Water

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is tasked with ensuring that water utilities operate in a safe and adequate manner, serving all customers on equal terms, and that the rates they charge are just and reasonable.  

Water utilities are natural monopolies which means that it costs a great deal to set up the infrastructure that allows them to provide service to customers and the more people that receive the service, the more the costs can be spread out. If a competitor wanted to set up service to those customers to give them an option for service, it would be exceedingly expensive and wasteful. This is why the PUC regulates these types of utilities, to ensures that people are receiving just, equitable and reasonable rates and fair service. Water utilities provide water used for drinking as well as fire suppression. 

The commission regulates over 150 public water utilities, however, not every water system is a utility regulated by the PUC.  There are two types of public water utilities: 

Consumer Owned Water Utilities (COUs):

Most of Maine’s water utilities are owned entirely by their consumers. These consumer owned utilities are: 

• Water departments that are operated by municipalities (towns); or
• Water districts which are quasi-governmental organizations run by a board of trustees (made up of elected, local community members).

Investor-owned water utilities (IOUs):

These are for-profit companies that own and operate a water utility.  These privately owned companies make up a minority of Maine’s water utilities. 

Find a Water Utility

• Water Utilities
  A list of the water utilities regulated by the PUC in Maine

Water Laws and Rules

• Water Laws and Rules

Water Utility Resources

• Capital Reserve Accounts (PDF) 
  Information on what a capital reserve account can be used for and frequently asked questions
• Consolidation (PDF) 
  Information on ways water utilities can work together and share resources
• Infrastructure Surcharge for Utilities (PDF)
  Information on a temporary surcharge that can be charged to rate payers for infrastructure replacement or repair
• Ways to increase revenue (PDF) 
  A comparison of many different ways a water utility can increase their revenue
• Lead Service Lines (PDF)
  Frequently asked questions around customers with lead service lines
• Fire Suppression Calculations (PDF)
  Description of the two options utilities can use for calculating the amount of their revenue that must come from the town for fire suppression
• Fire Protection- Why do towns pay for it? (PDF)
  Information about the reason towns pay their local water utilities for fire protection
• Disconnections of Customers (PDF)
  A guide to what type of notice is needed for disconnections as well as a tracking sheet a utility could use to track the disconnection process and an example disconnection notice.
• Disconnection Notice (MS Word)
  When water utilities need to disconnect a customer, they in most cases must notify the of the disconnection. There are many specific things that need to be in that notice. This is an example disconnection notice.
• Working Together (PDF)
  How water utilities can work together to build resilience. 
• Maine Drought Information
  Information that water utility managers can use to monitor the current drought and to make informed decisions relative to the management of their sources of supply
• The rate case timelines (PDF)
  A timeline showing the steps involved in the different types of rate cases at the PUC (6104, 6104-A and 6104-B). 
• Rate Case Comparison (PNG File)
  A comparison of the ways a utility can raise rates at the PUC.
• Public Notice Checklist for 6104 Rate Cases (PDF)
  A checklist that describes all the items needed in the customer notice for a 6104 rate case. 

Consumer Resources

• 10-person complaint (PDF)
  A guide to the PUC process of a 10-person complaint. 
• Infrastructure Surcharge for Consumers (PDF)
  An infographic describing what a infrastructure surcharge is and what projects a water utility can use the funding on. 
• Participation in Public Hearings (PDF)
  Water utilities may hold public hearings to allow comments from the public. This infographic explains what to expect if you want to participate in a hearing with the Public Utilities Commission.
• Participating in virtual public hearings (PDF)
  Water utilities may hold virtual public hearings to allow comments from the public. This infographic explains what to expect if you want to participate in a hearing with the Public Utilities Commission.

Guides created by other organizations

• RCAP’s financial management booklet
  The basics of financial management for small community utilities. 
• RCAP’s Formulating great rates guide
  Formulate Great Rates is RCAP’s guidebook to conducting a rate study for a small water or wastewater system.
• RCAP’s guide for board members (PDF) 
  A comprehensive desk reference that is ideal as an orientation and background for new members on a utility’s board of directors. 
• MWUA board and trustee guide (PDF)
  This Board and Trustee Guide is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities of board members for public water utilities in the state of Maine.

Straight From The Tap Newsletter

A quarterly newsletter created in partnership with the Maine Drinking Water Program for all Maine Water Systems.

• October 2024 Issue (PDF)