The Order establishes priorities and requirements for electric utilities to develop integrated electric grid plans addressing affordability, reliability and resilience, and grid modernization to meet state clean energy goals
July 25, 2024
Augusta, MAINE – The Maine Governor’s Energy Office today released the following statement welcoming the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s (PUC) Order Outlining Electric Grid Plan Priorities for Maine’s Investor-Owned Transmission and Distribution Utilities:
“This action by the Maine PUC stems from legislation introduced and signed by Governor Mills to strengthen oversight of Maine’s electric utilities and modernize our electric grid through integrated planning that ensures affordable, reliable, and resilient electricity service to people across Maine,” said Dan Burgess, Director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “With this Order, the PUC incorporated substantial input from the public to establish priorities for Central Maine Power and Versant Power to address in their first-ever integrated grid plans as required by law. I commend the PUC on meeting this important milestone and look forward to continued engagement as each utility prepares its grid plan.”
In February 2022, Governor Mills introduced legislation which was enacted with bipartisan support as Public Law 2022 Chapter 702, An Act Regarding Utility Accountability and Grid Planning for Maine’s Clean Energy Future.
In addition to requiring utilities to file integrated grid plans, the legislation also empowers the PUC with enhanced oversight authority and requires utilities to file climate change protection plans to ensure utility infrastructure is resilient to extreme storms and other climate-related impacts. Those first plans were first filed in December 2023 and will be filed every three years.
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