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MaineLD 1777132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Reduce Costs and Increase Customer Protections for the State's Net Energy Billing Programs

Sponsored By: Sophia Warren (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

ELECTRIC UTILITIESELECTRIC UTILITIES - RATES

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.

New monthly charges on larger NEB projects

Starting January 1, 2026, projects 3–under 5 MW pay $6.00 per kW each month. Projects 1–under 3 MW pay $2.80 per kW each month. Projects under 1 MW pay $0. The charge is $0 if the project is fully owned by the credit customer(s) or by a qualifying cooperative. The PUC may adjust the charge as T&D rates change, but related tariff increases are capped at 2.25% per year.

How your net billing credits are set

Through December 31, 2025, eligible net billing customers get a credit equal to the standard‑offer rate plus 75% of the T&D rate for the smallest commercial class. Some earlier customers keep a 2022 base tied to 2020 rates, which rises 2.25% each January starting in 2023. Starting January 1, 2026, projects 3–under 5 MW use the 2026 A‑1 tariff, then rise 2.25% yearly from 2027; projects under 3 MW use 2025 rates for their class, then rise 2.25% yearly from 2027. If you stay eligible, you can receive bill credits for at least 20 years from your first credit. The Public Utilities Commission posts the tariff rates on its public website.

Tighter NEB eligibility and one-agreement rule

After December 31, 2025, no new net billing deals are allowed for projects connected on the utility side of a customer’s meter. A distributed generation project must use a listed renewable, be in a utility service area, and meet specific tests; some 1–2 MW projects qualify only if in a cluster study or likely to receive ISO‑NE approval by April 30, 2024. If an agreement is changed after June 1, 2025, the delivery end date cannot be pushed later than in the original deal. A residential account cannot be in more than one net billing agreement at the same time.

Stronger consumer rules for net billing

In shared projects, your subscription must match your past use and be adjusted if your use changes. Project sponsors cannot keep money you paid for credits that later expire. Your utility must give your sponsor your usage and billing data to keep billing accurate. By November 1, 2025, the PUC starts making consumer‑protection rules for net billing customers.

Capped competitive contracts for NEB projects

The PUC runs a competitive solicitation by November 1, 2025 to buy energy and/or renewable credits from eligible net billing projects. Eligible projects must be in service before November 1, 2025, be in net billing, and have 75% or less of bill credits assigned to customers. Contract prices are capped: section 3209‑A projects cannot exceed the tariff in effect on November 1, 2025; section 3209‑B projects cannot exceed 70% of that tariff. Contract terms are up to 20 years or the remaining NEB term unless the PUC finds a longer term is prudent. Participation is voluntary for projects.

Planning a new front-of-meter program

The Governor’s Energy Office must design a front‑of‑meter distributed energy program by September 30, 2026 and send it to the PUC. The PUC has 120 days to decide and must adopt it by rule if it finds benefits to ratepayers exceed costs. The office may use PUC funds to develop the plan. The law also repeals a 2023 net billing section to make way for the new framework.

Yearly utility true-up of NEB costs

Starting in the 2026 rate year, the PUC requires utilities to reconcile net energy billing costs each year beginning January 1. Utilities must account for NEB costs and make billing adjustments as needed. This may change charges on future bills.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sophia Warren

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Steven Foster

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 20 • No: 14

Senate vote • 6/18/2025

ADOPT SENATE AMENDMENT (S-439) to COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

Yes: 20 • No: 14

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 430

    6/27/2025

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/18/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/18/2025House

  4. The House RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-439) thereto ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/18/2025House

  5. Reports ReadOn motion by Senator GROHOSKI of Hancock the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) Report ACCEPTED READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) READ On motion by Senator LAWRENCE of York Senate Amendment "A" (S-439) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) READ and ADOPTED PREVAILED Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 633 Yeas 20 - Nays 14 - Excused 1 - Absent 0 Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-439) thereto ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) as Amended by Senate Amendment "A" (S-439) thereto In NON-CONCURRENCE Sent down for concurrence

    6/18/2025Senate

  6. Reports READ.On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-756) was READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-756). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    6/18/2025House

  7. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY in concurrence

    4/24/2025Senate

  8. Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (H-756), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Amendment S-A to C-A (S-439), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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