‘Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3144  is enacted to read:

§ 3144.  Mitigation measures to protect from geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulse

Beginning December 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the commission shall direct an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to submit to the commission a report detailing what steps, if any, the investor-owned transmission and distribution utility has taken to protect its bulk transmission systems from geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulse, including activities undertaken to meet any federal recommendations made to address geomagnetic disturbances and electromagnetic pulse. The commission shall require an investor-owned transmission and distribution utility to include neutral direct current monitoring information from autotransformers where monitoring equipment is installed, collected by the investor-owned transmission and distribution utility. The commission, as part of its annual report pursuant to section 120 shall compile reports it has received pursuant to this section in the prior year and submit this information to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities and energy matters.’