reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-5 - COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION PROCESS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Periodic
				Solicitations
The Commission shall periodically conduct a competitive
				  solicitation process for capacity resources, available energy and renewable
				  energy credits. The Commission shall solicit bids for capacity resources no
				  less often than every three years, unless it determines that the likely
				  benefits to ratepayers from any contracts that might result from the
				  solicitation process will not exceed the likely costs.
B.
Requests for Proposals; Standard
				Form Contracts
The Commission shall solicit bids for capacity resources,
				  available energy and renewable energy credits through the issuance of a request
				  for proposals that contains standards, procedures and requirements for the bid
				  solicitation process, and a description of any resource needs identified in the
				  electric resource adequacy plan developed pursuant to section
				  9 of this Chapter. The request for
				  proposals may contain a standard form contract. As part of the solicitation and
				  selection process, the Commission may accept modifications to the standard form
				  contracts. The request for proposals shall indicate that the proposals
				  contain:
1. a description of the
				capacity resource and its resource priority category under subsection
				D(2);
2. a statement as to whether
				the resource is recognized as a capacity resource by the ISO-NE;
3. a statement of the projected value, if
				any, of energy production or reductions in energy associated capacity
				resources;
4. a demonstration that
				the proposed contract is within the contracting authority of section
				4 of this Chapter;
5. a statement explaining the extent to which
				the proposed contract would promote the policies and objectives of this
				Chapter; and
6. the unit price and
				quantity bid for the capacity resource, any associated energy, and any
				renewable energy credits.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-6 - CONTRACTING

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Utilities
The Commission may direct investor-owned transmission and
				  distribution utilities to enter into long-term contracts as agents for their
				  customers for capacity resources and any available energy associated with
				  capacity resources contracted for under this Chapter. The investor-owned
				  transmission and distribution utilities shall, at the Commission's request,
				  assist in the negotiation of the terms of long-term contracts. The
				  investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities shall be responsible for
				  administering contracts entered into pursuant to this provision.
B.
Commission
The Commission may enter into long-term contracts for
				  interruptible, demand response or energy efficiency capacity resources.
C.
Contract Term
A contract entered into pursuant to the Chapter may not be
				  for more than ten years, unless the Commission finds that a contract for a
				  longer term to be in the ratepayers' interest.
D.
Contract Payments
Contracts for capacity, associated energy, and renewable
				  energy credits entered into pursuant to this Chapter must provide that payments
				  will be made only after contracted amounts of capacity, available energy, or
				  renewable energy credits have been provided.
1. Contracts with the Efficiency Maine Trust
				established in Title 35-A, section 10103 for energy efficiency capacity
				resources and related energy entered into pursuant to this Chapter may provide
				that up to 20% of the total payment be made at the start of the contract. Such
				contracts must provide that the remaining payments will be made only after the
				supplier has demonstrated, according to measurement and verification protocols
				specified in rules adopted by the Efficiency Maine Trust Board pursuant to
				Title 35-A, section 10105(5), that physical installations have been completed
				and contracted amounts of capacity resources and related energy have been
				substantiated.
2. Contracts with
				any entity other than the Efficiency Maine Trust established in Title 35-A,
				section 10103 for energy efficiency capacity resources and related energy must
				provide that payments will be made only after the supplier has demonstrated,
				according to measurement and verification protocols specified in rules adopted
				by the Efficiency Maine Trust Board pursuant to Title 35-A, section 10105(5),
				that physical installations have been completed and contracted amounts of
				capacity resources and related energy have been substantiated.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-7 - DISPOSITION OF RESOURCES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
At the direction of the Commission, investor-owned
				  transmission and distribution utilities shall:
A. dispose of capacity resources, available
				energy, and renewable energy credits through periodic competitive auctions
				supervised by the Commission;
B.
				use capacity resources, available energy, and renewable energy credits to meet
				the supply requirements of Maine ratepayers; or
C. take other action relative to capacity
				resources and available energy, and renewable energy credits as determined by
				Commission rule or order.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-8 - COST RECOVERY

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Contract
				Costs
Investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities shall
				  recover in rates through full reconciliation all costs paid for capacity
				  resources, available energy, and renewable energy credits contracted for under
				  this Chapter net of any value realized from the disposition of the resources
				  pursuant to section
				  7 of this Chapter.
B.
Administration Costs
Investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities shall
				  be allowed to defer and recover in rates all prudently incurred incremental
				  costs associated with the administration of long-term contracts authorized
				  pursuant to this Chapter.
C.
Capital Costs
Investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities shall
				  recover in rates any impacts on their costs of capital that result from
				  long-term contracts entered into pursuant to this Chapter.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-9 - ELECTRIC RESOURCE ADEQUACY REPORT AND PLAN

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Report and Plan
The Commission may periodically prepare an Electric Resource
				  Adequacy Report and Plan. The Commission shall prepare an Electric Resource
				  Adequacy Report and Plan when it determines that such action would be necessary
				  or useful in the solicitation and evaluation of long-term contracts under this
				  Chapter. In the event that the Commission prepares an Electric Resource
				  Adequacy Report and Plan, it shall submit the Report and Plan to the Joint
				  Standing Committee on Utilities and Energy.
Contents
The Plan may include, but not be limited to, the following
				  information:
1. an assessment of the
				adequacy of bulk level grid reliability;
2. the amount, type and preferred location of
				capacity resources and transmission development necessary to ensure adequate
				bulk level grid reliability, minimize the cost of federal capacity
				requirements, or lower the cost of electricity for Maine consumers;
3. the identification of capacity resources
				whose continued operation is necessary to ensure adequate grid reliability,
				minimize the cost of federal capacity requirements, or lower the cost of
				electricity for Maine consumers;
4.
				Commission action to facilitate the development or maintain the operation of
				capacity resources and transmission necessary to ensure adequate grid
				reliability, minimize the cost of federal capacity requirements, or lower the
				cost of electricity for Maine consumers; and
5. recommended legislation.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 316 - LONG-TERM CONTRACTING AND RESOURCE ADEQUACY › Section 407-316-10 - WAIVER OR EXEMPTION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Upon request of any person subject to the provisions of this
				  Chapter or upon its own motion, the Commission may, for good cause, waive any
				  requirement of this Chapter that is not required by statute. The waiver may not
				  be inconsistent with the purposes of this Chapter or Title 35-A. The
				  Commission, the Director of Technical Analysis, or the presiding officer
				  assigned to a proceeding related to this Chapter may grant the waiver.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 317 - STATEWIDE ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM › Section 407-317-2 - CREATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AMPs

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Creation and Implementation of the AMPs
Each T&D Utility shall implement an AMP approved by the
				  Commission by October 1, 2015.
B.
Review and Approval by
				Commission
Each T&D Utility shall submit terms and conditions for
				  its AMP pursuant to this Chapter by May 15, 2015. The AMPs are subject to
				  Commission review and approval, which review and approval is delegated to the
				  Director of the Consumer Assistance Division.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 317 - STATEWIDE ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM › Section 407-317-3 - REQUIRED DESIGN FEATURES OF AMP

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Each AMP shall be designed in accordance with the provisions
				  of this Section.
A.
Eligibility
				Criteria
Each T&D Utility's AMP shall be available to its
				  Eligible Customers who meet the following eligibility criteria:
1. The Residential Customer must be eligible
				to receive a LIHEAP benefit;
2. The
				Residential Customer must have an Arrearage Amount equal to or greater than
				$500 that is at least 90 days in arrears;
3. The account in arrears must be a
				residential electric account that is or will be individually metered and taking
				service on a continuing year-round basis; and
4. A Residential Customer is not eligible for
				an AMP if the customer has previously participated in an AMP, voluntarily
				withdrawn from an AMP, or is in Default under an AMP. In situations where a
				Residential Customer is in Default under an AMP, the customer is eligible to
				participate in the AMP only if the customer meets the requirements of section
				3(I) of this chapter.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 317 - STATEWIDE ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM › Section 407-317-4 - OBLIGATIONS OF TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITIES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Notice to Customers
1.
Initial Notice to Eligible
				Customers
Each T&D Utility must initially notify all of its
				  Residential Customers that have an Arrearage Amount equal to or greater than
				  $500 that is at least 90 days in arrears of the availability of the AMP, the
				  eligibility requirements, and the enrollment process on the date that this
				  Chapter becomes effective.
2.
Ongoing Notice
On an ongoing basis throughout the duration of the AMP, a
				  T&D Utility must notify each Residential Customer who reaches the $500 and
				  90 day arrearage criteria of the availability of the AMP, the eligibility
				  requirements, and the enrollment process. Notice must be provided within two
				  billing cycles from when a customer reaches these arrearage criteria. T&D
				  Utilities must also notify each applicant for service that has an arrearage
				  amount that meets the $500 and 90 day arrearage criteria at the time they
				  submit their completed application for service of the existence of the AMP
				  program, the required payment under the AMP to obtain service pursuant to
				  section
				  3(C)(3) of this
				  Chapter, and the process for enrolling in the AMP.
3.
Recurring Notice
Once a Residential Customer has been provided notice of the
				  AMP pursuant to either subsection
				  1 or
				  2 above, a T&D Utility may, but is
				  not required to, provide the Residential Customer with subsequent
				  notices.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 317 - STATEWIDE ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM › Section 407-317-5 - COST RECOVERY

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A T&D Utility may recover in rates all costs of its AMP,
				  including incremental costs, reconnection fees and administrative and marketing
				  costs, but not including the amount of any arrearage forgiven that is treated
				  as bad debt for purposes of cost recovery by the T&D Utility. Each utility
				  must collect sufficient information and properly document costs associated with
				  its AMP for which it will seek reimbursement, including sufficient information
				  and analysis to determine whether and to what extent the AMP increased or
				  decreased its total bad debt expenses compared to the amounts included in
				  rates.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 317 - STATEWIDE ARREARAGE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM › Section 407-317-6 - WAIVER

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Upon the request of any person subject to this Chapter, or
				  upon its own motion, the Commission may, for good cause, waive any requirement
				  of this Chapter that is not required by statute. The waiver may not be
				  inconsistent with the purposes of this Chapter or Title 35-A. The Commission,
				  the Director of the Consumer Assistance Division, or the presiding officer
				  assigned to a proceeding related to this Chapter may grant the waiver.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 319 - CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE SMALL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS ANDDISTRIBUTION PROJECTS FROM INVESTIGATION BY THE NONWIRES ALTERNATIVE COORDINATOR › Section 407-319-1 - PURPOSE

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The purpose of this Chapter is to establish criteria to
				  exclude from investigation by the nonwires alternative coordinator small
				  transmission projects and distribution projects best suited to transmission and
				  distribution investments pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3132-B .
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 319 - CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE SMALL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS ANDDISTRIBUTION PROJECTS FROM INVESTIGATION BY THE NONWIRES ALTERNATIVE COORDINATOR › Section 407-319-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Commission.
"Commission"
				means the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
B.
Controlling load forecast.
"Controlling load forecast" means the load forecast currently used by the
				transmission and distribution utilities for transmission and distribution
				planning purposes.
C.
Cost-effective.
"Cost-effective" with respect to nonwires
				alternativeshas the same meaning as in Title 35-A, section 3131, subsection 8.
D.
Nontransmission
				alternative.
"Nontransmission alternative" has the same meaning as in
				Title 35-A, section 3131, subsection 4-B .
E.
Nonwires alternative.
"Nonwires alternative" has the same meaning as in Title 35-A, section 3131,
				subsection 4-C .
F.
Nonwires
				alternatives coordinator.
"Nonwires alternatives coordinator" has the
				same meaning as in Title 35-A, section 3131, subsection 4-D.
G.
Small transmission project.
"Small transmission project" has the same meaning as in Title 35-A, section
				3132-B .
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 319 - CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE SMALL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS ANDDISTRIBUTION PROJECTS FROM INVESTIGATION BY THE NONWIRES ALTERNATIVE COORDINATOR › Section 407-319-3 - EXCLUSIONS FROM NONWIRES ALTERNATIVES COORDINATOR INVESTIGATIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
This section of the rule lays out the criteria to exclude
				  from investigation by the nonwires alternative coordinator small transmission
				  projects and distribution projects best suited to transmission and distribution
				  investments.
A.
Projects
				Necessary for Redundant Supply to a Radial Load
This exclusion category includes, but is not limited to:
1. Transmission and/or distribution
				facility upgrades required to establish redundant supply or additional circuit
				backup capabilities;
2. Upgrades to
				facilities inside an existing substation necessary for redundant supply; and
3. New or upgraded transmission
				lines or distribution circuits necessary for redundant supply.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 319 - CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE SMALL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS ANDDISTRIBUTION PROJECTS FROM INVESTIGATION BY THE NONWIRES ALTERNATIVE COORDINATOR › Section 407-319-4 - PROCESS FOR DETERMINING ADDITIONAL PROJECTS AND/OR EXCLUSION CATEGORIES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Upon request, and following appropriate process, the
				  Commission, by Order or rule, may determine other projects, or categories of
				  projects, that qualify for exclusion from investigation by the nonwires
				  alternative coordinator.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 319 - CRITERIA TO EXCLUDE SMALL TRANSMISSION PROJECTS ANDDISTRIBUTION PROJECTS FROM INVESTIGATION BY THE NONWIRES ALTERNATIVE COORDINATOR › Section 407-319-5 - WAIVER

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Upon the request of any person subject to this Chapter or
				  upon its own motion, the Commission may, for good cause, waive any requirement
				  of this Chapter that is not required by statute. The waiver may not be
				  inconsistent with the purposes of this Chapter or Title 35-A. The Commission,
				  the Director of Electric and Gas division, or the Hearing Examiner/Presiding
				  Officer assigned to a proceeding related to the Chapter may grant the
				  waiver.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-1 - SCOPE AND PURPOSE

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Scope
Unless otherwise specified, this Chapter applies to all
				  Transmission and Distribution Utilities.
B.
Purpose
This Chapter establishes system standards and associated
				  protocols for record keeping and reporting requirements for Transmission and
				  Distribution Utilities. It also establishes for the investor-owned utilities
				  metrics and reporting requirements for system reliability, call answering,
				  billing and customer satisfaction.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-2 - DEFINITIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
The following words and terms, when used in this Chapter,
				  shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates
				  otherwise.
A.
"Applicable Codes,
				Standards and Requirements"
means any codes standards or requirements
				identified by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Institute of
				Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Independent System Operator - New
				England (ISO-NE), National Electric Safety Code (NESC), North American Electric
				Reliability Corporation (NERC), Northern Maine Independent System Administrator
				(NMISA) or Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc. (NPCC). The version that
				applies to a device will be the version in effect at the time the device is
				initially put into service.
B.
"Call"
means a telephone call received on the utility's customer
				service line as specified on customer bills. Call time begins when a customer
				opts to speak to a live person and ends when the call is answered by a live
				person.
C.
"Commission"
means the Public Utilities Commission of the State of
				Maine.
D.
"Consumer-Owned
				T&D Utility"
means any transmission and distribution utility wholly
				owned by its consumers, including, but not limited to:
1. The transmission and distribution portion
				of a rural electrification cooperative organized under chapter 37;
2. The transmission and distribution portion
				of an electrification cooperative organized on a cooperative plan under the
				laws of the State;
3. A municipal
				or quasi-municipal transmission and distribution utility;
4. The transmission and distribution portion
				of a municipal or quasi-municipal entity providing generation and other
				services; and
5. A transmission and
				distribution utility wholly owned by a municipality.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-3 - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Each T&D
				Utility shall construct, maintain and operate its T&D system such that it
				provides safe and adequate T&D service to its Customers.
B. All new construction, reconstruction,
				maintenance, design, and operation of T&D Systems shall comply with the
				provisions of this Chapter and with all Applicable Codes, Standards, and
				Requirements.
C. Each
				Investor-Owned T&D Utility shall collect all information required by this
				rule that is necessary to comply with Sections
				5,
				6,
				7, and
				8.
D. Each T&D Utility shall maintain Terms
				and Conditions to implement the provisions of this Chapter. The Terms and
				Conditions must be approved by the Commission and must be periodically reviewed
				and modified or updated as necessary by each T&D Utility to conform to any
				changes or updates to, or replacements of, the applicable standards and
				requirements set forth in this Chapter, or to any other Applicable Codes,
				Standards and Requirements. Modifications or updates to the Terms and
				Conditions must be approved by the Commission.
E. Unless otherwise indicated in this
				Chapter, T&D Utilities shall keep all records required by this rule for a
				period of at least ten years. All such records shall be available to the
				Commission upon request.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-5 - SERVICE INTERRUPTIONS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
General
In the event of a Sustained Interruption, each T&D
				  Utility shall employ reasonable utility practices to restore service in a
				  timely manner, consistent with appropriate consideration of safety and
				  costs.
B.
Sustained
				Interruption/Outage Reporting
In the event of a Sustained Interruption affecting more than
				  500 customers or 1% of a T&D Utility's customers, whichever is greater, the
				  T&D Utility shall provide immediate notification to the Commission. The
				  notification shall include the date and time of the Sustained Interruption; the
				  number of Customers affected in each service center or county, and town; the
				  cause of the Sustained Interruption; and any other information descriptive of
				  or relevant to the event. The T&D Utility shall provide periodic updates no
				  less frequently than daily for the duration of the Sustained Interruption. This
				  reporting requirement does not apply to Momentary Interruptions.
C.
Major Outage Event
				Response
For each Major Outage Event, each Investor-Owned T&D
				  Utility shall calculate the percentage of customers that experience one or more
				  Sustained Interruptions in each hour of the event. The utility shall quarterly
				  provide to the Commission a graph for each Major Outage Event showing the
				  number of customers experiencing one or more Sustained Interruptions for every
				  hour of the event. The Commission may ask utilities to provide reports that
				  support the reasonableness of its restoration response for Major Outage
				  Events.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-6 - RELIABILITY METRICS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Each
				Investor-Owned T&D Utility shall collect and maintain the following
				Sustained Interruption and outage metrics information:
a. Monthly and annual CAIDI.
b. Monthly and annual SAIFI
c. Monthly and annual SAIDI.
d. For each service area, on a monthly and
				annual basis a classification of Sustained Interruptions by the identified
				cause. Information in this subsection (d) shall not be included in the Sec.
				9(B) reports to customers.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-7 - CUSTOMER SERVICE METRICS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Utility
				Call Response Metrics
1. Each
				Investor-Owned T&D Utility shall collect and maintain the following annual
				Call answering metrics. For the purpose of this section a "live person" is
				someone working for or on behalf of the utility who is qualified to assist the
				customer in the subject area of the metric.
a.
				Speed of Answer for Calls to Business Office. The formula for this metric is:
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				  here to view Image
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-8 - BILLING PERFORMANCE METRICS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Bill
				Error
1. Each Investor-Owned T&D
				Utility shall measure the number of erroneous bills. For purposes of this
				Chapter, a bill is considered erroneous if:
(1) it contains an incorrect rate or charge
				or is issued to the wrong customer, account or address;
(2) it lacks a proper charge, fee, or tax;
(3) the total amount due is not
				correct; or
(4) it is not sent to
				the customer within ten days of the scheduled monthly billing date for that
				customer. Estimated bills are not considered erroneous. The calculation is
				based on actual bills and not on accounts. The "Bill Error" rate is calculated
				by the following formula:
Click
				  here to view Image
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-9 - CUSTOMER SATISFACTION METRIC - SURVEY

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Each T&D Utility annually shall contract with a third
				  party not affiliated with the T&D Utility to randomly survey a
				  statistically valid sample of customers who have contacted the utility with a
				  report, request, inquiry, complaint, or request for work. The purpose of the
				  survey is to assess the level of customer satisfaction with the utility's
				  response. Surveys will be conducted by email, follow-up cards sent through the
				  U.S. Postal Service, or via a phone call. The unaffiliated, third-party
				  contractor will process completed surveys and report results. The
				  administrative process and question format for the survey will be established
				  by Commission Order. The utility may add more questions to the list of
				  prescribed questions.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-10 - REPORTING ON METRICS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
Reports to
				the Commission
Beginning in 2023, each Investor-Owned T&D Utility shall
				  file a report with the Commission every quarter. Each report shall provide the
				  cumulative calculations and underlying information for the prior quarter or
				  quarters for that calendar year for each of the metrics listed in Sections
				  6,
				  7, and
				  8. Each report shall provide
				  information on a monthly basis. The reports shall be provided no later than 30
				  days after the close of the quarter.
B.
Customer Report Cards
1. Beginning in 2023 and each year
				thereafter, each Investor-Owned T&D Utility shall, on or before June 1,
				issue a report to each of its residential customers with information regarding
				the utility's performance and rates. The report shall include explanations in
				non-technical, plain language of the individual performance benchmarks
				described in sections
				6,
				7, and
				8 including an explanation of how each
				is measured and providing the utility's performance score in the previous
				calendar year with respect to each benchmark. The report shall be in
				substantial conformance with a template to be reviewed and approved by
				Commission order for each utility. The report shall be sent to each customer in
				either a U.S. Postal Service mailing, or in an email, depending on how the
				customer is billed. The utility shall also post this report on its
				website.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-11 - METERING REQUIREMENTS, STANDARDS, AND TESTING PROTOCOLS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
General
All T&D Service provided by a T&D Utility shall be
				  measured by Meters owned and maintained by the utility, except where it is
				  impracticable to do so.
Each T&D Utility shall keep a complete set of records of
				  its Meters by Customer account, including the meter type, unique meter
				  identification code, and date of installation. The records should include all
				  Meter repairs and upgrades, including all physical, hardware, software, or
				  firmware repairs, modifications, upgrades, and updates, as well as all
				  notifications or other relevant information provided by the Meter Manufacturers
				  that could potentially affect meter registration.
B.
Performance and Accuracy
				Standards
Each T&D Utility shall ensure that its Meters comply with
				  the performance criteria and other applicable standards set forth in ANSI C12.1
				  (American National Standard for Electric Meters - Code for Electricity
				  Metering).
1.
Testing Protocols
				and Processes
Each T&D Utility shall conform to the testing protocols
				  and processes set forth in ANSI C12.1 for new and in-service metering
				  devices.
2.
Testing
				Upon Customer Request
a. Each T&D
				Utility shall test the accuracy of a Customer's Meter upon request of the
				Customer. The test shall be done at no charge to the Customer, provided that
				the Customer has not requested such a test within the past 12 months or the
				Meter has not otherwise been tested within the past 12 months.
b. If a Customer requests a Meter test within
				12 months of the date of the most recent test of its Meter, the T&D Utility
				may charge the Customer for the reasonable cost of the test. The charge shall
				be refunded or credited to the Customer if the Meter does not meet the
				Performance and Accuracy Standards of this Rule.
c. A Customer may be present when the T&D
				Utility conducts the requested test of its Meter or, the Customer may send
				another person as its representative. The T&D Utility shall provide a
				written report to the Customer that provides the results of the Meter test and
				shall retain a copy of the report for a period of no less than five years.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-12 - INDEPENDENT AUDITS OF METERING AND BILLING SYSTEMS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
				The Commission shall administer periodic audits by an independent auditor of
				the billing and metering systems of Investor-Owned T&D Utilities. The
				audits shall be conducted pursuant to
				35-A M.R.S.
				§113.
B. The independent auditor shall be selected
				by the Commission pursuant to the applicable rules and processes of the State
				of Maine Division of Procurement Services, or any successor entity. In
				selecting an independent auditor, the Commission shall ensure that the
				methodologies to be used by the auditor are sufficiently objective, thorough
				and rigorous, and that any statistical sampling and analyses will be
				sufficiently robust to represent the relevant population and range of systems
				being audited.
C. An audit shall be
				conducted once every five years for each Investor-Owned T&D Utility, or as
				otherwise deemed necessary by the Commission. The Commission may focus the
				audit on only residential and small commercial customers, or the Commission may
				include other customer groups in the audit.
D. The Commission shall determine the
				allocation of the cost of the periodic audit between the utility and its
				ratepayers based on the results of the audit.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 320 - ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY SERVICE STANDARDS › Section 407-320-13 - WAIVER OR EXEMPTION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Upon the request of any person subject to the provisions of
				  this Chapter or upon its own motion, the Commission may, for good cause, waive
				  any of the requirements of this Chapter that are not required by statute. The
				  waiver may not be inconsistent with the purpose of this Chapter or Title 35-A.
				  The Commission, the Director of Electric and Natural Gas Industries, the
				  Director of Consumer Assistance and Safety, or the Presiding Officer assigned
				  to a proceeding related to this Chapter may grant the waiver.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-2 - TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION UTILITY OBLIGATION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A.
				Obligation for Compliance. Each transmission and distribution utility shall
				ensure that the provisions of this Chapter are carried out in its service
				territory.
B. Aggregators and
				Brokers. The provisions of this Chapter that refer to competitive electricity
				providers do not apply to aggregators and brokers.
C. Standard Offer Provider. The provisions of
				this Chapter that refer to competitive electricity providers apply to standard
				offer providers.
D. Consumer-Owned
				Utility Obligations. A consumer-owned utility may carry out the provisions of
				this Chapter by any of the following methods. The consumer-owned utility shall
				compensate the investor-owned utility its reasonable costs of carrying out the
				provisions in this Section.
1. All retail
				electricity sales to customers of a consumer-owned utility may be treated as if
				they were made within an adjacent investor-owned transmission and distribution
				utility for purposes of complying with all provisions of this
				Chapter.
2. A consumer-owned
				utility may adopt the load profiles of an adjacent investor-owned transmission
				and distribution utility to represent customers in the consumer-owned utility's
				service territory for purposes of complying with Section
				4 of this Chapter.
3. A consumer-owned utility may adopt a
				single load profile per day for all customers receiving standard offer service
				using the following procedure:
a. The
				consumer-owned utility shall require all customers who receive generation
				service from a competitive electricity provider other than the standard offer
				provider to be telemetered. The transmission and distribution utility shall, at
				its option, waive the charge to the competitive electricity provider determined
				pursuant to Section 3.B of this Chapter.
b. The consumer-owned utility shall calculate
				a single load profile per day for all non-telemetered customers that is equal
				in each hour to the hourly bulk power meter reading attributable to retail
				sales, less the sum of the hourly telemetered loads adjusted for line losses
				attributable to the telemetered customers between the customer delivery point
				and the point of bulk system metering for purposes of complying with Section
				4 of this Chapter.
4. A consumer-owned utility may
				petition the Commission to use any other method for load profiling or for
				hourly and monthly load calculations that reasonably complies with the goals of
				this Chapter.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-3 - TELEMETERING

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Large Non-Residential Customers. For the
				purposes of this Chapter, transmission and distribution utilities shall use
				telemetering to measure hourly loads of all non-residential customers that are
				not within the small non-residential or medium non-residential profiling
				classes as they are defined in subsection 4.A.2. For transmission and
				distribution utilities that have a core customer class with a breakpoint of 500
				kW, all customers with maximum demands of 500 kW or greater shall be considered
				Large Non-Residential Customers. For transmission and distribution utilities
				that have a core customer class with a breakpoint of 400 kW, all customers with
				maximum demands of 400 kW or greater shall be considered Large Non-Residential
				Customers. The transmission and distribution utilities shall recover the
				reasonable costs of equipment and data processing required by this provision.
				These costs will be recovered from the classes containing customers affected by
				this provision.
B. All Other
				Customers. Competitive electricity providers may request that a transmission
				and distribution utility use telemetering to measure the hourly loads of any
				customer that receives generation service from that competitive electricity
				provider and that is not telemetered pursuant to subsection 3.A. The
				transmission and distribution utility shall charge the requesting competitive
				electricity provider the resulting incremental cost of equipment and data
				processing. The transmission and distribution utility shall accommodate
				requests for telemetering as quickly as practicable. The transmission and
				distribution utility shall telemeter hourly loads of all customers as long as
				the telemetering equipment remains installed.
C. Phase-In of Telemetering. Upon a finding
				that transmission and distribution utilities cannot accommodate requests for
				telemetering in a reasonably timely manner, the Commission shall implement a
				phase-in approach that shall limit telemetering requests to customers using a
				prioritizing process to be determined by the Commission.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-4 - LOAD PROFILES

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Load Profiles
				for Customer Groups.
1. Each transmission and
				distribution utility shall develop a set of load profiles for each of the three
				customer profile groups defined in Section 4.A.2. Each customer profile group's
				load profile set will contain 24-hour profiles that may be used to represent
				each day of a year. Each daily profile will represent an average per-customer
				load, at the point of retail delivery. Each profile will represent a 24-hour
				day that may be identified through some indicator such as month, day of the
				week, weather condition, or any other indicator that significantly affects
				load. Profiles may be created by combining the metered loads from more than one
				day. Each customer profile group will be used to represent those customers not
				telemetered.
2. The three customer
				profile groups shall be:
a. Residential. This
				profile group shall contain all customers defined as residential by the terms
				and conditions of the transmission and distribution utility. The profile group
				shall exclude customers with deemed load profiles and customers who are
				telemetered.
b. Small
				Non-Residential. This profile group shall contain all non-residential customers
				that meet the availability criteria to take service under a core customer class
				of the transmission and distribution utility that does not include a demand
				charge. The profile group shall exclude customers with deemed load profiles and
				customers who are telemetered.
c.
				Medium Non-Residential. This profile group shall contain all non-residential
				customers that do not meet the criteria for a small non-residential customer
				and that meet the availability criteria to take service under a core customer
				class of the transmission and distribution utility that includes a demand
				charge and in which a customer's maximum demand shall not exceed 500 kW, or the
				kW breakpoint that is closest to but does not exceed 500 kW. The profile group
				shall exclude customers with deemed load profiles and customers who are
				telemetered.
3. Deemed
				load profiles are permissible but not required for customers whose loads are
				easily estimated through engineering characteristics.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-5 - DAILY ESTIMATION OF COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY PROVIDER HOURLY LOADS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Calculation of Customers' Hourly Loads.
				After each day, the transmission and distribution utility shall estimate hourly
				loads in that day for each customer at the point of delivery.
1. For customers that are telemetered, the
				estimate shall equal the customer's telemetered usage.
2. For customers that are not telemetered,
				including those with deemed load profiles, the estimates shall be equal to a
				load profile, from the appropriate customer profile group's set of profiles,
				that represents the day being estimated, based on the indicator(s) used to
				create the load profiles pursuant to Section 4.A.1; adjusted for the customer's
				estimated daily energy use. The profiles may be adjusted, as appropriate, in
				accordance with the approved profiling methodology to account for weather or
				other conditions that significantly affect load.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-6 - MONTHLY SETTLEMENT OF COMPETITIVE ELECTRICITY PROVIDER ENERGY USE

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Recalculation of Competitive Electricity
				Provider Hourly Loads. After each calendar month, transmission and distribution
				utilities shall re-estimate the hourly load responsibilities for each
				competitive electricity provider, to reflect monthly energy use most recently
				metered for billing purposes. The re-estimate shall be done in a manner that
				duplicates the hourly load responsibilities calculated pursuant to Section
				5 in all respects except that
				customers' estimated daily energy use used in each day's calculations shall
				reflect the most recent meter reading done for billing purposes.
B. Calculation of Hourly Load or Monthly
				Energy Differences.
1. After each calendar
				month, the transmission and distribution utility shall be capable of
				calculating two energy difference estimates for each competitive electricity
				provider:
a. the hourly load differences
				between hourly loads estimated pursuant to Section 6.A and hourly loads
				estimated pursuant to Section 5; and
b. the monthly energy differences, equal to
				the sum of the hourly load differences within the month calculated pursuant to
				Section 6.B.1. a.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-7 - INFORMATION ACCESS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
A. Access to Each
				Day's Hourly Load Estimates.
1. After each
				day, the transmission and distribution utility shall provide an estimate of
				each competitive electricity provider's hourly loads, within 36 hours of the
				end of the day or at such time as the bulk power system administrator requires,
				to the bulk power system administrator, as specified in Section 5.B.2.
2. The transmission and
				distribution utility shall provide to each competitive electricity provider its
				estimated hourly loads as reported to the bulk power system administrator as
				soon as practicable, but no later than two business days after providing that
				data to the bulk power system administrator.
3. Upon request by a competitive electricity
				provider, the transmission and distribution utility shall provide to the
				competitive electricity provider its customer's estimated hourly loads for any
				days within the previous 12 months, for any customer receiving service from
				that competitive electricity provider. Before issuing a request to receive
				estimated hourly loads, a competitive electricity provider must obtain
				authorization pursuant to Chapter 322, Section 9.A. of the Commission's
				Rules.
Code of Maine Rules › 65 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › 407 - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION › Chapter 321 - LOAD OBLIGATION AND SETTLEMENT CALCULATIONS FOR COMPETITIVE PROVIDERS OF ELECTRICITY › Section 407-321-8 - DATA TRANSFER

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Each transmission and distribution utility and each
				  competitive electricity provider shall transfer data among one another in
				  accordance with procedures and formats specified in the Electronic Business
				  Transaction (EBT) Standards contained in Chapter 323 of the Commission's Rules.
				  Each transmission and distribution utility and each competitive electricity
				  provider shall pay for the data transfer pursuant to Chapter 322, Section 9.B.
				  of the Commission's Rules.