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PUC Extends Comment Deadline in Community Choice Aggregation Inquiry
On August 6, 2026 the Maine PUC issued a procedural order extending comment deadline to Friday September 18, 2026. This order is in response to Natural Resources Council’s request for an extension and supported by NRG and OPC.
As reported previously, the Maine PUC issued on July 30, 2026 a notice of inquiry into possible requirements for community choice aggregation programs through which municipalities may aggregate the load of residential and small commercial customers to procure electricity on their behalf.
As background, in its most recent session, “the Legislature enacted “An Act to Authorize Municipalities to Form Community Choice Aggregation Programs to Procure Electricity” (Act). P.L. 2025, c. 665. The Act created a new statutory requirement, which is codified at 35-A M.R.S. § 3219, governing the procedures by which a municipality or group of municipalities located in the service territory of an investor-owned transmission and distribution (T&D) utility may aggregate the electric load of residential and small commercial customers to procure electricity on their behalf. The Act also provides that federally recognized Indian tribes in the State may establish community choice aggregation programs. In addition, the Act requires that prior to a community choice aggregation program being implemented, the program plan must be approved by the voters in the municipality or municipalities, the legislative body or governing board of each municipality, and the Commission. The Act establishes requirements for customer notifications and protections and directs the Commission to adopt rules to implement the Act, including rules governing community choice aggregation program approvals, opt-in and opt-out procedures, and consumer protection and transparency requirements.”
Among other things the Act requires that the Commission initiate a rulemaking to implement the provisions of the Act no later than January 1, 2027. Prior to initiating the rulemaking required by the Act, the Commission seeks input from interested persons regarding suggested provisions for inclusion in a proposed rule that may be considered as part of the Commission’s future rulemaking. The Commission invites general comments from interested persons regarding provisions which should be included in the Commission’s proposed rule.
