Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 1702-A – Evaluation of needs and resources
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1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. “Low-income consumers” means residential consumers for whom paying public utility bills is difficult or impossible without some form of assistance or government aid; [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
B. “Residential consumers” means consumers who take public utility service for domestic purposes; and [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
C. “Small business consumers” means commercial consumers that employ fewer than 100 employees. [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 1702-A
- Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Public utility: includes every gas utility, natural gas pipeline utility, transmission and distribution utility, telephone utility, water utility and ferry, as those terms are defined in this section, and each of those utilities is declared to be a public utility. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
2. Intent. It is the intent of the Legislature that the resources of the Public Advocate be devoted to the maximum extent possible to ensuring adequate representation of the interests of those consumers whose interests would otherwise be inadequately represented in matters within the jurisdiction of the commission.
[PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
3. Priority. When the interests of consumers differ, the Public Advocate shall give priority to representing the interests of consumers in the following order:
A. Low-income consumers; [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
B. Residential consumers; [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
C. Small business consumers; and [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
D. Other consumers whose interests the Public Advocate finds to be inadequately represented. [PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
This subsection does not require the Public Advocate to represent the interests of a consumer or group of consumers if the Public Advocate determines that such representation is adverse to the overall interests of the using and consuming public.
[PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1997, c. 166, §1 (NEW).