Maine PUC Opens Inquiry Into Public Ownership Of Central Maine Power, Emera Delivery Systems

The Maine PUC has opened an inquiry to evaluate the proposal for creation of the Maine Power Delivery Authority as presented in proposed L.D. 1646, An Act To Restore Local Ownership and Control of Maine's Power Delivery Systems

As previously reported, L.D. 1646 would create a "customer-owned" state power authority to own the T&D assets of the investor-owned utilities

LD 1646, in proposing to create the new customer-owned state power authority, does not specifically address retail electric choice, or SOS, for customers of such new authority.

However, the bill does provide that the authority may not, "own or operate a generating source or purchase electric capacity or energy from a generating source, except as the commission may approve in order to allow the authority to maintain or improve system reliability."

The PUC's evaluation of a publicly owned power delivery system will include

1. Analysis of the costs and benefits, both short-term and long-term, of the proposal;

2. Examination of legal, regulatory, technical, financial and operational issues related to the proposal and its implementation;

3. Assessment of anticipated impacts, both positive and negative, of the proposal on the State, including but not limited to impacts on electricity rates, utility employees and ratepayers; and

4. Development of alternatives or amendments to the proposal to address any identified obstacles to its implementation.

The PUC invited any interested person to provide comments or information relevant to the evaluation

A report by the PUC is due by February 15, 2020

Docket No. 2019-00280