AUGUSTA - The Legislative Council recently approved a bill from Rep. Gerry Runte, D-York, that would address ratepayer dissatisfaction by enhancing performance-based ratemaking (PBR) for Maine's electric utilities, adding incentives or penalties for utilities that meet or fail to meet performance goals established by state regulators.
Under current law, some limited PBR measures are already in place, including a utility scorecard to enforce standards in reliability, customer service and billing accuracy, with penalties for non-compliance that have just recently begun to take effect.
Runte's bill, An Act to Enhance Electric Utility Performance-based Ratemaking, would expand and enhance that scorecard used by regulators, implementing additional incentives and penalties for electric utilities based on performance indicators such as electricity affordability, reliability during severe weather events, long-term planning, cost-effectiveness, infrastructure investments and more.
"Mainers continue to be deeply unhappy with the cost and performance of our electric utilities. Regulatory reform is a critical tool to address ratepayer dissatisfaction and is our means of local control," said Runte. "Our immediate priority is to fully exercise that regulatory reform through enhanced performance-based ratemaking measures. These reforms, coupled with further modernization of our grid, will help us shape a utility sector that keeps costs as low as possible and ensures the well-being of every Mainer, while actively driving our climate goals forward."
Runte's bill will be heard when the Legislature meets again in January.
Rep. Runte, a member of the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, is serving his first term in the Maine House and represents Ogunquit, part of Wells and part of York.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Runte], c. 305-965-2744