Gov. Mills signs Sen. Carney bill to improve electricity affordability

AUGUSTA – Yesterday, Gov. Janet T. Mills signed an electricity affordability bill from Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, into law. LD 1949, “An Act Regarding Energy Fairness,” will strengthen the framework in which decisions about Maine’s electric system are made by ensuring that the voices and budgets of Maine households are squarely and officially in the equation. It makes affordability a statutory priority, elevates transparency and promotes data-driven policymaking.

“Hard-working Mainers are shouldering an energy cost burden that continues to rise – especially as our families’ budgets are increasingly at the whim of chaotic actions in Washington. It is now more important than ever that we root decisions about our electric system in consideration of residential affordability,” said Sen. Carney. “Now that the Governor has signed this important bill into law, we will have the statutory tools we need to center everyday Mainers in our energy policymaking. I look forward to building on the solid foundation that this bill provides to increase electricity affordability for all.”

LD 1949 directs the PUC to consider affordability impacts to Maine residents across all its duties: establishing rates, granting utility operating authority, regulating utility service standards and monitoring utility operations for safety and reliability. Alongside pre-existing areas of focus like reliability, safety and prudent investment, residential cost burden will become a key factor for consideration in all PUC decisions around its regulation and oversight of roughly 430 electric, telephone, water and gas utility companies and districts.

The bill also requires the PUC to publish data regarding the credit and collection activities of large transmission and distribution utilities on its website. This transparency will assist utilities, regulatory entities, policymakers and organizations that support Mainers struggling to meet basic needs by providing a detailed understanding of what parts of the state are most vulnerable to high electric bills, who is most impacted and how those issues can be addressed.

Finally, LD 1949 directs the PUC to comprehensively review electric delivery rates to identify opportunities to contain customer costs; reduce transmission and distribution price volatility; and increase electric bill transparency. The bill requires that the PUC develop an affordability metric to support this assessment of residential customers’ electric bill burden.

LD 1949 represents a step forward in making Maine’s energy system fairer for residents statewide, giving urgently needed weight to electricity affordability concerns. Affordable, reliable electricity is a prerequisite for success in the state’s energy future.

As non-emergency legislation, the law will go into effect 90 days after the conclusion of the Second Session of the 132nd Maine Legislature.

Sen. Carney is in her third term in the Maine Senate, representing South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and part of Scarborough. She serves as Senate Chair of the Judiciary Committee and the Joint Rules Committee and as a member of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee.

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