This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission and the Efficiency Maine Trust to use an energy forecasting method for energy supply and demand forecasting that is consistent with the energy forecasting method used by the Governor's Energy Office in preparing the comprehensive state energy plan. It requires the commission, in developing requests for proposals, conducting procurements and negotiating agreements for energy and energy storage systems, to consider the grid plans developed by large investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities to seek to optimize grid capacity and minimize the need for capital investment in the transmission or distribution system. It also requires the commission to, when engaging in transmission and energy planning, establish mechanisms to integrate grid plans filed by large investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities, seek to improve efficiency and reliability of and reduce congestion on the grid through the consideration of grid-enhancing technologies and advanced conductors and incentivize the incorporation of low-voltage sensors to improve grid monitoring capacity. The bill also requires the commission, in consultation with the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Office of the Public Advocate, to conduct a review of the nonwires alternative investigation and recommendation process established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3132-C. By January 1, 2026, the commission must provide a report of its recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. The committee may report out a bill related to the commission's recommendations to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1726, HP 1153: 35-A.3210, 35-A.3804