126th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1619		LR 2328(02)
	An Act To Amend the Law Governing Conflicts of Interest with Respect to the Public Utilities Commission
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill requires the Governor to appoint 3 people to serve as alternate commissioners to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in order to maintain a quorum. These alternate commissioners will be appointed as temporary commissioners and serve for the length of time that there would be no quorum without them. The temporary commissioners will be compensated at $55.55 per hour, the same rate as a commissioner. It cannot be predicted at this time how many hours of additional compensation the PUC will pay to temporary commissioners going forward. There is currently a proceeding before the PUC where no quorum can be reached. The PUC has resources available to accommodate the additional cost of temporary commissioners.