Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 2: ENERGY PLANNING; CONSTRUCTION; PURCHASES
35-A §3131. Definitions

§3131. Definitions
As used in this subchapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
1. Domestic transmission and distribution utility. "Domestic transmission and distribution utility" means any entity organized under the laws of this State to transmit or distribute electricity.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
1-A. Electric utility.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (RP); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
2. Energy.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (RP); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
3. Foreign electric utility. "Foreign electric utility" means any entity organized under the laws of a state other than this State, or a province of Canada, that is authorized under the laws of the state or province in which it is organized to generate, transmit or distribute electricity, or to own, operate or otherwise participate in utility facilities or interests in utility facilities.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
3-A. Fuel conversion.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (RP); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
4. Generating capacity.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (RP); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
4-A. High-impact electric transmission line. "High-impact electric transmission line" means a transmission line greater than 50 miles in length that is:
A. Constructed to transmit direct current electricity; or [PL 2009, c. 655, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. Capable of operating at 345 kilovolts or more and:
(1) Is not a generator interconnection transmission facility as defined in section 3132, subsection 1‑B; and
(2) Is not constructed primarily to provide electric reliability, as determined by the commission. [PL 2009, c. 655, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[IB 2021, c. 1, §2 (AMD).]
4-B. Nontransmission alternative. "Nontransmission alternative" means any of the following methods used either individually or combined to reduce the need for the construction of a transmission line under section 3132 or transmission project under section 3132‑A: energy efficiency and conservation, load management, demand response or distributed generation.
[PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. C, §1 (NEW).]
4-C. Nonwires alternative. "Nonwires alternative" means a nontransmission alternative or an infrastructure, technology or application that defers or reduces the need for capital investment in the transmission and distribution system and addresses system reliability needs proposed to be met by the transmission or distribution system investment.
[PL 2019, c. 298, §5 (NEW).]
4-D. Nonwires alternative coordinator. "Nonwires alternative coordinator" means the person or entity providing services under contract to the Office of the Public Advocate as described in section 1701, subsection 2‑A.
[PL 2019, c. 298, §5 (NEW).]
5. Transmission capacity. "Transmission capacity" means an entitlement to transmission services over a transmission line with a capacity greater than 100 kilovolts for periods greater than 3 years.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
6. Utility facility. "Utility facility" means an item of plant used or useful in the transmission and distribution utility business, and includes, but is not limited to, such items of plant as transmission lines, office buildings and equipment and transportation equipment.
[PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §45 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 398, Pt. A, §§104, 105 (AFF).]
7. Corridor. "Corridor" means an area no greater than 1/2 mile in width in which a proposed transmission line is to be located.
[PL 1991, c. 640, §1 (NEW).]
8. Cost-effective. "Cost-effective" means, with respect to nonwires alternatives, that benefits exceed costs, as determined by benefit-cost analysis conducted pursuant to section 3132‑C, subsection 2.
[PL 2019, c. 298, §6 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). RR 1991, c. 2, §130 (COR). PL 1991, c. 640, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 710, §5 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 398, §A45 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 398, §§A104,105 (AFF). PL 2009, c. 655, Pt. A, §3 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 369, Pt. C, §1 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 298, §§5, 6 (AMD). IB 2021, c. 1, §2 (AMD).