CHAPTER 166
S.P. 241 - L.D. 810
An Act to Clarify the Duties of the Office of the Public Advocate
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §1702-A is enacted to read:
§1702-A. Evaluation of needs and resources
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Low-income consumers" means residential consumers for whom paying public utility bills is difficult or impossible without some form of assistance or government aid;
B. "Residential consumers" means consumers who take public utility service for domestic purposes; and
C. "Small business consumers" means commercial consumers that employ fewer than 100 employees.
2. Intent. It is the intent of the Legislature that the resources of the Public Advocate be devoted to the maximum extent possible to ensuring adequate representation of the interests of those consumers whose interests would otherwise be inadequately represented in matters within the jurisdiction of the commission.
3. Priority. When the interests of consumers differ, the Public Advocate shall give priority to representing the interests of consumers in the following order:
A. Low-income consumers;
B. Residential consumers;
C. Small business consumers; and
D. Other consumers whose interests the Public Advocate finds to be inadequately represented.
This subsection does not require the Public Advocate to represent the interests of a consumer or group of consumers if the Public Advocate determines that such representation is adverse to the overall interests of the using and consuming public.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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