Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5. Ensuring equal treatment for persons with certain disabilities.__If the commission establishes or approves one or more low-income assistance programs under subsections 2 or 3 that result in similarly situated persons receiving different levels of assistance depending solely upon which transmission and distribution utility service territory they reside in, the commission shall by rule establish an equitable-treatment program consistent with this subsection to ensure assistance provided to low-income residential customers who for health reasons must use an electric oxygen pump is substantially equivalent throughout the State.

A.__The equitable-treatment program must be available to any person who:

(1) Is eligible for the transmission and distribution utility's low-income assistance program established in accordance with subsection 2; and

(2) Provides documentation from a doctor that the person for health reasons needs an oxygen pump at least 8 hours each day.

B.__Program benefits under this subsection must be designed to ensure that the total low-income assistance benefits provided under this section to persons eligible under paragraph A are substantially equivalent throughout the State.__The commission may not reduce any assistance provided under any low-income assistance program established under subsection 2 in order to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph.

C.__The commission shall establish an administratively simple and inexpensive method of administering the equitable treatment program.

D.__Reasonable costs incurred by a transmission and distribution utility in implementing any program established by the commission under this subsection are just and reasonable expenses for rate-making purposes.

E.__Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.