An Act Regarding the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1730
Committee Amendment CA_A_S544 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §3475

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4 " to S.P. 676, L.D. 1730, "An Act Regarding the
Beneficial Electrification Policy of the State"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'An Act to Make Small PIug-in Solar Generation Devices Accessible for All Maine
Residents to Address the Energy Affordabillty Crisis'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 35-A MRSA §3475 is enacted to read:
83475. Plue-in ohotovoltaic and battery systems
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the
followina terms have the followina meaninas,
A. "Eliaible system" means a plua-in photovoltaic system or plue-in battery system
with an export caoacitv of 1.200 watts or less that is;
0) Listed or certified in accordance with UL 3700. the Outline of Investiaation
for Interactive Plua-in Photovoltaic Equipment and Systems, and any other
applicable standards developed by UL LLC. formerly known as Underwriters
Laboratories, or the National Electrical Safety Code specific to plue-in
ohotovoltaic systems and plua-in batteiv systems:
C2,) Listed or certified in accordance with a standard comparable to UL 3700 from
a nationally recoanized testina laboratory: or
f3) Confiaured in accordance with the National Electrical Safety Code that is
adopted bv rule by the Technical Buildina Codes and Standards Board, established
in Title 5 , section 12004-0. subsection 5-A.
BL_Interconnectton acreement means an afireement between a Derson and a
transmission and distribution utility eoverning the coQnection of an interconnectina
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^os
COMMimE AMENDMENT " ^" to S.P. 676, L.D. 1730 C^" S W
eeneratine facility to the transmission and distribution utility's system and the onsoine
operation of the interconnectins aeneratina facility after it is connected to the system.
C. "Plua-in battery system" means an altematine current-couDled enerav storaee device
that:
(\) Connects to a retail electricity customer's electrical system wiring throueh a
standard electrical outleti
('21 Is capable ofcharainfi from ordischaraina to the electrical svstemtowhich it
is connected independently of any ohotovoltaic system; and
(3) Is intended to offset on-site electricity consumption bv the retail electricity
customer, perform energy arbitraee or oarticipate in firid-supoort operations.
D. "Plue-in photovoltaic system" means a Dhotovoltaic eeneration device that:
d) Connects to a retail customer's electrical system wirins through a standard
electrical outlet in a manner that is consistent with the requirements of
interconnected electric power sources established in the National Electrical Code
that is adopted by rule bv the Technical Building Codes and Standards Board.
established in Title 5. section 12004-0. subsection S-A:
(2) Is intended orimarilv to offset part of the retail etectricitv customer's electricity
consumption: and
(3) Uses inverters that are confiaured to shut off after 0.2 seconds if power is
disrupted.
2. Authorization. Subject to the requirements of this section, a retail electricity
customer may install and operate one or more eligible systems at the customer's service
address for the Durposo ofoffsettinc on-site eleoti'icitv consumotion.
3. Cauacitv limitations. A retail electricity customer may install and operate one or
more eliaible systems with a combined inverter output of UP to 420 watts, measured in
altematina current, uer sei'vice address. A retail electricity customer may install and operate
olue-in photovoltaic systems and DluB-in battery systems with combined inverter output
exceeding 420 watts, but no more than 1.200 watts, oer service address, as lone as each
system is installed bv an electrician licensed in the State and uses a dedicated circuit with
a sincle outlet and the customer complies with the notification requirement in subsection
5,
4. Net enerev billins; orohibition. An elieible system mstalled and operated in
accordance with the requirements of this section may not be used for net energy billine
pursuant to sections 3209-A and 3209-B,
S. Notification for output exceediue 420 watts. A retail electricity customer that
installs an eliaible system in accordance with subsection 3 shall provide a notification to
the transmission and distribution utility in whose service territory the elisible system is
installed in a fQrm prescribed bv the commission within 30 days of installation. The
notification must include, but is not limited to. the retail customer's service address, the
inverter capacity of the eliaible system and a statement that the retail electricity customer
is in compliance with the requirements of this section. A transmission and distribution
utility may not deny the installation of an eligible system that complies with the
requirements of this section.
Page2"132LR1790(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
^
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " f^" to S.P. 676, L.D. 173o(j?"5W
6. Prohibitions. A transmission and distribution utility may not require a retail
electricity customer that installs or operates an elieible system in accordance with the
requirements of this section to;
A. Obtain approval from the transmission and distribution utility prior to installation
oroperation:
B. Submit an interconnection application, execute an interconnection aareement or
undergo an interconnection study in connection with the elieible system:
C. Pay any fee or charge to the transmission and distribution utility related to the
elieible system: or
D, Install additional controls or equipment bevond what is intearated into the elieible
system.
7. Liability. A transmission and distribution utility is not liable for any damaee or
injury caused bv the installation or operation of an eliaible system by a retail electricity
customer in accordance with this section,
8. Structural and code compliance; installation or removal. A retail electricity
customer that installs or operates an eliaible system on or in a sfructure the customer does
not own shall ensure that the installation or operation does not compromise the inteeritv of
the structure or violate any state or local buildina. fire or zonina codes. Upon removal of
an eliaible system from a structure the customer does not own. the customer shall restore
the structure to its condition prior to the installation,'
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, and changes the title. The
amendment excepts fi'om certain requirements the installation and operation of one or more
eligible plug-in photovoltaic systems and plug-in batteiy systems by retail electricity
customers for ofysetting on-site electricity consumption, The amendment establishes
requirements for plug-in photovoltaic systems and plug-in battery systems to qualify for
the exception, including safety standards and capacity limits, and prohibits the use of
eligible systems for net energy billing, The amendment also establishes requirements for
the retail customer's installation and removal of such systems on or in a shiicture the retail
customer does not own.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/03/26 ^Kt-
LD 1730 LR 1790(02)
An Act Regarding the Beneficial EIectrification Policy of the State
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "^
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 from the provisions of this bill are expected to be minor and
can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR1790(02)" Fiscal Note - Page I of 1