An Act To Increase Contingency Reserves For Maine'S Consumer-Owned Electric Transmission And Distribution Utilities

This bill increases the contingency reserve limit for Maine's consumer-owned electric utilities from 25% to 50% of yearly revenues above operating costs (excluding purchased power costs). It removes the previous exclusion of purchased power supply costs from the calculation, allowing utilities to retain more funds for capital projects like grid upgrades. The change affects all consumer-owned transmission and distribution utilities operating in Maine under Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A, Section 3503. Any surplus beyond the 50% limit must offset future rate requirements, and interest earned on the reserve must be reinvested.