---
type: "Bill"
title: "An Act To Comprehensively And Equitably Reform Electricity Rates"
description: "An Act To Comprehensively And Equitably Reform Electricity Rates"
jurisdiction: "us/states/me"
legislature: "Maine Legislature"
session: "131"
identifier: "LD 542"
citation: "Maine LD 542 (131)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["ELECTRIC UTILITIES", "RATES", "REFORM"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["Walter RUNTE"]
version_count: 5
action_count: 39
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2023-02-09"
last_action: "2023-06-26"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/363cfa99-5733-4f3c-acdc-d0625b36caa9"
source_url: "https://legislature.maine.gov/LawMakerWeb/dockets.asp?ID=280086050"
source_hash: "2420cd1147db8646994433b02f8164b85a2fb2c3f4854ce621eb865cef6e1b05"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-me"]
---

# Maine LD 542 (131) — An Act To Comprehensively And Equitably Reform Electricity Rates

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Adopted Amendments** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0347&item=2&snum=131)
2. **Chaptered Law** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0347&item=7&snum=131)
3. **Divided Reports** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0347&item=3&snum=131)
4. **Documents and Disposition** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0347&item=1&snum=131)
5. **Final Disposition** (committee substitute) — [source](http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0347&item=6&snum=131)

## Votes

- ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED — **16–17** (fail) · upper
- RECEDE AND CONCUR — **22–10** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Walter RUNTE — primary (person)
- Stanley ZEIGLER — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2023-02-09** Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered printed.
- **2023-02-09** The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY. `referral-committee`
- **2023-02-09** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-02-09** The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY in concurrence `referral-committee`
- **2023-03-30** Carried over, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 131st Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 594.
- **2023-06-06** Reports READ.
- **2023-06-06** On motion of Representative ZEIGLER of Montville, REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.
- **2023-06-06** The Bill was READ ONCE. `reading-1`
- **2023-06-06** Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) was READ and ADOPTED. `committee-passage-favorable, passage`
- **2023-06-06** Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- **2023-06-06** The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-277). `reading-3`
- **2023-06-06** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-06-08** Reports READ
- **2023-06-08** Senator LAWRENCE of York moved to ACCEPT Report A Ought to Pass as Amended .
- **2023-06-08** On further motion by same Senator TABLED until Later in Today's Session pending his motion to ACCEPT Report A Ought to Pass as Amended , in concurrence
- **2023-06-12** Taken from the table by the President
- **2023-06-12** Senator LAWRENCE of York moved to Accept Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-277)
- **2023-06-12** Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 285 Yeas 16 - Nays 17 - Excused 2 - Absent 0 FAILED
- **2023-06-12** On motion by Senator STEWART of Aroostook Report C Ought Not To Pass ACCEPTED In NON-CONCURRENCE
- **2023-06-12** Sent down for concurrence
- **2023-06-13** On motion of Representative ZEIGLER of Montville, TABLED pending FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
- **2023-06-13** Later today assigned.
- **2023-06-15** Speaker laid before the House
- **2023-06-15** On motion of Representative RUNTE of York, the House RECEDED.
- **2023-06-15** On motion of Representative RUNTE of York, House Amendment "A" (H-526) to Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) was READ and ADOPTED. `committee-passage-favorable, passage`
- **2023-06-15** Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-526) thereto was ADOPTED. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-06-15** Subsequently, The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) as Amended by House Amendment "A" (H-526) thereto. `reading-3`
- **2023-06-15** In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- **2023-06-15** ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-06-16** On motion by Senator VITELLI of Sagadahoc The Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED With Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) ACCEPTED AND PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-277) AS AMENDED BY House Amendment "A" (H-526) thereto in concurrence `reading-3`
- **2023-06-16** Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 376 Yeas 22 - Nays 10 - Excused 3 - Absent 0 PREVAILED
- **2023-06-20** FINALLY PASSED. `passage`
- **2023-06-20** Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- **2023-06-20** FINALLY PASSED, in concurrence. `passage`
- **2023-06-26** Signed by Governor `executive-signature`
- **2023-03-29T04:00:00+00:00** Work Session Held - TABLED
- **2023-04-19T04:00:00+00:00** Work Session Held
- **2023-04-19T04:00:00+00:00** Voted - Divided Report
- **2023-06-01T04:00:00+00:00** Reported Out - OTP-AM/OTP-AM/ONTP

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/363cfa99-5733-4f3c-acdc-d0625b36caa9`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Maine legislature records).