Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3295, sub-§3, ķI, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 316, §3, is amended to read:

I. A distribution utility may not release any proprietary customer information without to a licensed competitive electricity provider unless the provider certifies that it obtained the prior written authorization of the customer.

SUMMARY

This bill allows customers of an electricity provider to give approval for the release of their proprietary information to a competitive electricity provider by means other than written authorization. This change will reduce the administrative burden on utilities and competitive energy providers. It still allows the Public Utilities Commission to protect customers through its statutory ability to control the conduct of competitive energy providers by virtue of the licensing process.