Whereas, electric utility restructuring in the State and other states has nationalized electric utility issues that traditionally were state concerns; and

Whereas, the staff and commissioners of the Public Utilities Commission have assumed a role of active participation in the New England Power Pool agreement, at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in other regional and national arenas in ways and to an extent that further legislative oversight is required; 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 §116, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 586, §4, is further amended to read:

4. Use of funds. The Public Utilities Commission may use the revenues provided in accordance with this section to fund 65 employees and to defray the costs incurred by the commission pursuant to this Title, including administrative expenses, general regulatory expenses, consulting fees and all other reasonable costs incurred to administer this Title, except that the commission may not pay dues from its budget to any regional or national organization without the explicit approval of the Legislature.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill makes it unlawful for the Public Utilities Commission to pay dues from its budget to any regional or national organization without the explicit approval of the Legislature.