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An Act To Protect Electric Ratepayers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 36 MRSA c. 723  is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 723
ELECTRICAL GENERATION EXCISE TAX
§ 4951.   Definitions
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
 
1.  Capacity.     “Capacity” means the generating capacity of a generator, as determined by the commission.
 
2.  Commission.     “Commission” means the Public Utilities Commission.
 
3.  Generator.     “Generator” means a producer of electricity having more than 20 megawatts of capacity.
§ 4952.  Excise tax imposed
An excise tax is imposed annually on every generator in this State equal to $12 per kilowatt of capacity.
§ 4953.  Reports, payment and administration
By the 20th day of each January, April, July and October, each generator subject to the excise tax imposed pursuant to this chapter, on forms provided by the State Tax Assessor, shall report and pay the excise tax due under this chapter. The excise tax imposed by this chapter is administered as provided in chapter 7. The assessor shall transfer the funds to the Ratepayers Capacity Fund established in section 4954.
§ 4954.  Ratepayers Capacity Fund; distribution of funds
There is established the Ratepayers Capacity Fund, into which all funds received from the excise tax collected pursuant to section 4953 must be deposited for the benefit of electricity ratepayers. The commission shall distribute the funds to individual electricity ratepayers based on the amount paid for the generation of electricity by those ratepayers.
§ 4955.  Rulemaking
The commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of this chapter. In determining a definition of "capacity" pursuant to section 4951, subsection 1, the commission shall consider standards developed by a regional transmission organization. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill imposes an excise tax on the capacity of electricity producers with more than 20 megawatts of capacity. Revenue from the tax is distributed by the Public Utilities Commission to individual electricity ratepayers based on the amount paid for the generation of electricity by those ratepayers.