Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 615 - EXEMPTIONS FROM REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSUMER-OWNED WATER UTILITIES › Section 407-615-3 - PETITION FOR EXEMPTION FROM REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Notice to Customers and Public Meeting
Prior to submitting to the Commission a petition for
				  exemption from regulatory requirements pursuant to this Chapter, a consumer
				  owned water utility must provide notice to all of its customers of the
				  utility's intent to file such a petition and must hold a public meeting, the
				  purpose of which is to inform the utility's customers of the proposed
				  exemption, the date upon which the utility will file its request with the
				  Commission, and how customers of the utility may submit comments regarding the
				  request to the Commission's case management system after the petition is
				  submitted. The meeting must occur at least 30 days prior to the filing of the
				  request with the Commission. The notice of intent to file a petition and the
				  notice of the public meeting may be contained in the same notice. The notice
				  (or notices, if provided separately) must include a plain-language description
				  of the proposed exemption including the justification and the potential
				  consequences of the exemption.
1.
Notice Requirements
The consumer-owned utility must provide notice of its intent
				  to file a petition for exemption and notice of the public meeting by regular
				  mail postmarked at least 14 days prior to the meeting in addition to using any
				  two of the following methods:
a.
By email
. If the utility provides notice by email, the notice must
				be made individually to each customer at least 14 days before the meeting.
				Email notice may be included in electronic customer bills;
b.
By publication
. The utility
				may provide newspaper notice of the meeting in a newspaper of general
				circulation in the area served by the utility;
c.
Conspicuous posting
. The
				utility may post notice in a town office or other conspicuous place within the
				utility's service area;
d.
Website.
If the utility has a website, the utility may post notice
				on its website;
e.
Social
				media
. If the utility has social media accounts, it may post notice on
				those social media accounts; or
f.
Other
. Other methods of notification that are reasonably
				calculated to provide broad notice to the utility's customers.
Utilities may include notice in mailed customer bills.
				  Utilities must file copies of the notice in the Commission's Case Management
				  System at least 14 days before the date of the public meeting. All notices,
				  whether by mail or other method, must contain the same information.
In addition, utilities must file verification of the email,
				  publication, conspicuous posting, website, social media, or other notifications
				  in the Commission's Case Management System at least 14 days before the date of
				  the public meeting. Verification may be affidavits, screenshots, photographs,
				  or other media sufficient to show compliance with this
				  Section.