Sec. 1. P&SL 1975, c. 53, §1 is amended by adding at the end a new sentence to read:

The Department of Electric Works is authorized to provide natural gas service in the Town of Madison and any other town to which it is authorized to provide electricity.

Sec. 2. P&SL 1975, c. 53, §11 is amended by amending the first paragraph to read:

*Sec. 11. Directors to establish rates. All individuals, partnerships, firms and corporations, whether private, public or municipal, shall pay the rate established by the board of directors for the electricity and natural gas used by them, and the rates for electricity and natural gas so supplied shall must be uniform within the territory supplied by the electric works wherever the installation and maintenance of transmission lines and apparatus for distribution of electric power and pipelines, mains and apparatus for distribution of natural gas and the cost of services is substantially uniform, but nothing in this Act shall preclude said precludes those directors, with the approval of the Public Utilities Commission, from establishing higher rates than the regular rates in sections where, for any reason, the cost of construction and maintenance or the cost of service exceeds the average, but such higher rates shall must be uniform throughout the section where they apply. All rates shall be are subject to the approval of the Public Utilities Commission and shall must be so established as to provide revenue for the following purposes:

Sec. 3. P&SL 1975, c. 53, §11, sub-§1 is amended to read:

1. To pay the current expenses of operating and maintaining the electric light and power system and natural gas distribution system, including all usual and ordinary repairs, replacements and improvements.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes the Department of Electric Works in the Town of Madison to provide natural gas service should that fuel become available. Such service would be subject to Public Utilities Commission regulation.