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An Act To Amend Provisions of the Maine Energy Cost Reduction Act Regarding Assessments on Ratepayers
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §1905, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 445, §6, is further amended to read:
 
1. Assessments on ratepayers.   The commission may direct one or more transmission and distribution utilities, gas utilities or natural gas pipeline utilities to collect an assessment from ratepayers for the following purposes:
 
A. To finance the participation of a transmission and distribution utility, a gas utility or a natural gas pipeline utility in an energy cost reduction contract or a physical energy storage contract; and
 
B. To pay the costs of energy cost reduction contract or physical energy storage contract evaluation and administration under section 1906, subsection 2.
 
All assessments must be just and reasonable as determined by the commission and must be identified as an energy cost reduction contract charge or a physical energy storage contract charge on a ratepayer's utility bill. When determining just and reasonable assessments, the commission shall consider the anticipated reduction in the price of gas or electricity, as applicable, accruing to different categories of ratepayers as a result of the contract.
 
In determining whether anticipated reductions in gas or electricity prices for electricity ratepayers in the State from an energy cost reduction contract are adequate, the commission may consider whether programs, contracts and other long-term enforceable energy project commitments in other states will reduce market prices of electricity, natural gas or both sufficient to make assessments of electricity ratepayers in the State for the energy cost reduction contract just and reasonable. Such commitments may include programs for long-term contracts for wind energy, solar energy, hydroelectric energy and energy storage projects and other enforceable obligations that reduce the market clearing electricity price applicable to electricity ratepayers in the State.
 
SUMMARY
This bill amends the Maine Energy Cost Reduction Act to permit the Public Utilities Commission to consider the effect on electricity market clearing prices in Maine of programs, contracts and other enforceable obligations in other states in determining whether assessments on Maine electricity ratepayers for natural gas pipelines and gas storage are just and reasonable.