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An Act To Assist Low-income Electricity Consumers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3214, sub-§2, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 316, §3, is amended to read:
 
A.  Receive funds collected by all transmission and distribution utilities in the State at a rate set by the commission in periodic rate cases and direct all settlement funds received after July 1, 2016 by any transmission and distribution utility pursuant to a damage award received pursuant to litigation with the United States Department of Energy concerning decommissioning costs related to Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company to be forwarded to the commission to be used for programs under this subsection; and
Sec. 2.  PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §27, sub-§2  is amended to read:
2. In fiscal year 2015-16. In fiscal year 2015-16, the Public Utilities Commission shall require the payment of a total of $2,000,000 of the settlement funds received by transmission and distribution utilities to the Efficiency Maine Trust to be used by the trust for electric efficiency and conservation programs pursuant to Title 35-A, section 10110 in accordance with the trust's triennial plan. The proportional share of the $2,000,000 provided from each transmission and distribution utility's settlement funds must be the same as that transmission and distribution utility's proportional share of the total retail kilowatt hours delivered in this State by all the transmission and distribution utilities receiving settlement funds.
 
The commission shall require thedirect that all remaining funds to be used to reduce the transmission and distribution utility's rates in a manner that provides maximum benefit to the economy of the Statefor investments in measures that reduce residential heating costs for low-income electricity customers.
Sec. 3.  PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. A, §27, sub-§3  is repealed.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the statutes regarding electric industry restructuring and Public Law 2013, chapter 369 to allocate Maine Yankee settlement funds to assist low-income electricity ratepayers in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3214, subsection 2 by directing that transmission and distribution utilities are to pay to the Public Utilities Commission all funds received and that certain remaining funds be used for investments in measures that reduce residential heating costs for low-income electricity customers.