130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 251		LR 40(02)
	An Act Regarding Public Utility Assessments, Fees and Penalties
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Future biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) to apportion the existing assessments collected from public utilities between investor-owned utilities and consumer-owned utilities. It requires the PUC to report on any filing fees or penalties collected during the previous year that have not been adjusted in the previous five years and to recommend adjustments based on the consumer price index. It also requires the PUC and OPA to include information regarding their activities devoted to investor-owned utilities and consumer-owned utilities in annual reports. The PUC is authorized to increase filing fees for reorganizations of utilities from $50,000 to an amount not to exceed 5/100 of 1 percent of the estimated total value of the reorganization.
	Changes to the filing fees or penalties based on the consumer price index and changes to the filing fees for reorganizations of utilities will increase Other Special Revenue Funds revenue to the PUC. No estimate of the amount is made at this time. Any additional costs to the PUC and OPA from the activities required in this bill are anticipated to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.