An Act Regarding Utility Line Extensions

Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §314,  as corrected by RR 2001, c. 1, §44, is amended by adding before subsection 1 a new paragraph to read:

Except as otherwise provided in section 316, this section governs private line extensions.

Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §315,  as enacted by PL 2011, c. 484, §1, is amended by adding before subsection 1 a new paragraph to read:

Except as otherwise provided in section 316, this section governs transmission and distribution utility line extension construction.

Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §316  is enacted to read:

§ 316.  Utility line extensions to developments; cost sharing

The commission by rule shall establish requirements for transmission and distribution utilities to share the cost of utility line extensions to developments in accordance with this section.

Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

summary

This bill proposes to require transmission and distribution utilities to share the cost of utility line extensions to subdivision developments. The bill directs the Public Utilities Commission, by rule, to require transmission and distribution utilities to cover the cost of a portion of a line extension either by providing a portion of the line extension free of charge, in the case of utility construction of the line extension, or providing a credit or reimbursement upon transfer of ownership of the line extension to the utility, in the case of a privately constructed line extension.