Whereas, until recently, the cost of the first 300 feet of single-phase overhead line extensions for homeowners was borne by electric utilities; and

Whereas, the Public Utilities Commission has just approved a policy change that requires an electric utility to provide to homeowners for free only the first 75 feet of single-phase overhead line extensions, increasing the cost of new homes in some cases by several thousand dollars; and

Whereas, these new rules threaten to push the cost and affordability of a new home out of the range of some lower-income home buyers; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §314 is enacted to read:

§314.__Single-phase overhead line extensions

1.__Single customers.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an electric utility may not require a customer to pay for the installation of the first 300 feet of a single-phase overhead line extension provided by the utility to the customer.__ For the installation of an extension of more than 300 feet up to 1,000 feet along a private way and up to 2,000 feet along a public way, or 2,000 feet in part along a public way and in part along a private way with up to 1,000 feet along a private way, the electric utility may enter a contract with a customer that charges the customer installation costs of up to 11 cents per foot per month, including the first 300 feet, on the customer's utility bill for a period of up to 5 years or until the average length of line per customer drops to 300 feet or less.__For an extension of over 2,000 feet along a public way or 1,000 feet along a private way, the customer shall pay for the cost of the extension beyond the maximum length.

2.__Multiple customers.__For an extension that will serve more than one customer, the utility shall calculate the average length of line per customer to treat each customer as a single