‘An Act To Authorize the Public Advocate To Mediate Disputes Related to Rates for Sewer Service’
HP0959 LD 1342 |
Session - 126th Maine Legislature C "A", Filing Number H-352, Sponsored by
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LR 1744 Item 2 |
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Bill Tracking, Additional Documents | Chamber Status |
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘An Act To Authorize the Public Advocate To Mediate Disputes Related to Rates for Sewer Service’
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §1714 is enacted to read:
§ 1714. Sewer rate mediation services
Notwithstanding section 1710, the Public Advocate may provide mediation services for disputes regarding rate changes between a sewer district as defined in Title 38, section 1251 and its customers. The Public Advocate may charge reasonable fees for these services. Any fee must be charged evenly between a sewer district and its customers participating in a mediation.
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §1252, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 466, §13, is amended to read:
Sec. 3. 38 MRSA §1259 is enacted to read:
§ 1259. Mediation services
If, within 30 days of the public hearing for a rate change under section 1252, subsection 1, 15% of the customers of a sewer district or 1,000 customers, whichever is less, file with the treasurer of the district and with the Public Advocate a petition requesting mediation services regarding the proposed rate, the sewer district and the customers, upon agreement of both parties, may request mediation services from the Public Advocate under Title 35-A, section 1714.’
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill. It authorizes the Public Advocate to mediate between a sewer district and its customers with respect to a proposed rate change if 15% of the customers or 1,000 customers, whichever is less, petition the Public Advocate to mediate.