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PUC Approves Utility's Load Aggregation Program, Which Authorizes Restrictions On Customer Shopping
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The Maine PUC approved, as proposed, the application of Kennebunk Light & Power District (KLPD) to use a load aggregation for KLPD's electricity Standard Offer service (default service)
Under Maine PUC rules, a consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility, such as Kennebunk Light & Power, may use a "load aggregation" process for standard offer service, with such being either a wholesale or retail load aggregation
As first reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, Kennebunk Light & Power is seeking to implement a load aggregation which may take the form of a retail aggregation, relying on a retail standard offer provider to serve customers, or a wholesale aggregation relying on full requirements supply from a wholesale supplier or supplier(s)
The load aggregation process may be seen as similar to opt-out municipal aggregation, except that the utility, rather than a municipality, is running the aggregation. Load aggregation does not need to comply with the otherwise prescriptive Standard Offer rules governing standard SOS procurement
See full background on load aggregation in Maine in ECM's prior story here
In approving the Kennebunk Light & Power load aggregation tariff, the PUC granted two waivers as sought by Kennebunk Light & Power
The PUC granted a waiver of the current requirement that an opt-out notice must be provided at least 90 days but no greater than 120 days before the initiation of load aggregation service, with KLPD receiving approval to send the notice to customers as soon as practicable. Under rule, the opt-out notice is not required to include the load aggregation price
Kennebunk Light & Power also received a waiver of the current rule that provides that a customer seeking to opt-out of the load aggregation must provide notice to the utility at least 30 days prior to the initiation of load aggregation service
The PUC said that, "The revisions also authorize KLPD to require that customers provide the District notice of their decision to opt-out of standard offer load aggregation sooner than that required in Chapter 301."
However, as previously reported by EnergyChoiceMatters.com, Kennebunk Light & Power is not shortening the opt-out period versus the 60-day minimum required under rule. Rather, Kennebunk Light & Power will still provide a 60-day opt-out period, but the end of such opt-out period will not necessarily be 30 days prior to the initiation of load aggregation service as required by rule
The tariff approved by the PUC explicitly provides that, "The District’s customers shall have the opportunity to opt-out of the standard offer load aggregation and take service from a competitive electricity provider by providing notice to the District within 60 days of the date of the notice set forth under section 2(f) below [i.e. the opt-out notice]."
As previously reported, the PUC's rules and KLPD's proposed tariff broadly provide that customers that do not opt-out of the standard offer load aggregation "may" be required to take standard offer service at specified load aggregation prices for a pre-specified term (i.e. a shopping restriction), with no specific duration for any minimum stay listed in the rule or tariff
Although the rule and tariff language could be clearer, it is understood that shopping customers are not included in the load aggregation on an opt-out basis. However, the tariff appears to require that shopping customers who do not wish to default to the load aggregation at the end of their competitive retail "contract" must affirmatively opt-out of load aggregation service, during the initial opt-out window, in order to avoid defaulting to the aggregation at the end of their retail contract. The tariff states, "Customers taking service from a competitive electricity provider under a pre-existing contract that terminates after the initiation of the standard offer load aggregation service and do not opt-out by providing notice pursuant to part (b) will become part of the aggregation when the contract expires."
The tariff does not provide further details on when a retail supplier contract is considered to "expire" and whether renewals are considered expiration of an existing contract
During a recent case conference, a representative for KLPD said that they believe that there are no residential customers currently being served by a competitive retail supplier at KLPD, and that one industrial customer is served by a competitive retail supplier
Docket 2026-00067
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April 22, 2026
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Copyright 2026 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com
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