Sec. 7. 35-A MRSA §116, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2001, c. 28, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 8. 35-A MRSA §1310, sub-§1, ķA, as amended by PL 1997, c. 691, §4 and affected by §10, is further amended to read:

A. In any commission proceeding in which standards under the United States Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, United States Code, Title 16, Section 2601, et seq., are implemented, the commission may order the utility to compensate the intervenor for reasonable attorney's fees, expert witness fees and other reasonable costs incurred in preparation and advocacy of the intervenor's position whenever the commission finds that:

(1) The position of the intervenor is not adequately represented by the Office of the Public Advocate or the Public Utilities Commission staff;

(2) The intervenor substantially contributed to the approval, in whole or in part, of a position advocated by the intervenor in the commission proceeding, except that, if no commission advocacy staff is appointed to a proceeding, the intervenor must be likely to contribute substantially to the conduct of the commission proceeding and to assist in the resolution of the issues raised in the proceeding; and

(3) Participation in the proceeding by the intervenor would impose a significant financial hardship on the intervenor.

Sec. 9. 35-A MRSA c. 17, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. 10. 35-A MRSA §3502, sub-§§1 and 2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §86 and affected by §§104 and 105, are further amended to read:

1. Public hearing. A consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility that elects to set rates under this section may not increase or decrease any rate, toll or charge without first holding a public hearing at which the Public Advocate and any customer of the consumer-owned transmission and distribution