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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
SECOND REGULAR SESSION-2026
Legislative Document No. 2113
H.P. 1428 House of Representatives, January 7, 2026
An Act to Align Long-range Grid Strategy with the State Energy
Plan and Strengthen Integrated Grid Planning
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule
203.
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative RUNTE of York.
Cosponsored by Representative: SACHS of Freeport, Senator: LAWRENCE of York.
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1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 35-A MRSA §3147, sub-§4, ¶D, as amended by PL 2025, c. 293, §4 and
3 affected by §8, is further amended by amending subparagraph (7) to read:
4 (7) Consideration of the use of low-voltage sensors to improve grid monitoring
5 capacity, including data related to grid power quality, transformer status and
6 distributed energy resource capacity by location; and
7Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §3147, sub-§4, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 702, §8, is
8 amended to read:
9 E. Reference and incorporate, as appropriate, all relevant analysis conducted as part
10 of the State's climate action plan under Title 38, section 577 and relevant information
11 from reports and analysis completed by other state agencies and quasi-independent
12 state entities. ; and
13Sec. 3. 35-A MRSA §3147, sub-§4, ¶F is enacted to read:
14 F. Be consistent with the relevant recommendations developed pursuant to section
15 3147-A.
16Sec. 4. 35-A MRSA §3147-A is enacted to read:
17§3147-A. Long-range grid planning
181. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms have the following
19 meanings.
20 A. “Department” means the Department of Energy Resources.
21 B. “External expert” means an individual or entity with technical or policy expertise
22 in electric grid architecture, distributed energy resources, demand management and
23 flexibility, nonwires alternatives, capital-efficient planning or grid‑enhancing
24 technologies.
25 C. “Long-range grid plan” or “plan” means a 10-year plan developed by the
26 department and submitted to the commission for adoption that provides a roadmap for
27 modernization, reliability and resilience of the State’s electric grid and is consistent
28 with section 3147 and the state energy plan developed by the department pursuant to
29 section 10305, subsection 1.
302. Long-range grid plan. By August 1, 2026, and every 5 years thereafter, the
31 department shall develop a long-range grid plan as an adjunct to the state energy plan. The
32 long-range grid plan must be consistent with the integrated grid planning process
33 established under section 3147 and must include:
34 A. The integration of nonwires alternatives, demand management and flexibility and
35 distributed energy resources and grid-enhancing technologies;
36 B. An evaluation of modular, capital-efficient and performance-based investments that
37 maximize the value of existing electric grid assets before new capital expenditures are
38 authorized, consistent with the requirements of sections 3132-A, 3147 and 3195;
39 C. Strategies for climate adaptation, storm resilience, electrification and improved
40 hosting capacity; and
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1 D. Measurable objectives and performance indicators for distribution system
2 modernization, capital efficiency and resilience.
3 In developing the plan, the department may engage consultants. To the greatest extent
4 practicable, the department shall engage consultants with knowledge of the State’s electric
5 grid or regulation of the electric industry in the State.
63. Expert input. In developing the plan, the department shall:
7 A. Convene technical advisory panels composed of external experts, as necessary, to
8 provide input on modeling, distributed energy resources integration, efficient use of
9 capital, demand management and flexibility and resilience strategies. The department
10 shall establish the scope and tasks of each technical advisory panel and ensure all
11 recommendations relevant to integrated distribution planning are included in the
12 planning docket submitted by the department to the commission for consideration of
13 adoption; and
14 B. Consult with the commission, the Public Advocate and the Efficiency Maine Trust.
154. Public input; stakeholder engagement. The department shall seek public input
16 and engage stakeholders throughout the process of developing the plan. The department
17 may hold stakeholder workshops, technical conferences or public hearings in order to
18 obtain input on the plan.
195. Commission implementation. The provisions of this subsection govern the
20 implementation of the long-range grid plan.
21 A. After receiving the completed plan from the department and providing for a notice
22 and comment period, the commission shall adopt the long-range grid plan by order.
23 B. All subsequent electric utility rate cases under sections 301 and 307, capital
24 investment plans under section 3132-A and integrated grid plans filed pursuant to
25 section 3147 must demonstrate consistency with the long-range grid plan developed by
26 the department and adopted by the commission.
27 C. The commission may initiate investigations and rulemaking necessary to ensure
28 consistency with the adopted plan. Rules adopted pursuant to this paragraph are routine
29 technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
30 The adoption of the plan by the commission does not constitute preapproval of any specific
31 project, investment or cost recovery. Each capital project or expenditure identified in the
32 plan remains subject to separate review and prudence determinations required under this
33 Title.
346. Performance-based regulatory mechanisms. The commission shall establish
35 performance-based regulatory mechanisms to align electric utility incentives with the long-
36 range grid plan. Performance-based regulatory mechanisms must include financial
37 incentives and penalties based on:
38 A. Verified nonwires alternative performance and investment deferral value;
39 B. Year-over-year improvements in distributed energy resource hosting capacity;
40 C. The deployment of light capital and grid-enhancing technologies;
41 D. Reliability and resilience benchmarks; and
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1 E. Future total cost-of-service reductions.
27. Report. Within 3 months of the commission's adoption of a plan, the department,
3 in consultation with the commission, shall submit a report to the joint standing committee
4 of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utility matters that outlines the
5 process to develop the long-range grid plan as part of the state energy plan, an overview of
6 the long-range grid plan, any needed statutory changes and any other relevant information
7 the commission determines is necessary. The committee may report out a bill related to the
8 report.
9Sec. 5. Performance-based regulatory mechanism proposals. An electric
10 utility shall file performance-based regulatory mechanism proposals along with the next
11 general rate case required following the adoption of the first long-range grid plan pursuant
12 to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 3147-A.
13SUMMARY
14 This bill requires the Department of Energy Resources to develop a long-range grid
15 plan that provides a 10-year roadmap for the modernization, reliability and resilience of the
16 State’s electric grid consistent with the state energy plan and the integrated grid planning
17 overseen by the Public Utilities Commission. The bill requires the commission to establish
18 performance-based regulatory mechanisms to align electric utility incentives with the long-
19 range grid plan and requires the department to submit a report to the joint standing
20 committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy and utility matters that
21 outlines the process to develop the long-range grid plan as part of the state energy plan, an
22 overview of the long-range grid plan, any needed statutory changes and any other relevant
23 information the commission determines is necessary. It also requires electric utilities to file
24 performance-based regulatory mechanism proposals along with the next general rate case
25 required following the adoption of the long-range grid plan.
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