Legislative: Laws, Rules, & Activities

Utility operation in Maine is governed by laws established by Congress and the Maine’s Legislature, and rules developed by federal agencies and the Maine Public Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to those laws. The Commission actively participates in Maine’s legislative sessions, sometimes proposing legislation, and often testifying on bills related to energy policy or Maine’s public utilities.

The Commission regularly provides information to the Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology and to regional and federal authorities as well. For your convenience, that information is posted on this website.

• Maine Legislature
  • Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology
  • Commission Presentations and Reports
  • Regulatory Agenda 2022-2023 (PDF)
  • Regulatory Agenda 2020-2021 (PDF)
  • Regulatory Agenda 2019-2020 (PDF)
  • Regulatory Agenda 2018-2019 (PDF)
• Laws and Rules Governing Regulated Utilities
  • Laws: Most laws relevant to utilities are found in Title 35-A, available on the Maine State Legislature web site.
  • Commission Rules and Laws
  • Electric Laws and Rules
  • Telecommunications Laws and Rules
  • Natural Gas Laws and Rules
  • Natural Gas and Propane Safety Regulations
  • Water Utility Laws and Rules
  • Ferry and Water Taxi Laws and Rules
• Federal and Regional Filings
  • NET 911 Act Filing (PDF)
  • MPUC FERC Filings
  • MPUC ISO-New England Filings
  • PUC Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Filings:
    • Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2013-0602 Comments of the Maine Public Utilities Commission on Proposed Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources:  Electric Utility Generating Units, 79 FR 343830 (June 18, 2014) (PDF)
• Federal and Regional Agencies
  • Federal Communications Commission
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Independent System Operator - New England (ISO-NE)
  • Northern Maine Independent System Administrator
  • North American Electricity Reliability Council
  • U.S. Department of Energy
• PUC Policies
  • Policy for Implementing the Tribal-State Collaboration Act (PDF)
  • Policy on filing complaints against employees of the MPUC (PDF)
  • Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Workplace Policy (Word)
  • Policy on Remote Participation in PUC Proceedings (PDF)
    • Remote Participation Cover Letter and Policy (PDF)

State Regulations (unless noted, this information is auto-updated by the host)

• Natural and Propane Gas
  • Chapter 420 – Safety of Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems (Word)
  • Chapter 130 – Safety and Accident Reporting Requirements (Word)
  • Emergency Contact Protocol (PDF) (CURRENT 04/02/2021)
  • Chapter 895 – Underground Facility Damage Prevention (Word)
• Natural Gas
  • Chapter 140 – Utility Service Area and Infrastructure Maps (Word)
  • Chapter 140 Technical Specifications (PDF) (CURRENT 11/20/01)
• Propane Gas
  • Chapter 421 - Safety and Operation Standards for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Distribution Systems (Word)
  • Propane Jurisdictional Systems - A Guide to Understanding Basic Fundamentals & Requirements (PDF) (CURRENT)

Federal Regulations (unless noted, this information is auto-updated by the host)

• Natural and Propane Gas
  • 49CFR190 - Pipeline Safety Programs and Rulemaking Procedures
  • 49CFR191 – Annual Reports, Incident Reports and Safety-Related Conditions Reports
  • 49CFR192 – Transportation of Natural and other Gas by Pipeline
• Natural Gas
  • 49CFR193 – Liquefied Natural Gas Facilities

State Inspection Forms

• Propane Gas
  • Sample Below Ground LP Facility Inspection Report (PDF)
  • Sample Above Ground LP Facility Inspection Report (PDF)
• Natural Gas
  • Gas Pipeline Plastic Construction Inspection List (PDF)
  • Gas Pipeline Steel Construction Inspection List (PDF)

Federal Inspection Forms

Most of the Federal Inspection Forms can be found on the US Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration website.

• Natural and Propane Gas
  • Annual Report for Gas Distribution System
  • Incident Report for Gas Distribution System
  • OQ Field Evaluation Form
  • OQ Program Evaluation Form (Word)
• Natural Gas
  • Standard Inspection of a Gas Transmission Pipeline
  • Standard Inspection of a Gas Distribution System
  • Standard Inspection of an LNG Facility
  • Evaluation of Gas Pipeline Construction
  • Pipeline Failure Investigation Report
• Propane Gas Model Plan
  • Model LPG OQ Plan (Word)
  • LPG Public Awareness Plan (Word)
  • LPG Public Awareness Brochure (PDF)
  • Training Guide for Operators of Small LP Gas Systems

On April 24, 2015, the Model Propane Operating, Maintenance and Emergency Plan was removed from the web site to make necessary revisions.  If you have any questions, please contact nathan.dore@maine.gov.