PRIA Logo™
MaineLD 897132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)Senate

An Act Regarding the Nonwires Alternative Process and Required Negative Pricing Provisions in Contracts for Energy Resulting from Competitive Solicitations Conducted by the Public Utilities Commission

Sponsored By: Mark W. Lawrence (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

ELECTRIC UTILITIESELECTRIC UTILITIES - RATES

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Yearly grid planning and nonwires rules

Investor‑owned electric utilities must complete a yearly planning study for small grid projects. The study uses system models and looks five years ahead. It lists proposed projects and costs, shows capacity and load by substation and circuit, and flags growth‑related investments. The nonwires alternative coordinator reviews the study and can recommend cost‑effective nonwires solutions with a procurement plan. The plan must state which parts are behind the meter and which are on the grid, and follow related procurement rules. The Public Utilities Commission can set routine technical rules to carry this out.

Utilities not penalized for ignoring recommendations

A utility is not presumed imprudent just because it did not adopt the nonwires coordinator’s recommendations. This protects investor‑owned transmission and distribution utilities from that presumption in planning and investment reviews.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mark W. Lawrence

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 20 • No: 12

Senate vote • 4/6/2026

ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED

Yes: 20 • No: 12

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 681

    4/13/2026

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    4/7/2026Senate

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

    4/7/2026House

  4. Reports READ.On motion of Representative SACHS of Freeport, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.The Bill was READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) 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" (S-571).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    4/7/2026House

  5. Taken from the table by the President ACCEPTANCE of The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) Report PREVAILED. Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 883 Yeas 20 - Nays 12 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 READ ONCE Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) READ and ADOPTED Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) Sent down for concurrence

    4/6/2026Senate

  6. Unfinished Business

    4/2/2026Senate

  7. Unfinished Business

    3/31/2026Senate

  8. Unfinished Business

    3/30/2026Senate

  9. Unfinished Business

    3/26/2026Senate

  10. Unfinished Business

    3/25/2026Senate

  11. Reports READ. Senator LAWRENCE of York moved to ACCEPT The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) Report. On motion by Same Senator Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending ACCEPTANCE The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-571) Report. Unfinished Business

    3/24/2026Senate

  12. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.

    6/25/2025Senate

  13. CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519.

    3/21/2025Senate

  14. Received by the Secretary of the Senate on March 5, 2025 and REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2

    3/5/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Amendment C-A (S-571), adopted by House & Senate

    PDF

  • Enacted

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation