AUGUSTA - Gov. Janet Mills recently signed into law a bill sponsored by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham, that will protect public safety facilities from sudden utility service disconnection.
LD 1847 will require a public utility to provide 60 days' advance written notice to public safety facilities of its intent to terminate or disconnect service for non-payment of a bill, including fees and other charges. The utility will also have to obtain prior authorization from the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Public Safety, and be required to carry out the law without demanding additional guaranteed profits as part of future rates.
Berry introduced the emergency measure in response to two recent incidents in which Central Maine Power (CMP) almost mistakenly shut down electricity to critical public safety facilities in Buckfield and Newcastle. In each case, the issue was an error related to CMP's billing system.
"I am grateful that Gov. Mills signed this critical piece of legislation into law," said Berry. "We cannot risk our public safety facilities getting their electricity shut off due to careless administrative errors by their utility providers. This bill will save lives."
The bill received bipartisan support in the House and was passed unanimously in the Senate. As an emergency measure, the law went into effect immediately following the governor's signature.
Berry represents House District 55, which includes Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Swan Island and most of Richmond. He previously served from 2006 to 2014, the final two years as House majority leader, and returned to the House in 2016.
Contact:
Jackie Merrill [Berry], c. 812-1111