Senate gives initial support to Lawrence bill to protect utility customers and improve transparency around rate hikes

AUGUSTA – On Thursday, the Maine Senate voted unanimously in favor of a bill from Sen. Mark Lawrence, D-Eliot, to help protect utility customers in Maine. An amended version of LD 414, “An Act to Clarify the Provision of Notice of Proposed Rate Increases to Public Utility Customers,” previously received unanimous approval from the Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee.

“Folks from all corners of our state have been struggling with energy prices that just keep going up and up. Maine consumers deserve transparency. This bill is just one of the many steps my colleagues and I are taking to hold utility companies accountable,” said Sen. Lawrence. “I’m grateful to my fellow senators for voting in favor of this bill.”

As amended by committee, LD 414 would require a public utility seeking to increase rates to send a notice of the increase to customers. If the utility company wants to increase the rate higher than what’s been published in the notice to customers, it needs to notify and get permission from the Public Utilities Commission to do so, demonstrating it has good cause to increase rates that much. If the PUC approves the rate increase, the company must then notify customers of the updated increased rate. 

Maine’s Public Advocate William Hardwood testified in favor of the bill.

LD 414 faces further votes in the House and Senate.