Sen. Tepler bill establishing a pilot program for utility demand management gains initial support in the Maine Legislature

AUGUSTA — This week, the Maine Senate and House voted to advance a bill introduced by Sen. Denise Tepler, D-Topsham. The bill, LD 2140, “Resolve, to Establish a Demand Response Program to Lower Electric Bills and Improve Grid Reliability,” would establish a demand response program designed to help low-income Mainers reduce their utility bills.

“Too many Mainers are burdened with high energy costs right now,” said Sen. Tepler. “This bill would establish a program that will help Mainers save money on their utility bills when electricity demand and rates are at some of their highest points throughout the year. I am thankful to Efficiency Maine’s director, Michael Stoddard, for working with me on finding the best solution to assist Mainers who are struggling to afford everyday costs, and to my colleagues in the Senate for joining me in supporting this legislation.”

LD 2140 outlines a plan for Efficiency Maine to establish a program for utility customers that would assist them in reducing certain energy usage during peak demand hours. This in turn would reduce monthly utility bill costs. This is anticipated to be particularly effective during summer days when there is high strain on the grid. The program would be opt-in only.

The bill requires Efficiency Maine to prioritize outreach and education for low-income electricity customers. Additionally, the trust must assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the program and submit a report with their findings to the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee by February 28, 2028. The committee will then decide whether to establish the program permanently.

LD 2140 faces further votes in the Maine House of Representatives and Senate.

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