2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 35-A: PUBLIC UTILITIES › Part 1: PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 1: ORGANIZATION, GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › 35-A §107. The Public Utilities Commission staff

§107. The Public Utilities Commission staff
The following provisions apply to the commission's staff.   [PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
1.  Appointment.
The commission shall appoint:
A. An administrative director, a director of telephone and water utility industries, a director of electric and gas utility industries, a director of consumer assistance and safety and a director of emergency services communication;   [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUU, §3 (AMD).]
B. With the approval of the Attorney General, a general counsel;   [PL 2023, c. 307, §1 (AMD).]
C. An assistant administrative director; and   [PL 2023, c. 307, §1 (AMD).]
D. An interconnection ombudsman to assist with interconnection under section 3474.   [PL 2023, c. 307, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 307, §1 (AMD).]
2.  Salary and conditions of employment.
Salaries and conditions of employment of employees of the commission are as follows.
A. The general counsel, the administrative director, the assistant administrative director, the director of telephone and water utility industries, the director of electric and gas utility industries, the director of consumer assistance and safety and the director of emergency services communication serve at the pleasure of the commission and their salaries must be set by the commission within the ranges established by Title 2, section 6‑A.   [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUU, §4 (AMD).]
B. The compensation of the staff attorney and utility analyst positions are fixed by the commission with the approval of the Governor, but the compensation may not in the aggregate exceed the total amount appropriated or allocated in the commission's budget.   [PL 1993, c. 118, §1 (AMD).]
C. The salaries of the other subordinate officials and employees of the commission, other than those of the general counsel, the administrative director, the assistant administrative director, the director of telephone and water utility industries, the director of electric and gas utility industries, the director of consumer assistance and safety, the director of emergency services communication and the staff attorney and utility analyst positions, are subject to the Civil Service Law.   [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUU, §5 (AMD).]
D. [PL 1993, c. 118, §3 (RP).]
E. The commissioners and all employees receive actual expenses when traveling on official business.   [PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
F. Notwithstanding section 116 or any other provision of this Title, the interconnection ombudsman is funded only through fees assessed under section 3474, federal money and contributions from private and public sources.   [PL 2023, c. 307, §2 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 307, §2 (AMD).]
3.  Commission's access to staff.
Each commissioner may have access to the Public Utilities Commission staff and to any information available to the commission, subject to Title 5, section 9055.
[PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
4.  Delegation of powers and duties to the staff.
The commission may delegate to its staff such powers and duties as the commission finds proper. All delegations existing as of the effective date of this section are valid.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
5.  Administrative director's duties.
The administrative director:
A. Shall keep a record of the proceedings of the commission, which must be open to inspection at all times; and   [PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
B. May certify all official acts of the commission, administer oaths and issue subpoenas, processes, notices, orders and other documents necessary to the performance of the commission's duties.   [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
6.  Assistant administrative director's duties.
The assistant administrative director shall assist the director in the performance of the director's duties and in the absence of the director has the same power as the director.
[PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD).]
7.  Commission counsel.
The commission may employ counsel in any proceeding, investigation or trial.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
8.  Dismissal.
After successful completion of a probationary period, the employees occupying the positions of staff attorney and utility analyst may be dismissed, suspended or otherwise disciplined only for cause.
[PL 1993, c. 589, §2 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 631, §3 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 118, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 589, §2 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 586, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 606, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 482, §5 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 122, §7 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 420, Pt. A, §§30-32 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 8, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUU, §§3-5 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 307, §§1, 2 (AMD).