Legislative: Laws, Rules, & Activities

Utility operation in Maine is governed by laws established by Congress and the Maine’s Legislature, and rules developed by federal agencies and the Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to those laws. The Commission actively participates in Maine’s legislative sessions, sometimes proposing legislation, and often testifying on bills related to energy policy or Maine’s public utilities.

The Commission regularly provides information to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and to regional and federal authorities as well. For your convenience, that information is posted on this website.

• Maine Legislature
  • Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology
  • Commission Presentations and Reports
• Laws and Rules Governing Regulated Utilities
  • Laws: Most laws relevant to utilities are found in Title 35-A, available on the Maine State Legislature web site.
  • Commission Rules and Laws
  • Electric Laws and Rules
  • Telecommunications Laws and Rules
  • Natural Gas Laws and Rules
  • Natural Gas and Propane Safety Regulations
  • Water Utility Laws and Rules
  • Ferry and Water Taxi Laws and Rules
• Federal and Regional Filings
  • NET 911 Act Filing (PDF)
  • MPUC FERC Filings
  • MPUC ISO-New England Filings
  • PUC Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Filings:
    • Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602 Comments of the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Proposed Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources:  Electric Utility Generating Units, 79 FR 343830 (June 18, 2014) (PDF)
• Federal and Regional Agencies
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Independent System Operator - New England (ISO-NE)
  • Northern Maine Independent System Administrator
  • North American Electricity Reliability Council
  • U.S. Department of Energy
• PUC Policies
  • Policy for Implementing the Tribal-State Collaboration Act (PDF)
  • Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Workplace Policy (Word)
  • Policy on Remote Participation in PUC Proceedings (PDF)
    • Remote Participation Cover Letter and Policy (PDF)

Federal Inspection Forms

Most of the Federal Inspection Forms can be found on the US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website.

• Natural and Propane Gas
  • Annual Report for Gas Distribution System
  • Incident Report for Gas Distribution System
  • OQ Field Evaluation Form
  • OQ Program Evaluation Form (Word)
• Natural Gas
  • Standard Inspection of a Gas Transmission Pipeline
  • Standard Inspection of a Gas Distribution System
  • Standard Inspection of an LNG Facility
  • Evaluation of Gas Pipeline Construction
  • Pipeline Failure Investigation Report
• Propane Gas Model Plan
  • Training Guide for Operators of Small LP Gas Systems

On April 24, 2015, the Model Propane Operating, Maintenance and Emergency Plan was removed from the web site to make necessary revisions.  If you have any questions, please contact nathan.dore@maine.gov.