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MaineLD 1966132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Increase Disclosure of Utility Charges and Improve Access to Distributed Generation Resources in the State

Sponsored By: Sophia Warren (Democratic)

Became Law

ALTERNATIVE ENERGYALTERNATIVE ENERGY - SOLAR ENERGY

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Easier net billing for owners

If you wholly own your power system, the commission exempts it from some net billing rules. Owners may hold multiple net energy billing agreements for the resources they own. Non‑owners are still limited to one net billing agreement per residential account.

Standard bills for shared solar savings

For net energy billing plans with shared financial interest, the commission sets standard billing and disclosure rules. Bills must show savings rates the same way for everyone and list all charges clearly. Breaking these rules is a violation of the state’s unfair trade practices law.

Clearer utility bills and refunds

Starting April 21, 2026, large electric utilities must show and describe any administrative charge on your bill. Utilities cannot lump other recoverable expenses under “public policy charges”; they must use clear labels and short descriptions or a link. Your bill must list the utility commission’s toll‑free number and explain what help it offers. If the commission finds misleading or inaccurate bill content, the utility must send a correction. The commission can order refunds for improper administrative charges.

Small clean energy for low- and moderate-income homes

By September 1, 2026, the commission runs a competition to buy up to 4 megawatts from small projects. Each project must be 200 kW or less, serve only low‑ and moderate‑income customers, be owned by customers or a cooperative, and start service on or after August 1, 2026. Projects must connect to an investor‑owned utility in the state. Bids are priced as a percent of a set credit value, and the commission only selects bids at or below that value.

Clean energy contracts and your bill

Contracts can last up to 20 years and may include limited inflation updates to keep projects viable while protecting ratepayers. The utility must sell all renewable energy credits from these projects. The commission assigns all costs and direct benefits to ratepayers, and any gap between contract and market prices shows up on bills. Contracts must keep customers eligible, allow needed usage and billing data sharing, and protect personal data except for narrow legal uses.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Sophia Warren

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Christopher Kessler

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 173 • No: 150

House vote • 4/7/2026

Enactment

Yes: 77 • No: 70

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT

Yes: 20 • No: 12

House vote • 4/2/2026

ACC MAJ OTP AS AMENDED REP

Yes: 76 • No: 68

Actions Timeline

  1. ACTPUB Chapter 766

    5/1/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/7/2026Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. ROLL CALL NO. 737(Yeas 77 - Nays 70 - Absent 3 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/7/2026House

  4. Reports READ. On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE OF EITHER REPORT. Taken from the table by the President Roll Call Number 875 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 On motion by Senator LAWRENCE of York The Majority Ought to Pass As Amended Report ACCEPTED. Roll Call Ordered READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (H-930) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (H-930) in concurrence. Ordered sent down forthwith

    4/6/2026Senate

  5. Reports READ.On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.ROLL CALL NO. 713(Yeas 76 - Nays 68 - Absent 6 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-930) 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-930). Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/2/2026House

  6. Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025House

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

    5/13/2025Senate

  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.

    5/13/2025House

Bill Text

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