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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

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clearer utility bills and refunds

Investor-owned utility bills must clearly show the PUC Consumer Assistance and Safety Division toll-free number and what help it provides. Utilities with more than 50,000 customers must itemize any “administrative charge” for customer-funded work and describe it. The commission can order refunds of improper administrative charges. If bill content is misleading or inaccurate, the utility must send customers a corrective statement. Utilities cannot call costs “public policy charges.” They must use objective labels and, when practical without added cost, include a short description or a web link.

More net billing options for owners

If you own the generating resource that earns your net billing credits, the commission exempts it from some rules. You can hold more than one net energy billing agreement for resources you own. If you do not own the resource, the one‑agreement limit still applies.

Standard rules for shared solar billing

The commission sets billing and disclosure rules for shared net energy billing and similar community deals. Bills must present savings rates in a standard way and list all charges. Breaking these rules is an unfair trade practice under state law.

Small solar program for lower-income homes

By September 1, 2026, the commission must start a competitive bid to buy up to 4 megawatts from small, customer‑owned renewable projects. Projects must be 200 kW or less, serve only low‑ and moderate‑income households, be owned by customers or a cooperative, and be in service on or after August 1, 2026. Contracts last no more than 20 years and are priced as a share of the commission’s kilowatt‑hour credit value, with limited inflation adjustments to keep projects viable. Projects must share usage and billing data with the utility, protect personal information, and have the utility sell all renewable energy credits. Costs and benefits of these contracts flow to ratepayers under existing allocation rules.

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

    4/21/2026

  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

  • Amendment C-A (H-930), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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