An Act To Review Strategies for Improving Utility Rate Affordability and To Provide Utility Relief
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1913
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: VITELLI, FAY, BAILEY, BRENNER, CURRY, HICKMAN, JACKSON, RAFFERTY, PIERCE
Amends: 35-A MRSA §1702, 35-A MRSA §3214

Legislative Document
No. 1913
S.P. 674
In Senate, January 12, 2022
An Act To Review Strategies for Improving Utility Rate 
Affordability and To Provide Utility Relief
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on January 10, 2022.  Referred to the Committee 
on Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Cosponsored by Representative FAY of Raymond and
Senators: BAILEY of York, BRENNER of Cumberland, CURRY of Waldo, HICKMAN of 
Kennebec, President JACKSON of Aroostook, RAFFERTY of York, Representative: PIERCE 
of Falmouth.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §1702, as amended by PL 2021, c. 318, §8, is further amended 
by amending the section headnote to read:
§1702.  Duties Powers and duties
Sec. 2.  35-A MRSA §1702, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6, is 
amended to read:
The powers, duties and responsibilities of the Public Advocate are to represent the 
using and consuming public in matters within the jurisdiction of the commission, including, 
but not limited, to, the following:.
Sec. 3.  35-A MRSA §1702, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
11.  Stakeholder group.  The Public Advocate may convene a stakeholder group to 
develop and submit to the Legislature recommendations for legislation and policy changes 
pertaining to the commission as provided by this subsection.
A.  The stakeholder group consists of the following members:
(1)  The Public Advocate or the Public Advocate's designee;
(2)  The commission's designee;
(3)  A representative of a renewable energy advocacy organization in the State;
(4)  A representative of tribal interests in the State;
(5)  A representative of an organization representing the interests of senior citizens 
and the aging population of the State;
(6)  A representative of an environmental advocacy organization operating in the 
State;
(7)  A representative of an equal justice advocacy organization operating in the 
State;
(8)  A representative of a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated 
to improving the economic well-being of low-income and moderate-income 
residents of the State; and
(9)  A representative of a transmission and distribution utility.
B.  If convened, the stakeholder group shall:
(1)  Identify different methods to ensure that residents of the State are able to afford 
electricity as the State seeks to meet the renewable resources goal under section 
3210, subsection 1-A, paragraph B, including modernized or new rate designs or 
structures, measures to lower costs by reduction of demand through energy 
efficiency, weatherization and financial assistance programs and any other option 
for mitigating rate increases and ensuring reliability and affordability; and
(2)  Review the utility rates in effect when the stakeholder group convenes, 
projected changes in utility rates and the policy goals and other factors contributing 
to projected changes in utility rates.
C.  If convened, the stakeholder group shall report the recommendations, including any 
proposals for statutory or regulatory changes necessary to implement methods 
identified under paragraph B, subparagraph (1), to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters. After reviewing the report, the 
committee may report out a bill to implement recommendations contained in the report 
to the next regular session of the Legislature that convenes after the stakeholder group 
submits the report.
Sec. 4.  35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-B is enacted to read:
2-B.  Utility relief program.  In addition to the programs administered under 
subsection 2, the commission shall create an electric utility relief program.
A.  The commission shall make the utility relief program available to persons:
(1)  Receiving benefits under a state or federal low-income assistance program; or
(2)  Whose family income is equal to or below 200% of the federal nonfarm income 
official poverty line.
B.  The utility relief program must provide waivers for late fees, arrearage assistance 
and any other type of assistance the commission determines is appropriate.  
Sec. 5.  35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§7 is enacted to read:
7.  Education and outreach.  The commission, in cooperation with the Efficiency 
Maine Trust established under section 10103, shall provide education and outreach on all 
utility relief programs authorized by this section to the public and to transmission and 
distribution utilities.  A transmission and distribution utility shall include education and 
outreach information about a program created as authorized by this section with a 
communication or bill sent to a customer for a period of at least 4 consecutive months after 
the program is created.
Sec. 6.  Stakeholder group.  Not later than September 1, 2022, the Public Advocate 
shall convene a stakeholder group as authorized by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, 
section 1702, subsection 11.  The stakeholder group shall submit a report with findings and 
recommendations to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over utilities matters not later than December 1, 2022. The joint standing committee may 
submit a bill to the First Regular Session of the 131st Legislature relating to the subject 
matter of the report.
Sec. 7.  Electric utility relief program.  The Public Utilities Commission shall 
create an electric utility relief program as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
35-A, section 3214, subsection 2-B not later than November 1, 2022.  The program must 
provide retroactive benefits applicable to late fees, arrearages or other electric utility costs 
incurred during the winter of 2021-2022, and benefits in future years, as determined by the 
commission.
SUMMARY
This bill directs the Public Advocate to convene a stakeholder group to consider matters 
related to electricity affordability and submit a report to the Legislature. The bill authorizes 
the Public Advocate to convene the stakeholder group on those matters in the future.  The 
bill also directs the Public Utilities Commission to create an electric utility relief program 
for low-income persons and directs the commission in cooperation with the Efficiency 
Maine Trust to provide education and outreach on utility relief programs.