An Act to Ensure That the Maine Electric Grid Provides Additional Benefits to Maine Ratepayers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0589
Committee Amendment CA_A_S553 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3148, 35-A MRSA §3802, 35-A MRSA §3803

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT Hft" " to S.P. 257, L.D. 589, "An Act to Ensure That
the Maine Electric Grid Provides Additional Benefits to Maine Ratepayers"
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 35-A MRSA §3148 is enacted to read:
§3148. Periodic review of erid-enhancine technoloey
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
following termshaye the following meanings.
A. "Grid-enhancing technology" means any hardware or software technology that
enables enhanced or more efficient flow of electricity across the existing._electric
transmission and distnbution_SYStem. "Grid-enhancing technology" does not include
generation assets or energy storage.
B. "Large investor-owned transmission and distribution utility" has the same meaning
as in section 3201, subsection 12.
2. Periodic review. Beginning January 15, 2025. and every 5 years thereafter, the
commission shall conduct a review or contract with a consultant to conduct a review of
available grid-enhancing technology that could be implemented by a large investor-owned
transmission and distribution utility to reduce or defer the need for investment in grid
infrastructure in the State. The commission may produce a report or contract with a
consultant to produce a report describing the grid-enhancing technology identified in the
review. The commission may file information or the report for use in rate cases or other
proceedings involving a large investor-owned transmission and distribution utility.
including the integrated grid planning proceeding required pursuant to section_3147»
subsection 2.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3802, sub-§l-A is enacted to read:
1-A. Beneficial lQad.__mBeneficial load" means:
Page I - 131LR1954(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ^" to S.P. 257, L.D. 589 [S- SS'3
t0s,1 A. An increase .in electric load that is consistent with the principles of beneficial
electrification; or
B. The excess electrical capacity within the grid. the use of which is consistent with
beneficiaLelectrification and, when feasible, avoids the need for significant investment
in or expenditures for additional gn_d infrastructure,
"Beneficial load" includes electric load that is used to reduce peak demand or shift the
demand to lower cost time periods.
Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §3803, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2023,c.328,§1, is amended
to read:
2. Plan for promoting beneficial electrification for end uses of energy. The trust
shall develop a 3-year beneficial electrification plan for end uses of energy as part of the
trust's triennial plan in accordance with section 10104, subsection 4 and provide annual
updates to the plan in accordance with section 10104, subsection 6. In developing its
beneficial cloctrifioation plan for end uses, the trust shall consult with relevant departments
and agencies.
A. In developing its beneficial electrification plan for end uses that promotes beneficial
electrification, the trust shall:
(I) Consult with relevant departments and agencies;
(2) Consider jncentivizing the aouropriate placement of and oromotine
commercial or industrial beneficial load;and
C3') Integrate the ongoing energy planning efforts of the office as appropriate.
B. In developing its beneficial electrification plan under this subsection, the trust shall
consider:
d) incorporating the assumptions and advancing the findings and
recommendations of the office in its "Maine Energy Plan: Pathway to 2040" study
launched in August 2023. part of the comprehensive state energy plan required by
Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C;
(T) Whether, in order to enable more efficient generation and transmission
planning, a certain type or location of electric load is beneficial load;
(3) Integrating with and informing the commission's consideration of grid planning
priorities pursuant to section 3147; and
C4') Seeking input from transmission and distribution utilities and relevant agencies
and oreanizafions in the State.
Sec. 4. Efficiency IVIaine Trust beneficial electrification update. By February
1, 2025, the trust shall provide a written update on its beneficial electrification planning as
well as any recommendations, which may include proposed legislation, to improve its
planning activities or to advance beneficial electrification, as defined in the Maine Revised
8 Statutes, Title 3 5-A, section 3 802, subsection 1, and siting of beneficial load, as defined in
Title 35-A, section 3802, subsection 1-A, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature
having jurisdiction over energy matters. The committee may report out a bill related to
beneficial electrification or the trust's recommendations to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ft " to S.P. 257, L.D. 589 [ <> - $^?
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "
3» Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and
--'2 allocations are made.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Public Utilities - Administrative Division 0184
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for contracted consulting services.
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2023-24 2024-25
All Other $0 $102,100
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $102,100
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutive ly,
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. The amendment does the
following.
1. It directs the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a review or contract with a
consultant to conduct a review of available grid-enhancing technology that may be
implemented by large investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to reduce or
defer the need for investment in grid infrastructure in the State. The commission may
produce a report or contract with a consultant to produce a report. The report may be used
by the commission in rate cases or other proceedings involving a large investor-owned
transmission and distribution utility, including the integrated grid planning proceeding.
2. It defines "beneficial load" for the purposes of the Beneficial Electrification Policy
Act.
3. It requires the Efficiency Maine Trust, as a part of its development of a 3-year
beneficial electrification plan for end uses of energy, to consider incentivizing the
appropriate placement of and promoting commercial or industrial beneficial load and
integrate the ongoing energy planning efforts of the Governor's Energy Office as
appropriate.
4. It requires the Efficiency Maine Trust to.provide, by Februaiy 1, 2025, a written
update on its beneficial electrification planning as well as any recommendations to the joint
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters.
5, It adds an appropriations and allocations section.
4 FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 01/29/24 ^KZ'd
LD 589 LR 1954(02)
An Act to Ensure That the Maine Electric Grid Provides Additional Benefits to Maine Ratepayers
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "4Y5~SS^)
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Appropriations/AIlocations
Other Special Revenue Funds
Revenue
Other Special Revenue Funds
$0
$0
$102,100
$102,100
$0
$0
$0
$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has indicated that additional resources are required to complete the initial
review required by this bill. The bill includes a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $102,100 in fiscal
year 2024-25 for contract consulting services and other associated costs. Since the PUC is funded by assessments on
transmission and distribution utilities set to produce sufficient revenue for any expenditures needed to operate, the
assessments will be increased to fund the new allocations,
Any additional costs to the Efficiency Maine Trust to implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor
and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR1954(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1