Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3152, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §57 and affected by §§104 and 105, is further amended to read:

1. Increased efficiency. The Legislature declares and finds that improvements in transmission and distribution utility rate design and related regulatory programs have great potential for reducing the cost of electric utility services to consumers, for encouraging energy conservation and efficient use of existing facilities and for minimizing the need for expensive new electric transmission capacity. It is the purpose of this chapter to:

A. Require the commission to relate transmission and distribution rates more closely to the costs of providing transmission and distribution service; and

C. Require the commission to consider the ability of low- income residential customers to pay in full for electric services as transmission and distribution rates are redesigned consistent with these policies.; and

D.__Authorize the commission to consider the health of the State's manufacturing economy in determining transmission and distribution utility rate design and the allocation of stranded costs and in the development of state, regional and federal energy policy proceedings.

SUMMARY

This bill allows, but does not require, the Public Utilities Commission to consider the health of the State's manufacturing economy in Public Utilities Commission proceedings affecting utility rate design or the allocation of stranded costs and in state, regional and federal energy policy proceedings.