An Act To Protect Electricity Consumers in Northern Maine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3132, sub-§14 is enacted to read:
14. Customer cost impact. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the commission may not issue a certificate of public convenience and necessity that has the effect of eliminating the independent system administrator for northern Maine or eliminating or materially modifying the scope of responsibilities of the independent system administrator for northern Maine unless the certificate is subject to a requirement for the full compensation for the net adverse effects on ratepayers as determined by the commission. The determination of the net adverse effects must include, but is not limited to, known and measurable transmission cost effects. Compensation required by this section must be provided to affected ratepayers through a rebate, reduction in rates or other appropriate compensation mechanism benefiting affected ratepayers in the area of the State in which the retail electricity market is administered by the independent system administrator for northern Maine. Compensation required by this section must be calculated for and provided to affected ratepayers over a period of not more than 10 years.
Effective September 12, 2009