An Act To Support Electrification of Certain Technologies for the Benefit of Maine Consumers and Utility Systems and the Environment

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §10102, sub-§3-A  is enacted to read:

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§1, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§2, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 2009, c. 372, Pt. B, §3, is amended to read:

Sec. 4. Efficiency Maine Trust to study barriers to beneficial electrification. The Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 10103, in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, shall study barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating sectors in the State. The study must identify social, technological, legal, regulatory and economic barriers to beneficial electrification for the transportation and heating sectors in the State. The study must include information, which the trust may request the commission to compile, on potential roles for electric utilities, natural gas utilities and competitive markets in supporting beneficial electrification, including benefits and drawbacks of these potential roles and examples of specific activities that may be conducted and specific needs that may be best served by the electric utilities, natural gas utilities or competitive markets. The Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority shall provide information to the trust on potential barriers to beneficial electrification and solutions to overcome those barriers in areas under their jurisdiction. The trust may seek information regarding the study from other agencies or from private persons, organizations or interest groups. The trust shall provide public notice of the opportunity for the public to submit written information or comments to the trust before and after a draft of the study is completed. The trust shall develop a report based on the study. The report must:

1. Identify barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating sectors of the State;

2. Identify additional information that the trust may require to make additional recommendations or analyses;

3. Consider potential roles of utilities in supporting beneficial electrification;

4. Identify areas or populations in the State less likely to benefit directly from beneficial electrification without additional policy development or utility intervention; and

5. Recommend opportunities for beneficial electrification.

By February 1, 2020, the trust shall submit its report and any recommended legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology. The committee may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 129th Legislature related to the report.

For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" means electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.

Sec. 5. Public Utilities Commission to request proposals for pilot program to implement beneficial electrification in the transportation sector. The Public Utilities Commission, referred to in this section as "the commission," shall request proposals from utilities and from entities that are not utilities, including the Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 10103 for pilot programs that are limited in duration and scope to support beneficial electrification of the transportation sector of the State.

1. Proposals under this section must be submitted to the commission no later than February 1, 2020 and must consider and implement the analysis and recommendations of the study conducted under section 4. A proposal under this section may address:

The commission shall allow public comment on a proposal submitted under this section. On or before October 1, 2020, the commission may select one or more proposals submitted under this section that further the efforts regarding beneficial electrification.

2. Subsequent to the selection of proposals under subsection 1, the commission may request additional proposals under this section that include criteria under subsection 1 and other criteria the commission determines necessary to be submitted no earlier than December 1, 2020. A proposal submitted under this subsection must be reviewed pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 4. The commission shall allow public comment on a proposal submitted under this subsection. On or before August 1, 2021, the commission may select one or more proposals submitted under this subsection that are reasonably likely to result in beneficial electrification.

3. The commission shall determine a schedule to implement a proposal selected under subsection 1 or 2. By December 1, 2022, the commission shall complete a review of the implemented pilot program that assesses the effectiveness of each of the program's elements in supporting beneficial electrification of the transportation sector of the State.

4. For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" means electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.

summary

This bill:

1. Amends provisions in the law regarding the conservation programs of the Efficiency Maine Trust by clarifying that conservation programs seek to increase the efficiency with which electricity is used and defining "beneficial electrification" as the electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment by improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions;

2. Requires the Efficiency Maine Trust to conduct a study regarding the barriers to beneficial electrification of the transportation and heating sectors in the State; and

3. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to issue a request for proposals from utilities and entities that are not utilities to conduct a pilot program to support beneficial electrification of the transportation sector of the State.