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LD 186

An Act To Clarify The Public Utilities Commission'S Authority To Establish Time-Of-Use Pricing For Standard-Offer Service

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Mark Lawrence and 2 co-sponsors

Clarifies Maine PUC has authority to set time-of-use pricing for standard-offer service; enables TOU rate design via rulemaking, not new rates yet.

Signed by Governor
#powers #publicutilitiescommission #rates
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Bill Summary · LD 186

LD 186 — Summary

Title: An Act To Clarify The Public Utilities Commission's Authority To Establish Time-of-use Pricing for Standard-offer Service
Bill No.: LD 186 (LR 596)
Sponsor: Rep. Runte, Jr. (York)
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Introduced: January 14, 2025
Status: Signed by the Governor (June 9, 2025)

Purpose and intent

LD 186 clarifies that the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has statutory authority to establish time‑of‑use (TOU) pricing for “standard‑offer service.” The intent is to ensure the PUC can adopt rate designs that vary prices by time of day for the default electricity supply provided to customers who do not choose a competitive supplier.

Key provisions

  • Explicitly affirms the PUC’s authority to establish TOU pricing for standard‑offer service.
  • Does not itself set any specific TOU rates, time periods, or customer classes; rather, it authorizes the PUC to do so through its existing rulemaking and regulatory processes.
  • Committee Amendment “A” (H‑318) was adopted during the legislative process; the legislative record shows the bill was passed as amended and then enacted. (The amendment text is not included in the materials provided.)

Who would be affected

  • Residential and small commercial customers served under Maine’s standard‑offer service (the default electricity supply for customers not under a competitive contract).
  • The Maine PUC, which would have express legislative authority to open rate‑making or rulemaking proceedings to adopt TOU structures.
  • Electricity suppliers, distribution utilities, and potentially metering/technology providers (if TOU implementation requires advanced metering or billing changes).
  • Policymakers, consumer advocates, and other stakeholders through PUC public proceedings.

Fiscal impact

  • Multiple fiscal notes (02/05/25; 04/10/25; 06/02/25) report a minor cost increase to the Public Utilities Commission, payable from Other Special Revenue Funds.
  • The PUC indicates any additional costs are expected to be minor and absorbable within existing budgeted resources.

Legislative history and timeline

  • Referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology (Jan 14, 2025).
  • Committee work sessions and votes through spring 2025; Committee Amendment “A” (H‑318) adopted.
  • Passed both chambers (House vote recorded Yeas 74 – Nays 66; Senate roll call No. 281 Yeas 20 – Nays 14).
  • Signed by the Governor on June 9, 2025, and enacted.

Implementation and next steps

  • The bill provides authority; actual implementation (if pursued) would occur through PUC proceedings—rulemaking, tariff filings, and public hearings—to define eligible customer classes, specific TOU periods and prices, customer protections, and any metering or billing changes.
  • Stakeholders should monitor the PUC docket(s) for any rulemaking or implementation orders following enactment.

Note: The summary describes the scope and likely practical effects based on the legislative record provided. The bill text and Committee Amendment H‑318 (not included here) should be consulted for precise statutory language.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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