An Act To Increase The Membership Of The Public Utilities Commission To 5 Members

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 4 co-sponsors

LD 1309 would raise the Public Utilities Commission to five members, but the bill died in committee and is dead for the session.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)

#commissioners #increased #publicutilitiescommission

Summary of LD 1309 — An Act To Increase The Membership Of The Public Utilities Commission To 5 Members

Overview
- Purpose: To increase the membership of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) from its current number to five commissioners.
- Intent: Broadly, to expand governance and oversight capacity for public utilities regulation. The summary provided does not include detailed provisions beyond the increase in membership.

Key Provisions (as stated)
- The bill would raise the PUC’s membership to five members.
- No additional provisions (e.g., terms, appointment process, qualifications, staggering of terms, or quorum requirements) are specified in the material provided.

Affected Parties and Impacts
- Public Utilities Commission: A five-member commission would undergo a change in governance structure and potentially in decision-making dynamics.
- Utilities and ratepayers: Changes in regulatory oversight, workload distribution, and potential shifts in how policy and rate decisions are considered.
- State government and related agencies: Administrative and budget implications if more commissioners require additional support staffing and resources.

Procedural History and Timeline
- Introduced: March 27, 2025
- Referred to Committee: March 27, 2025, to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
- Concurrence action: March 27, 2025 (ordered sent forthwith)
- Committee actions:
- April 15, 2025: Work Session Held
- April 15, 2025: Voted ONTP (Ought Not To Pass)
- April 18, 2025: Reported Out ONTP
- Legislative disposition: April 22, 2025 — Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3, placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
- Meaning of ONTP: The committee did not recommend passage of the bill.

Status
- Dead: The bill is not advancing and has been placed in legislative files as dead for the session. If revived in the future, it would need to proceed through the usual legislative process again.

Notes
- The available materials do not include the full text, fiscal impact statements, or detailed specifications about appointment methods, terms, qualifications, or budgetary effects. The summary relies on the bill’s title and the provided legislative actions.