Maine

Summary Maine established a statewide public benefits energy efficiency program in conjunction with industry restructuring. This program, Efficiency Maine, is a division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). Efficiency Maine administers a portfolio of energy efficiency programs available to all electric utility customers in Maine, whether privately or publicly owned. Maine electric utilities spent $16.9 million on energy efficiency in 2007, saving 107,734 MWh.

Efficiency Maine, a division of the MPUC, was established by the MPUC in 2002 to administer the energy efficiency and low-income energy programs state-wide. All electric utility customers—both of competitive suppliers and publicly-owned companies—are eligible to receive services through the statewide program administered by Efficiency Maine. All utilities contribute funding to the program via charges on customer bills. 

Maine utilities reported efficiency program savings of 107,734 MWh in 2007. The state also reports to have saved 3,866,526 lifetime Therms in 2007.

Natural gas programs serve commercial, industrial, and residential customers, including low-income residential customers. It is administered by Unitil, doing business as Northern Utilities, Inc. State statute requires that each natural gas utility that serves 5,000 or more residential consumers shall offer natural gas efficiency programs.

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Energy efficiency (including a minimum of 20% low-income energy programs) and low-income payment assistance programs are funded by two separate system benefits charges that are included in the transmission and distribution utilities' rates. Maine's Conservation Act, passed in 2002, stated that energy efficiency expenditures for each utility (including the low-income programs) would be a minimum of 0.5% of its total transmission and distribution revenues (0.03 cents/kWh for most utilities) but cannot exceed 0.15 cents/kWh. Maine electric utilities spent $16.9 million on energy efficiency in 2007.

Funds for natural gas conservation programs are from a rate surcharge. Funding levels are set by statute at no less than 3% of each gas utility’s delivery revenues, as defined by PUC rule.  Spending on natural gas efficiency programs has increased to $442,000 in 2009, up from $262,000 in 2008.

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None in place or proposed.

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None in place or proposed.

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None in place or proposed.

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Maine has a loading order that requires the procurement of energy efficiency before any other traditional resource (MRS 3210-C (4)).

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• Efficiency Maine

• Efficiency Maine 2008 Annual Report

• Maine Public Utilities Commission

• Maine State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency

• MRS 3210-C (4)

Last Updated 10/13/2009

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