§3803. Support for policy of beneficial electrification
1.
Petition for renewable resources procurement.
The office may petition the commission to procure energy from renewable resources to achieve the emission reduction and renewable energy goals of the State and to meet reasonably expected growth in electric demand.
A.
In developing a petition for procurement of energy from renewable resources, the office shall consult with relevant departments and agencies.
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
B.
The commission shall evaluate a petition submitted by the office in accordance with section 3804 and may through a competitive procurement process established by the commission by rule procure energy from one or more renewable resources. The commission may direct a transmission and distribution utility to enter into a long-term contract for the energy procured. Rules adopted to implement this paragraph are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
2.
Plan for promoting beneficial electrification for end uses of energy.
The trust shall develop a 3-year beneficial electrification plan for end uses of energy as part of the trust's triennial plan in accordance with section 10104, subsection 4 and provide annual updates to the plan in accordance with section 10104, subsection 6.
A.
In developing its beneficial electrification plan for end uses that promotes beneficial electrification, the trust shall:
(1)
Consult with relevant departments and agencies;
(2)
Consider incentivizing the appropriate placement of and promoting commercial or industrial beneficial load; and
(3)
Integrate the ongoing energy planning efforts of the office as appropriate.
[PL 2023, c. 553, §3 (NEW).]
B.
In developing its beneficial electrification plan under this subsection, the trust shall consider:
[PL 2023, c. 553, §3 (AMD).]
(1)
Incorporating the assumptions and advancing the findings and recommendations of the office in its "Maine Energy Plan: Pathway to 2040" study launched in August 2023, part of the comprehensive state energy plan required by Title 2, section 9, subsection 3, paragraph C;
(2)
Whether, in order to enable more efficient generation and transmission planning, a certain type or location of electric load is beneficial load;
(3)
Integrating with and informing the commission's consideration of grid planning priorities pursuant to section 3147; and
(4)
Seeking input from transmission and distribution utilities and relevant agencies and organizations in the State.
[PL 2023, c. 553, §3 (NEW).]
3.
Funding and reporting.
Notwithstanding sections 116 and 117, at the request of the office, the commission may transfer money from funds in the Public Utilities Commission Regulatory Fund or the Public Utilities Commission Reimbursement Fund to the office to pay for the costs associated with a petition for a procurement of energy from renewable resources under subsection 1 and, at the request of the trust, to the trust to implement the 3-year beneficial electrification plan included in the triennial plan under subsection 2. At the end of any year in which the commission has transferred money under this subsection to the office or the trust, the office or the trust, respectively, shall provide a report to the commission detailing its fund requests, money received and expenditures.
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
4.
Monitoring beneficial electrification trends and opportunities.
To the extent possible through readily available information, the office, the commission and the trust shall coordinate to monitor:
A.
All beneficial electrification activity in the State and the effect of the commission's actions under section 3804;
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
B.
Trends in beneficial electrification in the State and in other jurisdictions; and
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
C.
The estimated costs and benefits for ratepayers of beneficial electrification programs occurring as a result of this chapter and other programs that have been implemented in the State.
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2023, c. 328, §1 (NEW). PL 2023, c. 553, §3 (AMD).