130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 507		LR 444(02)
	An Act To Improve Consumer Protections for Community Solar Projects
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2021-22	FY 2022-23	Projections  FY 2023-24	Projections  FY 2024-25
Appropriations/Allocations
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$263,723	$357,287	$373,923	$391,389
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$263,723	$357,287	$373,923	$391,389
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements
	This bill may increase the number of civil suits filed in the court system. The additional workload associated with the minimal number of new cases filed in the court system does not require additional funding at this time.  The collection of additional filing fees may increase General Fund and other dedicated revenue by minor amounts.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt consumer protection rules for customers who participate in or are solicited to participate in community solar projects through a net energy billing arrangement based upon a shared financial interest in a distributed generation resource. The PUC has indicated that it will require additional staffing to carry out enforcement provisions and the bill includes allocations of $263,723 in fiscal year 2021-22 and $357,287 in fiscal year 2022-23 to the PUC for one Staff Attorney position, two Senior Consumer Assistance Specialist positions and associated costs. The PUC is funded by an assessment set to produce sufficient revenue for the expenditures allocated by the Legislature for operating the PUC. The increased allocations in this bill require a corresponding increase in revenue from the assessment on transmission and distribution utilities.