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An Act To Authorize the Public Utilities Commission To Require That Transmission or Distribution Lines Be Placed Underground
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §3132-A  is enacted to read:
§ 3132-A. Placement of lines underground
Upon petition by a customer of a transmission and distribution utility, the commission shall open a proceeding to determine whether to order a transmission or distribution line to be placed underground. The commission shall order that a transmission or distribution line be placed underground if the commission finds that the public health, safety or welfare would be enhanced by such placement. The commission must allow a transmission and distribution utility to recover the actual costs of complying with the commission’s order to place a line underground.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission, on petition of a customer of a transmission and distribution utility, to open a proceeding to determine whether to order a transmission or distribution line to be placed underground. The commission must order that a transmission or distribution line be placed underground if the commission finds that the public health, safety or welfare would be enhanced by such placement. The commission is required to allow a transmission and distribution utility to recover the actual costs of complying with the commission’s order to place a line underground.