An Act to Limit Utility Shut-offs
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1962
Committee Amendment CA_A_S554 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/} " to S.P. 798, L.D. 1962, "An Act to Limit Utility
Shut-offs"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Direct the Public Utilities Commission to Adopt Rules Regarding Utility
Shut-offs'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Adopt rules governing transmission and distribution utility and gas
utility terminations and disconnections. Resolved: That, in accordance with its
authority under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, sections 111 and 704, the Public
Utilities Commission shall adopt rules governing transmission and distribution utility and
gas utility service terminations and disconnections due to unpaid bills for utility service.
1. For residential customers of transmission and disfa-ibution utilities and gas utilities,
the rules must;
A. Prohibit the termination or disconnection of utility service for unpaid utility bills
during extreme weather or temperature conditions, including extreme heat or humidity,
between April 16th and November 14th; and
B. Establish a threshold dollar amount greater than $50 owed by a customer who does
not pay or make a payment arrangement on an undisputed overdue utility bill at or
above which the utility may terminate or disconnect utility service; and
2, For low-income customers of a transmission and distribution utility, the rules must
prohibit the utility from:
A. Charging a restoration or reconnection fee or requiring a security deposit for a
restoration of service; and
B. Charging late fees that accrued prior to the termination or disconnection.
For the purposes of this subsection, "low-income customer" means a residential customer
of a transmission and distribution utility who, as determined by the commission, receives
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /)." to S.P. 798, L.D. 1962 (5-^-(
low-income financial assistance pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3214, subsection 2 or low-
income home energy assistance pursuant to the program described in Title 30-A, section
4722, subsection 1, paragraph W or who is enrolled in an arrearage management program
implemented pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3214, subsection 2-A.
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5,
chapter 375, subchapter 2-A,'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve. The
amendment requires the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules governing transmission
and distribution utility and gas utility terminations and disconnections of service to
residential customers.for unpaid utility bills.
1, The rules must prohibit the termination or disconnection of electric and gas utility
service durmg extreme weather or temperature conditions, including extreme heat or
humidity, and establish a threshold dollar amount greater than $50 owed by a customer
who does not pay or make a payment arrangement on an undisputed overdue utility bill at
or above which the utility may terminate or disconnect utility service.
2. The rules must prohibit a transmission and distribution utility from charging
restoration or reconnection fees or late fees or requiring a security deposit in connection
with the restoration of service if the customer is a low-income customer.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/09/24 .-sfe^c'-
LD 1962 LR 2116(02)
An Act to Limit Utility Shut-offs
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/y
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 implement the provisions of this bill are expected to be
minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR2116(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1