Bill > LD839

This bill addresses how certain costs related to net energy billing programs will be handled for electricity transmission and distribution utilities in Maine. Specifically, the bill establishes that after June 30, 2026, "kilowatt-hour credit program costs" and "commercial and institutional program costs" will no longer be included in utility operating expenses recovered through customer rates. Instead, these costs will be paid from the General Fund through a newly created Net Energy Billing Cost Stabilization Fund. The bill defines these program costs to include transmission and distribution expenses not received due to energy credits, administrative costs, and bill credits paid to customers. The Public Utilities Commission will be required to adopt rules for distributing these costs, including requiring utilities to provide annual cost estimates and establishing a reconciliation process for any overpayments. The bill also introduces the concept of "monetized benefits," which refers to revenue generated from electricity and capacity rights sold by distributed generation resources, and allows these benefits to offset program costs. This approach aims to provide a more transparent and predictable method for funding net energy billing programs while preventing these costs from being directly passed on to ratepayers.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=839&snum=132