An Act To Enhance the Energy Security of Maine Residents
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0697
Committee Amendment CA_A_H935 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §708

COMMITTEE Alv1ENDMENT .. j, 
to H.P. 509, L.D. 697, "An Act To Enhance the 
Energy Security of Maine Residents" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Reduce Risks to Maine's Critical Utility Infrastructure' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §708, sub-§2, ,A, as amended by PL 2019, c. 353, §2, is 
further amended by amending subparagraph (9) to read: 
(9) 
That neither ratepayers nor investors are adversely affected by the 
reorganization, and if the reorganization would result in the transfer of ownership 
and control of a public utility or the parent company of a public utility, that the 
reorganization provides identifiable long-term net benefits to the utility's 
ratepayers. 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §708, sub-§2, ,c, as enacted by PL 2019, c. 353, §2, is 
amended to read: 
C. In determining whether a utility reorganization that would result in the transfer of 
ownership and control· of a public utility or the parent company of a public utility 
provides net benefits to the utility's ratepayers pursuant to paragraph A, the 
commission, at a minimum, shall examine: 
(1) Whether the reorganization will result in a rate increase lower rates for the 
utility's ratepayers; ana 
(2) Whether the reorganization will result in a loss of greater local control of the 
utility's management and operations in a manner that limits improves the ability of 
local management to protect the interests of the utility's ratepayers in this StateT; 
and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT tf,, to H.P. 509, L.D. 697 
(3) Whether the reorganization will avoid the ownership or control, in whole or in 
part, of a public utility by a foreign government, a foreign corporation or the 
subsidiary of a foreign corporation and so avoid an ownership or control that could: 
(a) Pose risks at any time to system reliability, customer privacy or customer 
safety in the event of international hostilities: 
(b) Impede in any way the ability of the commission to exercise its powers 
and duties: or 
(c) Result in net economic losses to the State.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
The amendment requires the Public Utilities Commission, in granting approval for a 
reorganization of a utility, to include conditions that ensure that, if the reorganization would 
result in the transfer of ownership and control of a public utility or the parent company of 
a ·public utility, the reorganization provides identifiable long-term net benefits to the 
utility's ratepayers. 
The amendment rephrases the current net benefit standards and establishes new net 
benefit considerations that the commission must examine when approving a utility's 
reorganization if the reorganization would result in ownership or control, in whole or in 
part, of a public utility by a foreign government, foreign corporation or subsidiary of a 
foreign corporation. The amendment requires the commission to examine, before issuing 
an order of authorization, the risks to system reliability, customer privacy and customer 
safety in the event of international hostilities, whether the reorganization could impede the 
commission's ability to exercise its duties and powers and the potential net economic losses 
to the State associated with the ownership or control by a foreign government, foreign 
corporation or subsidiary of a foreign corporation. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/17 /22 #ac::.. 
LD697 
LR 1807(02) 
An Act To Enhance the Energy Security of Maine Residents 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '/('{f/ ,-Cf35 ) 
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 due to changes to the criteria used to grant approvals of utility 
reorganizations are. anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1807(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1