An Act To Review Strategies for Improving Utility Rate Affordability and To Provide Utility Relief
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1913
Committee Amendment CA_A_S529 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004, 35-A MRSA §1714

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" fr "to S.P. 674, L.D. 1913, "An Act To Review 
Strategies for Improving Utility Rate Affordability and To Provide Utility Relief' 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Create the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council' 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the affordability of electricity in the State is a major issue facing many 
ratepayers; and 
Whereas, stakeholders need to begin immediately to evaluate measures to make 
electricity more affordable and advise the Public Advocate on these potential measures; 
and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-1, sub-§93 is enacted to read: 
93. 
Public 
Advocate 
Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §1714 is enacted to read: 
§1714. Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council 
Not Authorized 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
35-AMRSA 
§1714 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" JJ." to S.P. 674, L.D. 1913 { $- S°-Z c0 
1. Appointment; composition. The Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council, referred to 
in this section as "the council" and established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 93, 
consists of 18 members as follows: 
A. Thirteen voting members appointed by the Public Advocate including: 
(1) 
One member representing the interests of senior citizens and the aging 
population of the State: 
(2) One member representing an equal justice advocacy organization operating in 
the State: 
(3) One member representing an association of community action agencies as 
defined in Title 22, section 5321, subsection 2: 
(4) 
One member representing a statewide organization that advocates for 
affordable housing: 
(5) One member from each investor-owned transmission and distribution utility in 
the State: 
(6) One member representing a consumer-owned transmission and distribution 
utility in the State: 
(7) One member representing a large industrial employer based in the State: 
(8) One member representing a research organization dedicated to improving the 
economic outlook of the State and its residents: 
(9) One member who is a member of a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or 
band in the State based on the joint recommendation of the tribal governments of 
the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the 
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk, the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik and 
the Penobscot Nation. If these tribal governments do not make a unanimous joint 
recommendation, the Public Advocate shall appoint a member of a federally 
recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the State and rotate the appointment 
among members of each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in the 
State: 
(10) Two public members, one of whom is a customer of an investor-owned 
transmission and distribution utility serving the northern portion of the State and 
one of whom is a customer of an investor-owned transmission and distributed 
utility serving the southern portion of the State: and 
(11) One public member who is a small business owner: and 
B. Five ex officio, nonvoting members including: 
(1) The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate's designee: 
(2) The Director of the Governor's Energy Office or the director's designee: 
(3) The chair of the commission or the chair's designee: 
(4) The Director of the Efficiency Maine Trust or the director's designee: and 
(5) The director of the Maine State Housing Authority or the director's designee. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ft "to S.P. 674, L.D. 1913 (S- 52. "1) 
2. Duties. The council shall make recommendations to the Public Advocate regarding 
methods to ensure that ratepayers are able to afford electricity in the State. In developing 
recommendations, the council shall: 
A. Review the electric rates and rate design in effect when the council is developing 
its recommendations, projected changes in those rates and the policy goals and other 
factors contributing to projected changes in those rates: 
B. Review electric assistance programs in existence when the council is developing its 
recommendations, including those programs implemented pursuant to section 3214, 
and consider more streamlined and cost-effective options to provide assistance to all 
ratepayers that may be struggling to pay their electric utility bills, including an electric 
utility relief program that provides assistance to individuals receiving benefits under a 
state or federal low-income assistance program or whose family income is equal to or 
below 200% of the federal nonfarm•income official poverty line: 
C. Identify methods to: 
(1) Fund electric assistance programs that do not result in shifting costs to 
ratepayers: 
(2) Improve education and outreach efforts regarding electric assistance programs, 
the retail electricity supply market and energy efficiency programs: and 
(3) Make energy efficiency programs more accessible to low-income, moderate-
income and small business ratepayers, including those ratepayers that rent housing 
accommodations or commercial spaces; and 
D. Identify any other methods that inay improve the affordability of electricity. 
3. Terms. The term of a member appointed to the council is 3 years, except that a 
vacancy during an unexpired term must be filled in the same manner as for the original 
member for the unexpired portion of the member's term. 
4. Meetings. The council shall meet at least once a year. 
5. Chair. The Public Advocate shall appoint a chair. 
6. Public participation. Meetings of the council are public proceedings and may 
allow for public comment. 
7. Staff assistance. The Public Advocate and the commission shall provide necessary 
administrative staffing services to the council. 
8. Reports. By December 1st of each year, the Public Advocate shall submit a report 
to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and 
energy matters on the activities of the council and any recommendations the council made 
5 
to the Public Advocate pursuant to subsection 2. The committee may report out a bill to the 
Legislature relating to the recommendation of the council. 
Sec. 3. Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council; appointments; meetings. The 
Public Advocate shall make initial appointments to the Electric Ratepayer Advisory 
Council pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 1714, subsection 1 no 
later than 60 days after the effective date of this Act. Notwithstanding Title 35-A, section 
1714, subsection 4, during the 2022 calendar year the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
!!.,tlud.1fi 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A-" to S.P. 674, L.D. 1913 f.5--5?_ ')\ 
shall hold its first meeting no later than July 1, 2022 and shall hold at least 5 meetings in 
total during that calendar year. 
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 
Public Advocate 0410 
Initiative: Provides a one-time allocation for the cost of contracted services- to develop a 
report on the activities and recommendations of the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council. 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2021-22 
2022-23 
All Other 
$0 
$100,000 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$0 
$100,000 
Amend the bill by adding before the summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and adds an emergency preamble and clause. The 
amendment establishes the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council to make recommendations 
to the Public Advocate regarding methods to ensure that ratepayers in the State are able to 
afford electricity. The amendment establishes the membership and duties of the council 
and requires the Public Advocate to submit an annual report to the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters on the activities of 
the council and recommendations made by the council to the Public Advocate. The 
amendment requires that the council hold its first meeting no later than July 1, 2022 and 
hold at least 5 meetings during the 2022 calendar year. The amendment also adds an 
appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/31/22 feac:::,. 
LD 1913 
LR2295(02) 
An Act To Review Strategies for Improving Utility Rate Affordability and To Provide Utility Relief 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment tf'( S· Sl 1\ 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
) 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
.i!'iscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2021-22 
FY2022-23 
$0 
$100,000 
Projections 
FY2023-24 
$0 
Projections 
FY2024-25 
$0 
This bill establishes the Electric Ratepayer Advisory Council to make recommendations to the Office of the Public 
Advocate (OPA) on methods to ensure access to affordable electricity. The OPA and Public Utilities Commission will 
provide administrative and staffing services to the council. The bill requires the OPA to submit an annual report on the 
council's activities and recommendations regarding access to affordable electricity. The bill includes a one-time 
allocation of $100,000 to the Public Advocate Regulatory Fund in fiscal year 2022-23 for the cost of contracted 
services to develop the report within the reporting timeline established in thi bill. 
Additional costs to the Maine State Housing Authority, the Governor's Energy Office and the Efficiency Maine Trust 
associated with the director or the director's designee serving on the council can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR2295(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1