AUGUSTA – This week, the Legislature gave initial approval to a measure sponsored by Rep. Gary Friedmann, D-Bar Harbor, that would require Maine’s large electric utility companies to establish an emergency response outreach plan for medically vulnerable Mainers in the event of a power outage. The bill passed the House 103-41 on Tuesday and the Senate 20-14 on Thursday.
LD 633 would require investor-owned electric utility companies to establish an outreach procedure for customers who have a documented need for electricity to power essential medical equipment, like breathing machines, home dialysis devices and refrigerators that keep medications at stable temperatures.
“Severe weather patterns driven by climate change will continue to increase in intensity and frequency. National studies have also shown that Maine leads the country in power outages lasting over eight hours. Extensive power outages threaten the health of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Friedmann. “This measure mitigates life-or-death situations by requiring proactive plans from utility companies to restore power as quickly as possible for our most vulnerable residents and their families.”
According to data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Maine was rated as having the worst electric grid reliability in the country in 2023, with an average outage time of more than 10 hours.
The measure will face further votes in the House and Senate in the coming days.
Rep. Friedmann is serving his first term in Maine’s House of Representatives and serves House District 14, which includes Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Lamoine and Mount Desert. He is a member of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Taxation.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Friedmann) | 305-965-2744