An Act To Extend Arrearage Management Programs
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 556, §1, is amended to read:
In adopting rules regarding arrearage management programs, the commission shall:
The Efficiency Maine Trust shall work with transmission and distribution utilities and other stakeholders to provide access to a complementary low-income energy efficiency program for participants in arrearage management programs in order to help reduce participants' energy consumption.
No later than January 28, 2018 2021, the commission shall prepare a report assessing the effectiveness of arrearage management programs, including the number of participants enrolled in the programs, the number of participants completing the programs, the number of participants who have failed to complete the programs, the payment patterns of participating customers after completing the programs, the dollar amount of arrears forgiven, a comparison of outcomes for those participating in the programs and those not participating, the impact on a transmission and distribution utility's bad debt as a result of the programs, the costs and benefits to all ratepayers associated with the programs and recommendations for ways in which the programs might be improved or continued for the benefit of all ratepayers. In preparing its report, the commission shall hold at least one formal stakeholder meeting involving affected parties, including the Office of the Public Advocate and the participating transmission and distribution utilities. Parties must also be provided an opportunity to submit written comments to the commission regarding the performance of the programs.
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters may report out a bill relating to the commission report to the Second First Regular Session of the 128th 130th Legislature.
This subsection is repealed September 30, 2018 2021.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§2, ¶L, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 556, §2, is amended to read:
This paragraph is repealed September 30, 2018 2021.
summary
This bill is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3214, subsection 2-A. The law requires the Public Utilities Commission to provide the committee with a report assessing the effectiveness of arrearage management programs and provides the committee with the authority to report out a bill relating to the report.
The committee has not taken a position on the substance of this bill, and by reporting this bill out, the committee is not suggesting and does not intend to suggest that it agrees or disagrees with any aspect of this bill. The committee is reporting the bill out for the sole purpose of turning the proposal of some of the stakeholders into a printed bill that can be referred to the committee for an appropriate public hearing and subsequent processing in the normal course. The committee is taking this action to ensure clarity and transparency in the legislative review of the proposal.
This bill extends arrearage management programs and the requirement that the Efficiency Maine Trust provide access to a complementary low-income energy efficiency program for participants in arrearage management programs to September 30, 2021. It establishes a new reporting requirement for the Public Utilities Commission and gives the committee authority to report out a bill to the First Regular Session of the 130th Legislature based on the report. It also clarifies that rules adopted by the commission must ensure that a transmission and distribution utility recovers its prudent costs for 3rd-party assistance in administering an arrearage management program and must permit a transmission and distribution utility to recover its prudent costs for providing financial and budgetary guidance to participating customers, even if the transmission and distribution utility has a 3rd party provide that guidance on its behalf.