An Act To Amend Laws Governing The Public Utilities Commission Concerning Participant Funding

LD 1405 amends Maine's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) rules to remove two funding sources for intervenors (like consumer advocates) and participants in utility proceedings. Specifically, it eliminates the PUC's authority to use administrative penalties collected from utilities for this funding and removes the option to provide similar funding in nonadjudicatory proceedings (e.g., rulemaking). The bill directly affects utility customers, consumer groups, and the PUC itself by changing how funding is allocated in utility-related cases. These changes clarify that funding must come only from the PUC's Regulatory Fund, not from utility penalties, and apply uniformly to all proceedings. The bill does not create new funding but revises existing mechanisms.