An Act To Extend Arrearage Management Program Requirements for Transmission and Distribution Utilities for One Year
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 414, §1, is further amended to read:
In adopting rules regarding arrearage management programs, the commission shall:
(1) Incremental costs;
(2) Reconnection fees;
(3) Administrative costs;
(4) Marketing costs;
(5) Costs for any 3rd-party assistance it receives in administering its arrearage management program; and
(6) Costs for providing financial and budgetary guidance to participants whether provided directly or through a 3rd party contracted by the transmission and distribution utility to provide that guidance.
The amount of any arrearage forgiven that is treated as bad debt for purposes of cost recovery by the transmission and distribution utility may not be included as a reasonable cost under this paragraph.
The Efficiency Maine Trust shall work with investor-owned transmission and distribution utilities, consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities that elect to participate in an arrearage management program and other stakeholders to provide access to a complementary low-income energy efficiency program for participants in arrearage management programs in order to help reduce participants' energy consumption.
No later than January 28, 2021 2022, the commission shall prepare a report assessing the effectiveness of arrearage management programs, including the number of participants enrolled in the programs, the number of participants completing the programs, the number of participants who have failed to complete the programs, the payment patterns of participating customers after completing the programs, the dollar amount of arrears forgiven, a comparison of outcomes for those participating in the programs and those not participating, the impact on any participating transmission and distribution utility's bad debt as a result of the programs, the costs and benefits to all ratepayers associated with the programs and recommendations for ways in which the programs might be improved or continued for the benefit of all ratepayers. In preparing its report, the commission shall hold at least one formal stakeholder meeting involving affected parties, including the Office of the Public Advocate and the participating transmission and distribution utilities. Parties must also be provided an opportunity to submit written comments to the commission regarding the performance of the programs.
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters may report out a bill relating to the commission report to the First Second Regular Session of the 130th Legislature.
This subsection is repealed September 30, 2021 2022.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §10110, sub-§2, ¶L, as amended by PL 2017, c. 414, §2, is further amended to read:
This paragraph is repealed September 30, 2021 2022.
SUMMARY
This bill delays by one year, from September 30, 2021 to September 30, 2022, the repeal of the requirement that an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility implement an arrearage management program to assist low-income residential customers with their electricity bills and the requirement that the Efficiency Maine Trust work with utilities that participate in an arrearage management program.