Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, § 3210-A: Small generator aggregation, 2003

1. Standard-offer service provider purchase requirement. In accordance with rules adopted pursuant to this section, the commission, at the request of the owner or operator of a generator with a capacity of 5 megawatts or less, shall: A. If the generator is located in an area of this State within the New England independent system operator control area, require a standard-offer service provider that serves an area of this State within the New England independent system operator control area to purchase the output of that generator at applicable market clearing prices or at such other prices determined by the commission to be financially neutral to the standard-offer service provider; and [PL 2003, c. 555, §1 (NEW).] B. If the generator is located in an area of this State in which the retail market is administered by the independent system administrator for northern Maine and the commission finds that the market design will accommodate purchases in a manner that is financially neutral to the standard-offer service provider, require a standard-offer service provider that serves that area of the State, or a portion of that area, to purchase the output of that generator at prices determined by the commission to be financially neutral to the standard-offer service provider. [PL 2003, c. 555, §1 (NEW).] The requirements of this subsection apply only if they can be accomplished in a manner that is financially neutral to standard-offer service providers. [PL 2003, c. 555, §1 (NEW).] 2. Transmission and distribution utility administration. Transmission and distribution utilities shall administer the purchase and sale of electricity to a standard-offer service provider required under subsection 1. Administrative costs incurred by a transmission and distribution utility under this subsection must be paid, in a manner established by the commission, by the generators of the electricity the purchase and sale of which the utility administers. [PL 2009, c. 197, §3 (AMD).] 2-A. Purchase by competitive electricity providers. In addition to its obligations under subsection 2, a transmission and distribution utility may administer on behalf of any eligible small generator the purchase and sale of electricity to a competitive electricity provider. In carrying out this function, a transmission and distribution utility may in its discretion aggregate the output of multiple eligible small generators for the purpose of obtaining the most favorable purchase price on behalf of the generators. The parties to any resulting sale must be the eligible small generators and the competitive electricity provider. If a transmission and distribution utility aggregates the output of eligible small generators under this subsection and is unable to sell the aggregated output to a competitive electricity provider, the transmission and distribution utility shall administer the purchase and sale of the aggregated output to a standard-offer service provider in accordance with the provisions of subsections 1 and 2. [PL 2009, c. 197, §4 (NEW).] 3. Rules. The commission shall adopt rules to implement the provisions of subsections 1 and 2, including, but not limited to, rules identifying how the commission assigns purchasing obligations to particular standard-offer service providers and the timing and manner of such obligations. The commission may adopt rules and may amend any rules necessary to implement the requirements of subsection 2‑A, including rules to allow a transmission and distribution utility to collect an administrative fee from participating eligible small generators to cover reasonable costs incurred by the transmission and distribution utility under subsection 2‑A. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A. [PL 2009, c. 197, §5 (AMD).]