An Act to Make Permanent the Arrearage Management Program for Low-mcome Residential Electricity Customers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2067
Committee Amendment CA_A_H764 (House)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3214, 35-A MRSA §10110

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "t\ " to H.P. 1330, L,D. 2067, "An Act to Make
Permanent the Arrearage Management Program for Low-mcome Residential Electricity
Customers"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the followmg:
'An Act to Continue the Arrearage Management Program for Low-income
Residential Electricity Customers'
Amend the bill in the emergency preamble in the 5th line (page 1, line 5 in L.D.) by
striking out the following: "indefinitely"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the
emergency clause and inserting the following:
'See. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A, as amended l?y PL 2021,c, 101, §1, is
further amended by amending the 3rd blocked paragraph to read;
No later than January 28, 3QS4 2028, the commission shall prepare a report assessing the
effectiveness of arrearage management programs from October A .2024 through September
30. 2027, including the number of participants enrolled in the programs, the number of
participants completing the programs, the number of participants who have failed to
complete the programs, the payment patterns of participating customers after completing
the programQ, the dollar amount of arrears forgiven, a oopiparison of outcomes for those
participating in tho programs and those not partioipatmg, the impact on any participating
transmission and distribution utility's bad debt as a result of the programs, the costs and
benefits to all ratepayers associated with the programs and recommendations for ways in
which the programs might be improved or continued for the benefit of all ratepayers. In
preparing its report, the commission shall hold at least one formal stakeholder meeting
involving affected parties, including the Office of the Public Advocate and the participating
transmission and distribution utilities. Parties must also be provided an opportunity to
submit written comments to the commission regarding the performance of the programs,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ^." to H.P. 1330, L.D. 2067
.0^
^" 1 Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 101, §1, is
further amended by amending the 4th blocked paragraph to read:
The jomt standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters
may report out a bill relating to the commission report to the Second Regular Session of
the 4Mst 133rd Legislature,
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2021, c. 101, §1, is
further amended by amending the 5th blocked paragraph to read:
This subsection is repealed September 3 0,2034 2028.
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§2, ^]L, as amended by PL 2021, c. 101, §2, is
further amended by amending the first blocked paragraph to read:
This paragraph is repealed September 3 0, SOS4 2028.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment updates the emergency preamble, changes the title and replaces the
bill. The amendment removes the provision of the bill that indefinitely continues the
arrearage management program. Instead, it extends the repeal date for the arrearage
management program from September 30, 2024 to September 30, 2028. The amendment
also changes the requirements for the Public Utilities Commission's report on the
effectiveness of the arrearage management program and changes the reporting date to no
later than January 28, 2028.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/13/24 ^S^c*-
LD 2067 LR 2780(02)
An Act to Make Permanent the Arrearage Management Program for Low-income Residential
Electricity Customers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/^ (H'-
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional costs to the Public Utilities Commission to adopt the changes in this bill are expected to be minor and
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2780(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1