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65-407 - Public Utilities Commission
65-625 - Emergency Services Communication Bureau

CONTACT PERSON: Joanne B. Steneck, General Counsel, State House Station 18, Augusta, ME 04333. Tel: (207)287-3831; E-mail: Joanne.steneck@maine.gov

EMERGENCY RULES ADOPTED SINCE THE LAST REGULATORY AGENDA: None

CONSENSUS - BASED RULE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: At this time, the Commission does not anticipate engaging in the consensus - based rule development process described in 5 M.R.S.A.
§ 8051-B during 2003-2004.

EXPECTED 2003-2004 RULE-MAKING ACTIVITY:

CHAPTER 120: Filing Requirements for Schedules of Rates, Terms and Conditions
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 301, 304, 307, 310, 3502 & 6104
PURPOSE: For corrections based on experience in implementing the rule and to consider changing filing requirements for CLECs and IXCs.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Spring 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All utilities.

CHAPTER 130: Safety and Accident Reporting Requirements
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 112, 115, 710, 4702
PURPOSE: To make rule consistent with any changes to Chapter 200 and make other changes based on the Commission's experience operating under the rule.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All gas, natural gas pipeline, electric transmission and distribution utilities, telephone and water utilities.

CHAPTER 140: Utility Service and Infrastructure Maps
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 301, 2102-2105, 2110
PURPOSE: To amend rule based on Commission's experience operating under the rule.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All utilities.

CHAPTER 200: Reporting Requirements for Local Exchange Carriers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 301, 801-808
PURPOSE: To update the items required to be reported and to simplify reporting requirements.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities providing local exchange service in the State of Maine.

CHAPTER 210: Uniform System of Accounts for Telephone Utilities
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 107, 111, 112, 501, 502, 504, 505, 507
PURPOSE: To conform the rule to the nationally established Uniform System of Accounts and update Annual Report requirements.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities.

CHAPTER 250: Coin-Operated Telephone Service
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 301, 307, 704, 1301, 1306-1308, 2101, 2105, 2110, 7101, 7301, 7503
PURPOSE: To determine if continued regulation, if any, is necessary.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities that provide coin-operated telephone service and users and coin-operated telephones.

CHAPTER 280: Provision of Competitive Telecommunications Services
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 7101-B
PURPOSE: To update provisions to conform to the governing statute.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities that provide intrastate interexchange service in the State of Maine and their customers.

CHAPTER 296: Selection of Primary Interexchange and Local Exchange Carriers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. § 7106
PURPOSE: To make the rule consistent with the FCC rules.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities and their customers.

CHAPTER 2XX: Telecommunications Carriers Process for Abandoning Service
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 1104
PURPOSE: To establish a standard process whereby telecommunications companies will be authorized to abandon service if they comply with the specified process and notice requirements contained in the rule.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All telephone utilities operating in Maine.

CHAPTER 2XX: Minimum Service Standards for Local Exchange Carriers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 301, 7101, 7104
PURPOSE: To define the components of basic telecommunication service so that customers in a multi-provider environment will have available services considered essential for minimally acceptable access to, and use of, the public switched network. The rule will also address the requirements that carriers seeking Eligible Telecommunication Carrier (ETC) must meet, including the components of basic service.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Spring 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All local exchange carriers and their customers.

CHAPTER 301: Standard Offer Service
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 3212
PURPOSE: To consider providing greater flexibility for opt-out fee provisions.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All transmission and distribution utilities, competitive electricity providers and their customers.

CHAPTER 322: Metering, Billing, Collections and Enrollment Interactions Among Transmission and Distribution Utilities and Competitive Electricity Providers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 3202, 3203
PURPOSE: To create provisions addressing the provision of customer lists and use.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All electric transmission and distribution utilities.

CHAPTER 330: Filing Requirements for Petitions of Public Convenience and Necessity Electric Generating and Transmission Facilities
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 3132
PURPOSE: Needs updating due to electric restructuring and to cover non-utility transmission lines required by amendments to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 3132.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Spring 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All electric transmission and distribution utilities, non-utility transmission lines.

CHAPTER 370: Energy Conservation Adjustment For Electric Utilities
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 104, 111
PURPOSE: Repeal as it is no longer necessary.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: All electric transmission and distribution utilities.

CHAPTER 381: Procedures Governing the Selection of Conservation Service Providers
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 3211
PURPOSE: New rule to comply with 35-A M.R.S.A. § 3211-A(3) establishing procedures governing the selection of conservation service providers.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: Energy efficiency and conservation vendors.

CHAPTER 420: Safety of Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 4702
PURPOSE: To revise existing gas safety standards for natural gas, liquid natural gas, and propane to comply with federal requirements, as well as to establish new state requirements consistent with current recommended safety practices.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: Certain gas utilities and the general public.

CHAPTER 610: Uniform System of Accounts for Water Utilities
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 501, 502, 504, 505
PURPOSE: To update the rules to require compliance with the most recent Uniform System of Accounts for Class B water utilities.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All water utilities.

CHAPTER 680 (currently 68): Water Utility Depreciation Rates
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. § 501
PURPOSE: To update the rule; has not been changed since 1986.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Winter 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All water utilities.

CHAPTER 810 (currently 81): Residential Utility Service Standards for Credit and Collection Programs
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 704
PURPOSE: To conform rules to be consistent with electric restructuring and with Commission experience in applying the rule.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All utilities and their residential customers, except telephone utilities.

CHAPTER 860 (currently 86): Disconnection and Deposit Regulations for Nonresidential Utility Services
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 111, 704, 705
PURPOSE: To conform rules to be consistent with electric restructuring and with Commission experience in applying the rule.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: All utilities and their non-residential customers, except telephone utilities.

CHAPTER 895: Underground Facility Damage Prevention Requirements
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 104, 111, 1502, 23 M.R.S.A. § 3360-A
PURPOSE: To reflect recent changes to the Underground Facilities Damage Prevention law and to clarify and improve Dig Safe procedures and the Commission's enforcement processes.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDLE: Fall 2003
AFFECTED PARTIES: All excavators and underground facility owners in Maine.

AGENCY UMBRELLA-UNIT NUMBER: 65-625
AGENCY NAME: Emergency Services Communication Bureau

CONTACT PERSON: Albert E. Gervenack, Director, ESCB, 15 Oak Grove Road, Vassalboro, ME 04989-3201. Tel: (207)877-8052; E-mail: Albert.E.Gervenack@maine.gov

EMERGENCY RULES ADOPTED SINCE LAST REGULATORY AGENDA: None

EXPECTED 2003-2004 RULE-MAKING ACTIVITY:

CHAPTER 1: Standards for Establishing a Statewide Enhanced 9-1-1 System
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 25 M.R.S.A. §§ 2926, 2934
PURPOSE: These rules regulate the establishment of statewide Enhanced 9-1-1 service. They will be amended to add or modify standards, procedures, and requirements for system audits, system network design, Public Safety Answering Points, data exchange, address and routing databases, and coordination between telephone utilities and municipalities.
ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: Summer 2004
AFFECTED PARTIES: Enhanced 9-1-1 system provider, local telephone service providers, wireless telephone providers, Public Safety Answering Points, emergency dispatch agencies, municipalities, plantations, counties, owners of private branch exchanges (PBX) and other privately owned telephone systems, owners of coin-operated telephones, and the Emergency Services Communication Bureau.
CONSENSUS-BASED RULE DEVELOPMENT: In addition to at least three public hearings, the Emergency Services Communication Bureau will solicit input from the Enhanced 9-1-1 Council, which includes representatives from large and small telephone companies, wireless telephone providers, the hearing impaired community, public safety dispatchers, and the Public Utilities Commission, and directly from other represented groups on the council such as the Maine Police Chiefs Association, Maine Fire Chiefs Association, Maine Sheriffs Association. Input will also be sought from the Maine Municipal Association, Maine County Commissioners Association, and other affected parties.

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