An Act To Clarify Standards for Issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1862, sub-§13 is enacted to read:
13. Large-scale projects for electric transmission lines. The director may not grant a lease for a large-scale project for electric transmission lines unless the Public Utilities Commission has determined that the transmission lines operating at more than 138 kilovolts will reduce the cost of electricity to state consumers.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3132, sub-§2-B, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 506, §13, is amended to read:
2-B. Standards for certain projects. The commission may deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a transmission line capable of operating at 69 kilovolts or more that is proposed to be financed, permitted, constructed, owned in whole or in part or operated by the Northern Maine Transmission Corporation pursuant to Title 10, chapter 1003 or financed by the Finance Authority of Maine pursuant to Title 10, section 1053, subsection 6, paragraph F upon a finding that the line is reasonably likely to adversely affect any transmission and distribution utility or its customers. The commission shall deny a certificate of public convenience and necessity for a transmission line capable of operating at more than 138 kilovolts that is proposed to occupy the submerged lands of the State unless the commission finds that the proposed transmission line will reduce the cost of electricity to state consumers.
summary
This bill prohibits large-scale projects for electronic transmission lines operating at more than 138 kilovolts unless it is determined by the Public Utilities Commission that the line will reduce the cost of electricity to state consumers.