall, at minimum, 
address and develop recommendations concerning:
1.  The continued need to assess reliability in the northern Maine service territory;
2.  The shutdown of biomass plants in the region, such as those in Fort Fairfield and 
Ashland, that have in the past been essential to addressing reliability concerns;
3.  The region's fuel security, competitive supply and rate volatility resulting from its 
reliance on generation resources in the region; and
4.  Opportunities for transmission and nontransmission alternatives to address the 
current and projected reliability and rate stability needs of the region.
Sec. 3.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than December 4, 2019, the stakeholder 
group shall submit to the Governor's Energy Office a report establishing the scope and 
priority of transmission grid reliability and electric rate stability issues for the northern 
Maine service territory, together with recommendations.  The report must address the 
concerns identified in section 2 and recommend strategies that respond to those issues, 
including any recommended changes to the law or to the rules of the Public Utilities 
Commission.  The Governor's Energy Office shall submit the report, together with any 
proposed implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities 
and Technology.  Upon receipt and review of the report, the joint standing committee 
may report out a bill related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 129th 
Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve directs the Governor's Energy Office to convene a stakeholder group to 
identify and develop strategies to address the transmission grid reliability and electric rate 
stability for the northern Maine service territory.  The Governor's Energy Office is 
directed to submit a report that includes its findings, together with any proposed 
implementing legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and 
Technology, which is authorized to report out a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 
129th Legislature.