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An Act To Require Transmission and Distribution Utilities To Purchase Electricity from Renewable Resources at Certain Prices
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  35-A MRSA §3210-G  is enacted to read:
§ 3210-G. Purchase of renewable energy
A transmission and distribution utility shall, in accordance with this section, at the request of the owner of a renewable resource, purchase the electricity generated by that renewable resource at a price per kilowatt-hour that is 50% of the average cost per kilowatt-hour to generate electricity using a fossil fuel in this State. For the purposes of this section, "renewable resource" has the same meaning as in section 3210, subsection 2, paragraph C, except that "renewable resource" does not include hydroelectric generators.
 
1.  Standards and procedures.     The commission by rule or order shall:
 
A.  Establish reasonable terms and conditions governing the purchase of electricity under this section;
 
B.  Annually determine the average cost per kilowatt-hour to generate electricity using a fossil fuel in this State; and
 
C.  Require an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to resell electricity purchased under this section.
 
2.  Cost recovery.     Reasonable costs incurred by a transmission and distribution utility under this section are just and reasonable expenses for rate-making purposes.
 
3.  Rules.     The commission may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires a transmission and distribution utility, at the request of the owner of a renewable resource, to purchase the electricity generated by that renewable resource at a price per kilowatt-hour that is 50% of the average cost per kilowatt-hour to generate electricity using a fossil fuel in this State.