Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3203, sub-§15, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 316, §3, is amended to read:

15. Standard billing; bill payment option. The commission shall consider requiring standard billing information on bills for electric power service. If standard billing information is required, the commission shall investigate the possibility of adopting standards consistent with those of other New England states. The commission may not prohibit transmission and distribution utilities from contracting with generation service providers to include both entities' charges on a single bill. The commission may not preclude the inclusion of other information on bills for electric power service. The commission shall ensure that residential customers have the option of paying their bills for electric power service at local, easily accessible and convenient locations such as shopping centers.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Public Utilities Commission to ensure that residential customers have the option of paying their electric bills at local, easily accessible and convenient locations such as shopping centers.