Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §6102, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL 1991, c. 52, §1, is amended to read:

1. General requirements. Any water utility, before commencing construction of a new water system or a major addition to or alteration of an existing water system, shall file with the commission, in accordance with the commission's rules, plans and specifications for the construction, addition or alteration in order to obtain the advice of the commission as to cost, method of financing and adherence to proper engineering standards. If the water utility will incur expenses in the construction, addition or alteration that are likely to result in increases in rates, tolls or charges totaling more than 50% of the utility's annual operating revenues, the utility shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation in the service territory of the water utility a notice to customers that information regarding the construction, addition or alteration is available for public review at a location and in a manner that is convenient to the water utility's ratepayers and provide to each of the water utility's customers a direct written notice of the availability of that information.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §6102, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1993, c. 91, §9, is repealed.

SUMMARY

This bill removes the requirement that, in addition to filing plans for the construction of a water system, a water utility must file with the Public Utilities Commission and with the Department of Human Services engineering estimates, all costs and justification of the construction project and of its next best alternative. The bill removes the redundant requirement to make the information available for public review but retains the requirement that the public be notified if expenses exceed a specified level.