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An Act To Streamline Collections for Consumer-owned Consolidated Water and Wastewater Utilities
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  to protect the public peace, health and safety and to address the financial needs of combined water and sewer districts, procedures governing the disconnection of water service for nonpayment of sewer service must be established as soon as possible; and
Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §6111-C  is enacted to read:
§ 6111-C. Disconnection of water service for nonpayment of sewer services
Except as provided in subsection 4, this section applies to any consumer-owned water utility that is authorized to provide sewer services, notwithstanding any provision in its charter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the event a user of the consumer-owned water utility's sewer system fails within a reasonable time to pay the utility's rates, fees or charges for sewer service, the utility may disconnect water service to the user, as long as the disconnection is accomplished in accordance with procedures established in applicable law or rules governing disconnection of utility services and terms and conditions approved by the commission. In order to exercise this authority, the utility must apply to the commission and the commission must approve terms and conditions consistent with the requirements of this section.
 
1.  Annual filings.   The terms and conditions under this section must include a requirement that the consumer-owned water utility annually file with the commission a report that includes:
 
A.  The total number of each of the following over the preceding 12 months:
 
(1) Disconnection notices issued;
 
(2) Disconnections completed; and
 
(3) Reconnections of disconnections; and
 
B.  The reason for each disconnection.
 
2.  Assistance program information.   The terms and conditions under this section must include a requirement that the consumer-owned water utility provide to customers to whom the utility sends disconnection notices information about available assistance programs, including programs that offer assistance in paying for sewer or water service, programs that offer assistance in paying for other utility services or in paying for heating fuel or similar assistance programs that could provide sufficient support to the customer to allow the customer to pay the utility's rates, fees or charges for sewer service.
 
3.  Limitations.   The terms and conditions under this section must prohibit:
 
A.  A disconnection based solely on a customer’s nonpayment of a fee or charge for estimated sewer service usage; and
 
B.  A disconnection of a multiunit rental facility greater than 2 units unless the owner of the facility occupies a unit that would be subject to the disconnection.
 
4.  Exception.   Subsection 3, paragraph B does not apply to a consumer-owned water utility that has authority pursuant to its charter to disconnect water service in the event a user of the consumer-owned water utility's sewer system fails to pay the utility's rates, fees or charges for sewer service, provided the charter provision establishing that authority was enacted prior to August 1, 2010.
Sec. 2. Report. The Public Utilities Commission shall provide a report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters by January 15, 2012 that includes the information submitted by consumer-owned water utilities authorized to provide sewer services, pursuant to the terms and conditions required under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35A, section 6111C as well as information on customer complaints to the commission regarding actions taken by utilities pursuant to Title 35A, section 6111C and any recommendations by the commission with regard to changes to Title 35A, section 6111C or other actions to address any issues identified by the commission.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 124th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.