An Act to Repeal the Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0032
Committee Amendment CA_A_S587 (Senate)
Amends: 35-A MRSA §107, 35-A MRSA §3474

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "y^-» to S.P. 49, L.D. 32, "An Act to Repeal the Laws
Regarding Net Energy Billing"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following;
'An Act Regarding the Interconnection Ombudsman Position at the Public Utilities
Commission'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the
following:
'See. 1. 35-A MRSA §107, sub~§l, IfB, as amended by PL 2023, c. 307, §1, is
further amended to read:
B, With the approval of the Attorney General, a general counsel; and
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§l, ^C, as amended by PL 2023, c. 307, §1, is
further amended to read:
C. An assistant administrative directoi'i-afld^
Sec. 3. 35"A MRSA §107, sub-gl, ^D, as enacted by PL 2023, c. 307, §1, is
repealed.
Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §107, sub-§2, ^F, as repealed and replaced by PL 2025, c.
110,§1, is repealed.
Sec. 5. 35-A MRSA §3474, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2023, c. 643, Ft. WWW,
§ 1, is further amended to read;
4. Interconnection ombudsman; fund. The commission shall designate an
interconnection ombudsman appeinted pursuant to section 107, subsection -j-sbett to assist
persons seeking interconnections governed by rules adopted under subsection 3, The
oommiQsion shall appoint na interconnection ombudsman who possesses designated by the
commission must possess technical expertise related to interconnection and interconnection
procedures.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A " to S,P. 49, L,D. 32 C'S- 5^1
A. The duties of the interconnection ombudsman include but are not limited to;
(1) Tracking interconnection disputes;
(2) Facilitating the efficient and fair resolution of disputes between customers
seeking to interconnect and investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities;
(3) Reviewing investor-owned transmission and distribution utility
interconnection policies to assess opportunities for reducing interconnection
disputes;
(4) Convening stakeholder groups as necessary to facilitate effective
communication between interconnection stakeholders;
(5) Preparing reports that detail the number, type, resolution timeline and outcome
of interconnection disputes; and
(6) Any other technical or regulatory work involving public utilities.
B, The commission by rule shall establish a fee to be paid by persons seeking
interconnections to fund the interconnection ombudsman, Notwithstanding Title 5,
section 8071, rules adopted under this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined
in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
C. The interconnection ombudsman fund is established within the commission as a
nonlapsing fund for the purposes of offsetting costs for interconnection-related
activities undertaken by the interconnection ombudsman pursuant to paragraph A.
subparagraphs d'), (2), (3). (4} and (r5). The commission shall deposit all fees collected
under this subsection into the fund and all money in the fund must be used to fund the
interconnection ombudsman. In addition to the fees established in accordance with this
subsection, the fund may accept federal money and contributions from private and
public sources,
Any activities undertaken by the interconnection ombudsman pursuant to paragraph A,
subparagraph (6) must be funded in accordance with section 116,'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconseoutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. It removes the requirement that
the interconnection ombudsman be appointed by the Public Utilities Commission and
instead requires that the commission designate an interconnection ombudsman. It also
clarifies the activities that may be funded by the interconnection ombudsman fund
established within the Public Utilities Commission,
FISCAL NOTE REQUffiED
(See attached)
Page2-132LR0075(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03/18/26 t-Kt-
LD32 LR 75(02)
An Act to Repeal the Laws Regarding Net Energy Billing
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^",'5'$^?
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,
LR0075(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1