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Page 1 - 132LR2931(03)
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX
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S.P. 858 - L.D. 2140
Resolve, to Establish a Demand Response Program to Lower Electric Bills
and Improve Grid Reliability
Sec. 1. Demand response program; established. Resolved: That the
Efficiency Maine Trust, referred to in this resolve as "the trust," currently administering
behind-the-meter demand management programs in the State, shall establish the demand
response program, referred to in this resolve as "the program," to encourage electricity
customers to reduce their consumption of electricity during periods of peak demand to help
lower their electric bills and improve grid reliability. The trust shall administer the program
through the end of fiscal year 2027-28. The trust may extend the program beyond that date,
in its discretion, if such an extension is proposed and approved in the trust's next triennial
plan pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Tile 35-A, section 10104, subsection 4.
Sec. 2. Savings and reliability through reduction of peak demand.
Resolved: That, as a part of the program, the trust shall develop an outreach and education
campaign to increase participation in the State's transmission and distribution utilities opt-
in time-of-use rates to encourage shifting electricity consumption to off-peak periods. The
trust may not require an electricity customer to participate in the program. The program
must be designed to focus on savings opportunities most appropriate for the State's
electrical loads, grid planning and climate.
Sec. 3. Accessibility. Resolved: That the program must be designed to provide
outreach and education to renters, low-income electricity customers and customers having
the greatest potential for peak-demand electricity usage reductions, as determined by the
trust, and the trust shall prioritize outreach and education for low-income electricity
customers.
Sec. 4. Collaboration. Resolved: That the trust shall collaborate with the State's
transmission and distribution utilities, the Public Utilities Commission, the Office of the
Public Advocate, the Department of Energy Resources, as well as the public, and public
interest organizations, including, but not limited to, community action agencies, by seeking
input on the design of the program. The transmission and distribution utilities shall provide
assistance in delivering information about the program to potential program participants.
The transmission and distribution utilities shall provide customer data and other
APPROVED
APRIL 13, 2026
BY GOVERNOR
CHAPTER
162
RESOLVES
Page 2 - 132LR2931(03)
information to the trust necessary for program assessment and enhancing participation in
the program.
Sec. 5. Report. Resolved: That the trust shall assess the efficacy and cost-
effectiveness of the program and, by February 28, 2028, submit a report to the joint standing
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over energy matters regarding its
assessment. The trust shall include in the report any challenges it encountered in
administering the program and any opportunities the trust identifies for improving and
expanding efforts to shift electricity consumption to off-peak periods and to help lower
electricity bills and improve grid reliability.