Despite the condensed timeline of the Legislature’s second regular session, the Energy, Utilities and Technology (EUT) Committee has accomplished quite a lot. As a group, we’ve prioritized passing bills out of committee that would lower costs for Maine ratepayers, increase access to reliable and affordable utilities and advance clean energy policies. As we draw closer to the end of the session, I want to discuss a few of the measures that have gone through the legislative process and signed into law.
Every year, we hear from Mainers who are struggling to keep their homes heated during the winter. Many people are having a hard time keeping up with their monthly bills, and those who cannot afford to pay risk having their heat shut off. To combat this, the EUT Committee and the Legislature enacted LD 1962, which will require the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to adopt rules prohibiting electric and gas utility companies from shutting off services during extreme weather conditions, such as freezing temperatures or sweltering heat and humidity. This resolve will direct the PUC to establish safeguards to protect those who are unable to pay a small amount on their monthly bill from having their electric or gas utilities shut off when they need them the most.
Another measure that the EUT Committee supported is LD 2067, which will establish a commission to assess the effectiveness of the arrearage management program (AMP). This program helps ratepayers manage and pay off debt incurred from utility costs by providing low-income customers with a one-time payment opportunity to climb out of debt while maintaining essential electrical services. The commission will seek to ensure that the program works as it should and look for ways to improve its service to benefit all ratepayers. Data, including the number of participants who complete or fail to complete the program, will be compiled into a report that will be presented to the EUT Committee for review in September 2027.
And finally, the state has pledged to double Maine’s clean energy production by 2030, but to achieve this goal we must ensure that it is financially accessible so that folks from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds are able to utilize it. To expand access to clean energy, the committee successfully advocated for the passage of LD 2099, which will allow the state to leverage federal dollars through the Solar For All program to reduce the power costs for all Mainers by prioritizing the development of cost-effective solar facilities and energy storage systems. Lowering energy costs will significantly alleviate financial burdens for low-income households, enabling them to benefit more fully from the state’s clean energy initiatives. By passing legislation that promotes equity in clean energy, we are one step closer to ensuring that Maine reaches its overall energy and sustainability goals.
By the time this piece is published, there will only be a few days left before the Legislature adjourns for the year on April 17. This is my final term in the Legislature, which makes me particularly reflective as we near the end of session. It is bittersweet to know that my time here will be coming to a close at the end of November, but I am proud of the work that my committee has done, and the laws that we have enacted to improve the lives of Mainers across the state.
Rep. Jim Boyle, D-Gorham, is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives and previously served two years in the Maine State Senate. He is a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee. Contact him at Jim.Boyle@legislature.maine.gov.