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Amend the bill in section 1 by striking out all of subsection 3-A (page 1, lines 3 to 6 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘3-A.  Beneficial electrification.    "Beneficial electrification" means electrification of a technology that results in reduction in the use of a fossil fuel, including electrification of a technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel, and that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment, without causing harm to utilities, ratepayers or the environment, by improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer costs or emissions, including carbon emissions.’
Amend the bill in section 4 by striking out all of the first paragraph (page 1, lines 25 to 39 and page 2, lines 1 to 4 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 4. Efficiency Maine Trust to study barriers to beneficial electrification. The Efficiency Maine Trust established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 10103, in consultation with stakeholders, shall study barriers to beneficial electrification in the transportation and heating sectors in the State. The study must identify social, technological, legal, regulatory and economic barriers to beneficial electrification for the transportation and heating sectors in the State. The study must include information on potential roles for electric utilities, natural gas utilities and competitive markets in supporting beneficial electrification, including benefits and drawbacks of these potential roles and examples of specific activities that may be conducted and specific needs that may be best served by the electric utilities, natural gas utilities or competitive markets. At the request of the trust, the Public Utilities Commission shall order electric and natural gas utilities to provide information requested by the trust to carry out the study. The Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority shall provide information to the trust on potential barriers to beneficial electrification and solutions to overcome those barriers in areas under their jurisdiction. The trust may seek information regarding the study from other agencies or from private persons, organizations or interest groups. The trust shall provide public notice of the opportunity for the public to submit written information or comments to the trust before and after a draft of the study is completed. The trust shall develop a report based on the study. The report must:’
Amend the bill in section 4 by striking out all of the last indented paragraph (page 2, lines 18 to 21 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 10102, subsection 3-A.’
Amend the bill in section 5 in subsection 1 in the 2nd and 3rd lines (page 2, lines 30 and 31 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "February 1, 2020 and must consider and implement the analysis and recommendations of the study conducted under section 4" and inserting the following: 'December 1, 2019'
Amend the bill in section 5 in subsection 1 by striking out all of the blocked paragraph (page 3, lines 7 to 9 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
 
‘The commission shall require that a synopsis of the proposal that is suitable for public review and comment be submitted along with a proposal submitted under this section and shall allow public review of and comment on the synopsis. In its review of proposals, the commission shall consider whether and to what extent a proposal may duplicate related efforts currently being undertaken by the Efficiency Maine Trust. On or before March 1, 2020, the commission shall select one or more pilot program proposals submitted under this section that it finds are reasonably expected to result in information and data that would meaningfully inform future efforts regarding beneficial electrification. The commission may impose limitations on the duration, scope or cost of a pilot program proposal and require modifications of a proposal prior to approval.’
Amend the bill in section 5 in subsection 2 in the 4th line (page 3, line 13 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "December 1, 2020" and inserting the following: 'January 1, 2021'
Amend the bill in section 5 by striking out all of subsection 4 (page 3, lines 23 to 26 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘4. For purposes of this section, "beneficial electrification" has the same meaning as in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 10102, subsection 3-A.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment makes the following changes to the bill.
1. It clarifies the definition of "beneficial electrification."
2. It clarifies that the Efficiency Maine Trust must conduct the study of barriers to beneficial electrification in consultation with stakeholders, rather than in coordination with the Public Utilities Commission, and specifies that the commission is required to facilitate the trust's access to information the trust requests from electric and gas utilities.
3. It changes certain dates in the bill regarding the timeline for the study of beneficial electrification by the Efficiency Maine Trust and for pilot program proposals to implement beneficial electrification in the transportation sector administered by the Public Utilities Commission.
4. It adds language to clarify the review and selection of proposals for a pilot program for beneficial electrification in the transportation sector.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)