An Act to P1 ov1de Mame Ratepayers with Eqmtable Access to Inteiconnection ofDistnbuted Energy Resources
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0327
Committee Amendment CA_A_S380 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §107, 35-A MRSA §3473, 35-A MRSA §3474

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A-" to S P 148, L D 327, "An Act to P1 ov1de Mame 
Ratepayers with Eqmtable Access to Inteiconnection ofDistnbuted Energy Resources" 
Amend the bill by sti 1kmg out the title and substitutmg the followmg 
'An Act to Provide Mame Ratepayers with Equitable Access to Interconnection of 
Distributed Generat10n Resources' 
Amend the bill by stnkmg out everythmg after the enactmg clause and msertmg the 
followmg 
'Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2021, c 398, Pt UUU, §3, 
is further amended to read 
1. Appomtment The commiss10n shall appomt 
A An admmistratlve director, a d1rector of telephone and water utility mdusti ies, a 
d1rector of electnc and gas utility mdustnes, a dtrector of consumer assistance and 
safety and a d1rector of emeigency services commumcat10n, 
B With the approval of the Attorney General, a general counsel, and 
C An assistant admmistrat1ve d1rector-, and 
D An mterconnection ombudsman to assist with mterconnect10n under section 3474 
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§2, Wis enacted to read 
F N otwithstandmg section 116 or any other provision of this Title, the mtei connection 
ombudsman is funded only through fees assessed under sect10n 3474, federal money 
and contnbut10ns from pnvate and pubhc sources 
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §3473, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2013, c 562, § 1, is repealed 
and the followmg enacted 111 its place 
1. Momtormg. The commission shall momt01 the level of solar energy development 
m the State m relation to the goals m sect10n 3474, basic trends m solar energy markets and 
the relative costs and benefits from solar energy development, mcludmg but not lnrnted to 
Page I - 131LR1979(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "It'' to SP 148, L D 327 
A Revenue from the sale of renewable energy credits, 
B Societal benefits through av01ded greenhouse gas emissions, 
C Reduced electricity prices, and 
D A voided or reduced costs associated with 
(1) Electricity capacity requrrements, 
(2) Environmental compliance requrrements, 
(3) Portfolio ieqmrements established m section 3210, 
(4) Renewable energy credit pnce suppression, and 
(5) Electricity transmiss10n and distribution costs 
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §3473, sub-§1-A is enacted to read 
1-A. Reportmg. By January 1st of each year, the commission shall provide a 
summary report of its fmdmgs under subsection 1 to the 1omt standmg committee of the 
Legislature havmg mnsdictlon over energy matters 
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §3474, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2021, c 264, § 1, 1s amended 
to read 
3. 
Interconnection rules. 
The commission shall adopt rules related to the 
mterconnectlon of renewable capacity resources, as defined m sect10n 3210-C, subsection 
1, paragraph E, usmg solar power, referred tom tl11s subsect10n as "solar resources," and 
energy storage systems, as defined m section 3481, subsection 6, whether or not colocated 
with solar resources, to mvestor-owned transmiss10n and d1stnbution utilities, as defined 
m section 3201, subsection 11-A, ma manne1 that suppoiis the goals m this section and 
ensures 
A The State's mterconnection rules reflect nat10nally recogmzed best practices, which 
may mclude, but are not limited to, those established by the Interstate Renewable 
Enei gy Council, or successor orgamzation, and pnontize mterconnection of solar 
resources and energy storage systems owned by customers of mvestor-owned 
t1ansmiss10n and distribution utilities and used to serve an on-site load, 
B Customers affected by deficiencies m the rules aie able to access tunely iesolutlon 
processes that do not place an undue burden on the customer, and 
C 
Investments m mvestor-owned transmission and d1stnbution ut1hty distnbution 
upgrades related to load are coordmated with utility mfrastructure upgrades requu ed 
for the mterconnection of renewable capacity resources usmg solar power and energy 
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st01 age systems 
Rules adopted under this subsect10n are routme techmcal rules as defined m Title 5, chapter 
375, subchapter 2-A 
Sec. 6. 35-A MRSA §3474, sub-§4 is enacted to read 
4. Interconnection ombudsman, fund. The mterconnectlon ombudsman appomted 
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pursuant to section 107, subsect10n 1 shall assist persons seekmg mterconnect10ns 
governed by rules adopted under subsect10n 3 
The commission shall appomt an 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fr" to SP 148, L D 327 
mterconnection ombudsman who possesses techmcal expertise related to mterconnect10n 
and mterconnect10n procedm es 
A The duties of the mterconnect10n ombudsman mclude but are not limited to 
( 1) Trackmg mterconnection disputes, 
(2) Facilitatmg the efficient and fair resolution of disputes between customers 
seekmg to mterconnect and mvestor-owned transm1ss10n and distribution utilities, 
(3) Reviewmg mvestor-owned transmission and d1stribut10n utility mterconnect10n 
pohc1es to assess opportumt1es for reducmg mterconnection disputes, 
( 4) Convemng stakeholder groups as necessary to facilitate effective 
commumcat10n between mterconnection stakeholders, and 
(5) Preparing reports that detail the number, type, resolution tunelme and outcome 
of mterconnect10n disputes 
B The commission by rule shall establish a fee to be paid by persons seekmg 
mterconnections to fund the mterconnection ombudsman Notw1thstandmg Title 5, 
sect10n 8071, rules adopted undei this paragraph are routme techmcal rules as defined 
m Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A 
C The mterconnectlon ombudsman fund 1s established withm the commission as a 
nonlapsmg fund for the purposes of fundmg the mterconnection ombudsman The 
comm1ss1on shall deposit all fees collected under this subsect10n mto the fund and all 
money m the fund must be used to fully fund the mterconnection ombudsman In 
addit10n to the fees estabhshed m accordance with this subsect10n, the fund may accept 
federal money and contribut10ns from private and public sources 
Sec. 7. Solar mterconnect1on cost allocation method and rules. The Pubhc 
Utihties Commission shall 
Withm 6 months of the effective date of this Act, adopt mterconnection rules m 
accordance with the Mame Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, sect10n 3474, subsection 3 that 
pnontlze mterconnectlon of solar resources and energy storage systems owned by 
customers of mvestor-owned transmission and distribution utlhtles and used to serve an 
on-site load, 
Withm 12 months of the effective date of this Act, make a good faith effort to appomt 
an mterconnection ombudsman with expertise related to mterconnection of distributed 
generation resources, mcludmg solar resources and energy storage systems, and 
W ithm 6 months of the effective date of this Act, contract with an expert to evaluate 
whether treatmg distributed generation resources that use the tariff rate program under the 
Mame Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3209-B as load-reducmg resources would 
provide greater value to all ratepayers than the treatment of those resources as wholesale 
generat10n resources The expert shall also evaluate whether the tariff rate piogram has 
been implemented m a way that maximizes the value of the portfolio of the resources to all 
ratepayers By September 1, 2024, the commiss10n shall provide a copy of the expert's 
report and a descript10n of any actions the commission recommends with respect to the 
findmgs m the report to the Jomt standmg committee of the Legislature havmg Jurisdiction 
over eneigy matters The Jomt standmg committee may report out a bill to the 132nd 
Legislature m 2025 related to the report 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to SP 148, L D 327 
Sec. 8. Interconnection workmg group. The Pubhc Utilities Commission shall 
convene a workmg group, referred to m this section as "the workmg group," to collaborate 
to prevent and resolve disputes relatmg to the implementation of the State's small generator 
mterconnectlon procedures for Level 1 and Level 2 facilities, as defined m Chapter 324 of 
the commission's rules 
The workmg group's duties mclude the identificat10n and discussion of ISsues related 
to 
A Transparency of mvestor-owned transmission and distnbution utility activities m 
the mterconnection process, 
B Current and emergmg techmcal issues resultmg m disputes between the State's 
mvestor-owned transmission and distnbution utilities and customers seekmg to 
mterconnect, 
C Cucmts and lme sections that have been detennmed to be unsafe for the 
mterconnectlon of Level 1 facilities, and 
D Topics that would be appropnately mcluded m the duties of the mterconnection 
ombudsman 
The workmg group shall hold monthly meetmgs for its first year, and thereafter the 
workmg group shall meet at least quarterly until the commission submits its final report m 
2025 
The members of the workmg group must mclude 
A One or more representatives from Central Mame Power Company, 
B One or more representatives from Versant Power, 
C Representatives from 2 or more companies engaged 111 the development and 
construction of Level 1 and Level 2 facilities m the Central Mame Power Company 
service territory, 
D Representatives from 2 or more compames engaged m the development and 
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construction of Level 1 and Level 2 facilities m the Versant Power service temtory, 
and 
E Any other person that the commission determmes necessary to ensure that all 
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mterests related to mterconnect1on issues are fairly represented 
By December 6, 2023, the commission shall submit a report summanzmg the 
workmg group's activities under this section to the JOint standmg committee of the 
Legislature havmg JUnsdict1on over energy matters The commission shall submit to the 
comnuttee an additional report by December 6, 2024 and a fmal report of the workmg 
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group by December 6, 2025 The committee may report out a bill to the Second Regular 
Session of the 132nd Legislature regardmg the contents of the fmal report 
Sec. 9. 
Appropriations and allocations. The followmg appropnatlons and 
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allocations are made 
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 
Pubbc Utibties - Admm1strative D1v1s1on 0184 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT. ,4-,, to S P 148, L D 327 
Imtiative Provides one-tune allocat10ns for expenditures related to contracted consultmg 
services and related STA-CAP 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
PUC - Interconnection Ombudsman Fund N467 
2023-24 
$110,210 
$110,210 
2024-25 
$0 
$0 
Imtiatlve Provides allocat10ns to establish one Utility Analyst posit10n to serve as the 
Interconnection Ombudsman and associated All Othei costs 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
I 000 
000 
Personal Services 
$118,414 
$122,203 
All Other 
$15,391 
$15,391 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$133,805 
$137,594 
PUC - Interconnection Ombudsman Fund N467 
Imtlative Provides allocations to establish the program and account 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
All Other 
$500 
$500 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$500 
$500 
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
2023-24 
2024-25 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
$244,515 
$138,094 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL-ALL FUNDS 
$244,515 
$138,094 
Amend the bill by relettermg or renumbermg any nonconsecutive Part lettei 01 section 
number to read consecutively 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft It creates a pos1t10n w1tlun 
the Public Utilities Commiss10n for an mterconnection ombudsman that is funded prunanly 
by fees paid by persons seekmg mterconnections, but may also be funded by federal funds 
and contributions from private and public sources It establishes the duties of this posit10n 
and reqmres the commiss10n to make a good faith effort to appomt an mtei connection 
ombudsman withm 12 months of the effective date of this legislation 
The amendment identifies costs and benefits of solar eneigy development that the 
comm1ss1on must momtor and reqmres the commission to provide an annual summary 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT"'" to SP 148, L D 327 
report regardmg its momtormg activities to the Jomt standmg committee of the Legislature 
havmg Jurisdiction over energy matters 
It directs the commission to adopt mterconnection rules applicable to solar resources 
and to energy storage systems withm 6 months of the effective date of this legislation The 
rules must reflect nationally recogmzed best practices and pnontize mterconnect10n of 
solar resources and energy storage systems owned by customers to offset on-site load 
The amendment also reqmres the commission to contract with an expe11 to conduct an 
evaluation of and issue a report addressmg whether treatmg d1stl ibuted generation 
resources that use the tanff rate program as load-reducmg resources will provide greater 
value to all ratepayers than treatmg those resources as wholesale generatton resources and 
whether the tanff iate established by the Mame Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 
3209-B, subsection 5 has been implemented m a way that maximizes the value of the 
portfolio of the resources to all ratepayers The c01mmssion must provide a copy of the 
expert's report and a descnpt1on of any actions the comm1ss1on recommends with respect 
to the findmgs m the report to the Jomt standmg committee of the Legislature havmg 
Jurisdiction over energy matters by September 1, 2024 
Lastly, the amendment reqmres the commission to establish a workmg group to 
collaborate to prevent and resolve disputes relatmg to the 1mplementatlon of the State's 
small generator mte1 connection procedures for Level 1 and Level 2 fac1hties The workmg 
group must meet monthly for its first year and at least quarterly thereafter until the workmg 
group submits its fmal report The workmg group's fmal report must be submitted to the 
Jomt standmg committee of the Legislature havmg Junsd1ction over energy matters by 
December 6, 2025 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved 06/16/23 ;:!;Pae 
LD327 
LR 1979(02) 
An Act to Provide Mame Ratepayers with Equitable Access to Interconnection of Distributed Energy 
Resources 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment _:tlJ• ( S ) 8q 
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology 
Appropnat10ns/ Allocat1ons 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Note Reqmred: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2023-24 
FY 2024-25 
$244,515 
$138,094 
Project10ns 
FY 2025-26 
$142,005 
ProJections 
FY 2026-27 
$146,040 
', -~ 1 Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
$110,210 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Fiscal Detad and Notes 
This bill creates an Interconnect10n Ombudsman pos1t10n w1thm the Pubhc Ut1ht1es Commiss10n(PUC) to be funded 
by a combmat10n of fees assessed on persons seekmg mterconnection, federal fundmg somces and other pnvate and 
pubhc funds The bill mcludes allocat10ns of $133,805 to the PUC begmnmg m the fiscal yeai 2023-24 to estabhsh 
one Utility Analyst posit10n to serve as the Ombudsman posit10n and associated costs The bill mcludes allocat10ns of 
$500 begmmng 111 fiscal year 2023-24 to estabhsh the PUC-Interconnect10n Omsbudman Fund to receive revenues 
from mterconnect10n fees once they are established through mlemakmg conducted by the PUC 
The bill also reqmres the PUC to ut1hze contracted services to evaluate how distnbuted generat10n resources are used 
withm the tanffprogiam The bill mcludes one-tune allocat10ns of $110,210 to the PUC 111 fiscal year 2023-24 for the 
cost of the contracted services Smee the PUC 1s funded by assessments on impacted utilities set to produce sufficient 
revenue for the expenditures needed to operate 1t, the one-tune allocat10ns m this bill reqmre a correspondmg one-
time mcrease m revenue from those assessments 
LR1979(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1