Maine Public Utilities Commission
| Maine Public Utilities Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $152,152 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $24,279,862 |
| Total Seats: | 3 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 6 years |
| Authority: | Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, Chapter 1, §101 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor, subject to review by the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee and confirmation by the State Legislature |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Philip Bartlett, Carrie Gilbert, Patrick Scully | |
| Other Maine Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner • Superintendent of Insurance • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Commission | |
The Maine Public Utilities Commission is a regulatory board in the Maine state government. The commission is responsible for regulating electric, natural gas, telecommunications, and water utilities in Maine. It was created by the Maine State Legislature in 1913.[1]
Current officeholders
The current officeholders are:
- Philip Bartlett (nonpartisan)
- Carrie Gilbert (nonpartisan)
- Patrick Scully (nonpartisan)
Authority
The Maine Public Utilities Commission People's Veto, also known as REFERENDUM, was on the September 14, 1914 ballot in Maine as a veto referendum, where it was approved. The measure created the Maine Public Utilities Commission and proscribed its powers and duties, including the regulation and control of public utilities.[2][3]
The Maine Revised Statutes address the public utilities commission in Title 35-A, Chapter 1, §101.[4]
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The purpose of this Title is to ensure that there is a regulatory system for public utilities in the State and for other entities subject to this Title that is consistent with the public interest and with other requirements of law and to provide for reasonable licensing requirements for competitive electricity providers. The basic purpose of this regulatory system as it applies to public utilities subject to service regulation under this Title is to ensure safe, reasonable and adequate service and to ensure that the rates of public utilities subject to rate regulation are just and reasonable to customers and public utilities. |
Qualifications
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that establishes the requirements necessary to qualify for a state executive office. That information for the Maine Public Utilities Commission has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Appointments
The three commissioners are appointed by the Governor of Maine and subject to review by the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee and confirmation by the Legislature.[1]
They serve staggered six-year terms.
Vacancies
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches the constitutional or statutory text that details the process of filling vacancies for a state executive office. That information for the Maine Public Utilities Commission has not yet been added. After extensive research, we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Duties
The public utilities commission regulates utilities in the state of Maine and ensures that consumers have access to safe, adequate, and reliable service and that rates are reasonable.[5]
Divisions
- Updated January 20, 2021
- Telephone and Water Division
- Electric and Gas Division
- Consumer Assistance Division
- Legal Division
- Emergency Services Communication Bureau
- Administrative Division[1]
State budget
- See also: Maine state budget and finances
The Public Utilities Commission's budget for fiscal year 2025 was $24,279,862.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $152,152, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $147,722, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $143,416, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $135,179, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $135,179, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $131,428, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $127,421, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $126,901, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $126,714, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2014
In 2014, each commissioner was paid an estimated $117,104, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2013
In 2013, each commissioner was paid an estimated $117,104, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2012
In 2012, each commissioner was paid an estimated $117,104, according to the Council of State Governments.[18]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Maine Public Utilities Commission has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
- R. Bruce Williamson, 2015-2021
Recent news
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Contact information
Physical Address:
26 Katherine Drive
Hallowell, ME 04347
Postal Address:
18 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0018
Main Telephone No: (207) 287-3831
TTY Relay: 1 (800) 437-1220
Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1 (800) 452-4699
Fax: (207) 287-1039
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maine Public Utilities Commission, "How does the commission work?" accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maine State Legislature, "Votes on People's Vetoes," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Lewiston Daily Sun, "Sample Ballot," September 8, 1914
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 35-A, Chapter 1, §101," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Office of the Maine Public Utilities Commission, "About MPUC," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "2024-2025 Biennium," accessed January 17, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2020," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 20, 2021
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