Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §7307 is enacted to read:

§7307.__Notice of intrastate toll rate changes

1.__Notice required.__A telephone utility offering intrastate toll services may not increase or decrease the price for such services without first:

A.__Filing a tariff revision with the commission establishing the new price and identifying with particularity the name, terms and conditions of service; and

B.__No less than one month prior to the change in price, providing to each retail subscriber receiving intrastate toll service from that utility a notice, in the form of a bill insert or other written communication, identifying the former price for the service, the new price and the expected date of the price change.

2.__Failure to notify.__If a telephone utility does not provide to a customer written communication that complies with subsection 1, that customer is relieved of the obligation of making payment at a new price, if higher, until notice complying with subsection 1 notice is made.

3.__Rulemaking.__The commission shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section.__Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

SUMMARY

Currently, there are no provisions in Maine law requiring a telephone utility offering intrastate toll services to provide notice of an increase or decrease in price. This bill establishes such a requirement and directs the Public Utilities Commission to adopt rules for its implementation.