35-A §3213. Bill unbundling; consumer education - Maine Statutes

Title 35-A: PUBLIC UTILITIES HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Part 3: ELECTRIC POWER HEADING: PL 1987, C. 141, PT. A, §6 (NEW)

Chapter 32: ELECTRIC INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING HEADING: PL 1997, C. 316, §3 (NEW)

§3213. Bill unbundling; consumer education

1. Unbundled bills. Beginning January 1, 1999, electric utilities shall issue bills that state the current cost of electric capacity and energy separately from transmission and distribution charges and other charges for electric service. By January 31, 1998, each electric utility shall file with the commission a bill unbundling proposal. The commission shall complete its review of those proposals and adopt a rule establishing unbundled bill requirements by July 1, 1998. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

2. Consumer education advisory board; rules. The commission shall adopt rules implementing a consumer education program in compliance with this subsection.

A. The commission shall immediately organize a consumer education advisory board to investigate and recommend methods to educate the public about the implementation of retail access and its impact on consumers. The commission shall ensure broad representation of residential, industrial and commercial electric consumers, public agencies and the electric industry on the advisory board. Members of the board shall serve without compensation. [1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW).]

B. In its recommendations, the advisory board shall address:

(1) The level of funding necessary for adequate educational efforts and the appropriate source of that funding;

(2) The aspects of retail access on which consumers need education;

(3) The most effective means of accomplishing the education of consumers;

(4) The appropriate entities to conduct the education effort; and

(5) Any other issue relevant to the education of consumers regarding the implementation of retail access and its impact on consumers. [1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW).]

C. The commission shall consider the recommendations of the advisory board when adopting rules to implement a consumer education program. Rules adopted under this subsection are major substantive rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A. The commission shall provide these rules to the Legislature in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A, no later than February 1, 1998. [1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW).]

[ 1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW) .]

3. Special assessment. Every electric utility and transmission and distribution utility subject to assessment under section 116 is subject to an additional assessment on its gross intrastate operating revenues for regulated services to produce:

A. No more than $200,000 in the 1997-98 fiscal year; [1997, c. 691, §8 (NEW).]

B. No more than $600,000 in the 1998-99 fiscal year; [1997, c. 691, §8 (NEW).]

C. No more than $600,000 in the 1999-2000 fiscal year; and [1997, c. 691, §8 (NEW).]

D. No more than $200,000 in the 2000-01 fiscal year. [1997, c. 691, §8 (NEW).]

All revenues derived from the assessments levied under this subsection must be deposited with the Treasurer of State in a separate account to be known as the Public Utilities Commission Consumer Education Fund, referred to in this subsection as "the fund." Revenues produced by the assessments may be used by the commission only for the purposes of designing and implementing the consumer education program established pursuant to subsection 2. Funds in the fund not expended during any fiscal year may not lapse but must be carried forward. Any funds remaining in the fund at the conclusion of the consumer education program established pursuant to subsection 2 must be returned proportionally to utilities assessed under this subsection and passed through to ratepayers in an appropriate rate-setting proceeding.

[ 1997, c. 691, §8 (NEW) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1997, c. 316, §3 (NEW). 1997, c. 691, §8 (AMD).