127th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 420		LR 570(01)
	An Act To Amend the Law Regarding Filing Fees for Proposed Transmission Line Projects
	Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Rep. Dion of Portland
	Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement
			FY 2015-16	FY 2016-17	Projections  FY 2017-18	Projections  FY 2018-19
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$300,000	$300,000	$300,000	$300,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The bill raises the fee for petitioning the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval of transmission lines capable of operating at 69 kilovolts or more from 4/100 of 1% of the estimated cost of the transmission line to 4/100 of 1% of the estimated cost of the transmission line or $100,000, whichever is higher. This bill also requires those petitioning the PUC for approval of a transmission project operating at less than 69 kilovolts and projected to cost more than $20,000,000 to pay a fee of 2/100 of 1% of the estimated cost of the transmission project. The PUC has indicated that they expect an average of 3 petitions for transmission lines per year, resulting in an increase of Other Special Revenue Funds revenue to the PUC of $300,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 and in every subsequent fiscal year.
	Under current law, the PUC may exempt an applicant from paying a filing fee if it does not place an unusual burden on the PUC's budget. This fiscal note assumes that the PUC will not exempt these fees.