Whereas, the New England power pool is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring, which will have a significant and lasting impact upon competition in electricity markets and upon the costs faced by consumers of electricity in Maine; and

Whereas, important decisions regarding the New England power pool are already being made in the context of substantive litigation and negotiations; and

Whereas, the active and vigorous participation of the Public Utilities Commission in these proceedings is vital to protect the interests of Maine's electric consumers; and

Whereas, the current staffing and workload priorities of the commission have permitted only very limited resources to be allocated to the important task of monitoring and participating in the New England power pool agreement process; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §107-A is enacted to read:

§107-A.__New England power pool monitoring staff

1.__Appointment.__The commission shall employ 2 full-time staff members whose exclusive duties are to monitor and protect the interests of the ratepayers in this State in the New England power pool committee process, proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other New England power pool proceedings.

2.__Applicable provisions; salary.__The provisions of section 107 apply to the staff members employed pursuant to subsection 1.__ The salaries of these staff members are subject to the Civil Service Law.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §116, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 586, §4, is further amended to read:

4. Use of funds. The Public Utilities Commission may use the revenues provided in accordance with this section to fund 65