Maine Legislature backs Sen. Lawrence bill to strengthen access to clean water

AUGUSTA — Today, the Maine Senate passed a bill sponsored by Sen. Mark W. Lawrence, D-Eliot, to strengthen access to clean water by allowing the Public Utilities Commission to approve a rate change if it determines that the proposal is a cost-effective way to keep water affordable for low-income residential ratepayers. LD 241, “An Act to Authorize the Public Utilities Commission to Approve Rate Adjustments for Low-income Water Utility Ratepayers,” was initially approved by the Senate on a mostly party line vote of 19-12 on May 21, and was sent to the Governor’s desk today.

“With rising energy, grocery and gas costs, it’s important — now more than ever — to find creative solutions to help bring down essential, everyday costs. I can’t think of a more essential item than access to clean water. said Sen. Lawrence. “I thank all of my colleagues in the Legislature who joined me in support of this measure. From household chores and drinking to sanitizing and preventing widespread disease outbreaks, access to safe and clean water is imperative to my constituents and the people of Maine. I’m glad we’re sending this bill to the Governor’s desk.”

According to the Statewide Water Affordability report released in January 2025, “[water] affordability is rapidly becoming a significant issue in the water sector. Aging infrastructure and significant regulatory requirements, combined with decreased federal funding, have placed increasingly heavier cost burdens on utilities. In recent decades, utilities have raised rates on their customers well beyond the pace of inflation. The resulting cost burden on low-income customers has made many of their bills unaffordable, leading to missed payments and shutoffs. Water is the only essential service for which there is no permanent federal assistance program and no state assistance program in Maine.” LD 241 seeks to right that wrong by improving access to low-income assistance programs for water utility consumers.

LD 241 now heads to the Governor’s desk for approval.

Sen. Lawrence is serving his eleventh nonconsecutive term in the Maine Senate, representing District 35, which includes the towns of Eliot, Kittery, Ogunquit, South Berwick and York. He serves as the Senate chair of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.