This amendment replaces the bill. The amendment:
1. Requires the Public Utilities Commission, in executing its duties, powers and regulatory functions under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, while ensuring system reliability, to consider the impact on affordability for residential customers;
2. Requires the commission to publish on its publicly accessible website data regarding credit and collection activities of a transmission and distribution utility with more than
50,000 customers that is submitted to the commission by the utility in accordance with commission rules. The commission must ensure that the data is provided in a clear and transparent manner;
3. Requires the commission to conduct a comprehensive review of each component of electric delivery rates. In conducting the review, the commission must consider, at a minimum, options that aim to contain customer costs in electric delivery rates, reduce transmission and distribution utility bill volatility and increase transmission and distribution utility bill transparency; and
4. Requires the commission to develop an affordability metric to be used to assess the impact of electricity bills on the overall energy burden for residential customers of an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility. By January 15, 2027, the commission must submit an interim report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters and submit a final report to the committee by December
15, 2027. FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED (See attached) COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 1949, SP 756: 35-A.704, 35-A.3203, 35-A.302, 35-A.3107, 26.1304, 26.3501, 26.3502