Printed on recycled paper
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1240H.P. 815House of Representatives, March 25, 2025
An Act to Align the Schedules for Climate Change Protection Plans
and Grid-enhancing Technology Reviews with the Integrated Grid
Planning Process
Submitted by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SACHS of Freeport. Page 1 - 132LR0549(01)
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2 as enacted by PL 2021, c. 702, §7, is amended to read:
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4 No later than December 31, 2023 May 1, 2027, and every 3 5 years thereafter, a
5 transmission and distribution utility shall submit to the commission a 10-year plan that
6 includes specific actions for addressing the expected effects of climate change on the
7 utility's assets needed to transmit and distribute electricity to its customers. The commission
8 shall provide a process to allow for the input from interested parties on the transmission
9 and distribution utility's plan. The commission may use the plan and the input received
10 from interested parties in rate cases or other proceedings involving the transmission and
11 distribution utility.
12 as enacted by PL 2023, c. 553, §1, is amended
13 to read:
14 2027, and every 5 years thereafter,
15 the commission shall conduct a review or update a previous review or contract with a
16 consultant to conduct a review or update a previous review of available grid-enhancing
17 technology that could be implemented by a large investor-owned transmission and
18 distribution utility to reduce or defer the need for investment in grid infrastructure in the
19 State. The commission may produce a report or contract with a consultant to produce a
20 report describing the grid-enhancing technology identified in the review. The commission
21 may file information or the report for use in rate cases or other proceedings involving a
22 large investor-owned transmission and distribution utility, including the integrated grid
23 planning proceeding required pursuant to section 3147, subsection 2.
24 The review
25 conducted in 2027 pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3148,
26 subsection 2 must update the review conducted in 2025 by the Public Utilities Commission
27 or a consultant of the commission of available grid-enhancing technology that could be
28 implemented by a large investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to reduce or
29 defer the need for investment in grid infrastructure in the State.
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31 This bill adjusts the time frame for the ongoing submission dates for certain reviews
32 and reports required of transmission and distribution utilities and the Public Utilities
33 Commission to align with the integrated grid planning process required pursuant to the
34 Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3147.
35 The bill requires that, beginning May 1, 2027, and every 5 years thereafter, instead of
36 every 3 years as in current law, a transmission and distribution utility is required to submit
37 a 10-year plan that includes specific actions for addressing the expected effects of climate
38 change on the utility's assets needed to transmit and distribute electricity to its customers.
39 Current law requires the Public Utilities Commission to conduct a review, or contract
40 with a consultant to conduct a review, related to available grid-enhancing technology every
41 5 years beginning in 2025. The bill adjusts the schedule of reviews by requiring a review
42 in 2027, and then every 5 years thereafter. The review conducted in 2027 must update the
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43 review conducted in 2025. The bill also adds language specifying that a review conducted
44 pursuant to this provision of law may update an earlier review.
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