AUGUSTA - The Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee will take up a bipartisan bill in January sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, to protect public safety facilities from public utilities suddenly terminating or disconnecting service without advance notice and approval.
LD 1847 would require a public utility to provide 60 days' advance written notice to the public safety facility of its intent to terminate or disconnect service, as well as to obtain prior authorization from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Safety.
Berry introduced the bill following several incidents across Maine in which public safety facilities were nearly disconnected due to inadvertent billing and communication errors. This past summer, a technician from Central Maine Power attempted to disconnect power at the Buckfield Fire/Rescue facility for non-payment of their account bill, while a similar instance occurred in 2018 in the town of Newcastle.
"Increasingly, public safety facilities require electric, gas and water utility service for lifesaving equipment on ambulances and fire trucks," said Berry. "However, there have been multiple instances in recent years in which CMP nearly shut down public safety facilities in Maine due to billing system errors. This bill will implement a formal notification process that protects public safety by avoiding disconnections that may otherwise result in tragedy."
"Ever since CMP moved its billing offices to Boston, the billing errors have piled up," said Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, the bill's lead co-sponsor. "To cash a check and then disconnect a customer is unconscionable, particularly when they are elderly or low-income Mainers or an essential service like a rural fire department."
Members of the public can sign up for updates on the committee"s work here.
Berry represents House District 55 which includes Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Swan Island and most of Richmond. He previously served from 2006-2014, the final two years as House majority leader, and returned to the House in 2016.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Berry], c. 812-1111
Michael Fern [Bennett], c. 287-1505