121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 1042
		An Act To Ensure Proper Funding of the Public Utilities Commission and the Public Advocate
		LR 1462(02)
		Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " "
		Committee: Utilities and Energy
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
		Majority Report
Fiscal Note
Undetermined current biennium cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Undetermined current biennium revenue increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill increases the cap on the Public Utilities Commission's assessment by $587,000 from $4,918,000 to $5,505,000.  The assessment cap is the maximum amount of funds that the commission may collect from utilities to maintain its current programs.  No adjustments  to current allocations are required at this time.  This bill also authorizes the use of unexpended funds remaining at the end of the prior year by the Public Utilities Commission and the Public Advocate for fiscal years 2003-04 and 2004-05.  Costs associated with a report on the commission's activities and its evaluation of the adequacy of the assessment can be absorbed by the Public Utilities Commission utilizing existing budgeted resources.