§ 35-A §302 — Limitations on rates

1.
Contributions to political groups or candidates.
1-A.
Definitions.
As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
2.
Limitations on rates.
The following expenses, whether paid directly or indirectly, through reimbursement or otherwise, incurred by a public utility or an affiliated interest may not be included or incorporated in operating expenses to be recovered in rates:
3.
Political, charitable and educational expenses annual report.
A public utility shall file a report annually with the commission containing a written, itemized description of any expenses that may not be included or incorporated in the public utility's operating expenses under subsection 2. The report must also include a written, itemized description of the expenses that may not be included or incorporated in the public utility's operating expenses under subsection 2 that are relevant to the business interests of the public utility paid by a membership organization, as defined by the commission by rule under section 302‑A, of which the public utility is a member. For each expense, the report must include the date, the payee, the amount and a description of the purpose of the expense.
4.
Major political activities quarterly report.
In addition to the report required under subsection 3, if a public utility or an affiliated interest engages in major political activities, as defined by the commission by rule under section 302‑A, the public utility shall file a quarterly report containing a written description of those major political activities and the expenditures associated with those activities. For each expenditure, the report must include the date, the payee, the amount and a description of the purpose of the expenditure.
5.
Public inspection.
The public utility shall make available for public inspection all materials filed with the commission in accordance with subsections 3 and 4. The commission shall make available the annual reports filed by public utilities in accordance with this section on its publicly accessible website with notice of the availability of the reports prominently displayed on the website.

Legislative History

PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). PL 2023, c. 286, §1 (RPR). PL 2023, c. 596, §§1, 2 (AMD).