Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 103 (2026)

Establishment of commission; powers and duties; seal and office

✓ current as of May 2026

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1. Establishment. There is established the Public Utilities Commission which shall consist of 3 members.

[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]

2. Powers and duties. The commission has the following powers and duties.

A. All public utilities and certain other entities as specified in this Title are subject to the jurisdiction, control and regulation of the commission and to applicable provisions of this Title. [PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. D, §3 (AMD).]

B. The commission shall set the basic policies of the Public Utilities Commission and shall regulate public utilities in accordance with this Title. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]

C. The commission shall oversee the activities of competitive electricity providers to the extent provided in this Title. [PL 2021, c. 659, §3 (AMD).]

D. The commission shall oversee and manage the Emergency Services Communication Bureau established under Title 25, chapter 352. [PL 2003, c. 359, §5 (NEW).]

[PL 2021, c. 659, §3 (AMD).]

3. Seal and office. The commission shall have a seal and be provided with office space.

[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). PL 1999, c. 398, §A10 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 398, §§A104,105 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 359, §5 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. D, §3 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 659, §3 (AMD).

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1989–2022 · leading case: Standish Tel. Co. v. Saco River Tel. & Tel. Co., 555 A.2d 478 (Me. 1989).

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Standish Tel. Co. v. Saco River Tel. & Tel. Co., 555 A.2d 478 (Me. 1989). · cites it 2× “…Public Utilities Comm'n, 395 A.2d 414, 428-30 (Me.1978) (discussing investigatory power of Commission). See also 35-A M.R.S.A. §§ 103, 104 (1988) (express and implied powers of Commission), §§ 112, 1303 (power to investigate), §§ 301-312 (power to set rates), §§ 701-712…”

Bruce D. Taylor v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2016 ME 71 (Me. 2016). “See 35-A M.R.S. § 103 (2015) (setting out the basic powers and duties of the Commission).”

Quirion v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 684 A.2d 1294 (Me. 1996). “Title 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2) provides the PUC with the following powers and duties: "A.”

Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 48 A.3d 794 (Me. 2012). “§ 101; see also 35-A M.R.S. § 103 (establishing the Public Utilities Commission and providing that the Commission “shall regulate public utilities in accordance with this Title”).”

Dep't of Corr. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 968 A.2d 1047 (Me. 2009). ““Telephone utility,” which is also defined in the statute, includes “every person, its lessees, trustees, receivers or trustees appointed by any court, that provides telephone service for compensation inside this State.”

Off. of Pub. Advocate v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 866 A.2d 851 (Me. 2005). “1 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2) (1988 & Pamph. 2004); Me.”

United States v. Adams, 473 F. Supp. 2d 108 (D. Me. 2007). “The PUC’s statutory area of responsibility and expertise is to “regulate public utilities,” 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2)(B); it is not charged with evaluating threats to national security, investigating the NSA, or holding businesses in contempt when their silence was mandated by the…”

City of Portland v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 656 A.2d 1217 (Me. 1995). “The absence of this language, however, does not signify any limitation on the Commission’s general authority over utility rates delegated to it by our Legislature in 35-A M.”

Quiland, Inc. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2008 ME 135 (Me. 2008). “2d at 1046 ; see also 35-A M.R.S. § 103(2)(B) (2007) (“The commission shall set the basic policies of the Public Utilities Commission and shall regulate public utilities in accordance with this Title.”

Doc v. Puc, 2009 ME 40 (Me. 2009). “"Telephone utility," which is also defined in the statute, includes "every person, its lessees, trustees, receivers or trustees appointed by any court, that provides telephone service for compensation inside this State.”

Savage v. Cent. Maine Power (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “35-A M.R.S. § 103(2)(A). "Regulating public utilities is in the first instance the function of the Legislature, not the judiciary.”

Gen. Marine Constr. Corp. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2022 ME 20 (Me. 2022). “See 35-A M.R.S. §§ 103(1), (2)(A)-(B), 107(1)(A), (4) (2021) (providing that the director of consumer assistance and safety is appointed by the Commission and is a member of the Commission’s staff); PUC § 2(H) (providing that the CASD “is a division of the Commission”).”

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— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 103(1) — 1 case

Gen. Marine Constr. Corp. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2022 ME 20 (Me. 2022). “See 35-A M.R.S. §§ 103(1), (2)(A)-(B), 107(1)(A), (4) (2021) (providing that the director of consumer assistance and safety is appointed by the Commission and is a member of the Commission’s staff); PUC § 2(H) (providing that the CASD “is a division of the Commission”).”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 103(2) — 2 cases

Quirion v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 684 A.2d 1294 (Me. 1996). “Title 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2) provides the PUC with the following powers and duties: "A.”

Off. of Pub. Advocate v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 866 A.2d 851 (Me. 2005). “1 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2) (1988 & Pamph. 2004); Me.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 103(2)(A) — 4 cases

Dep't of Corr. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 968 A.2d 1047 (Me. 2009). ““Telephone utility,” which is also defined in the statute, includes “every person, its lessees, trustees, receivers or trustees appointed by any court, that provides telephone service for compensation inside this State.”

City of Portland v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 656 A.2d 1217 (Me. 1995). “The absence of this language, however, does not signify any limitation on the Commission’s general authority over utility rates delegated to it by our Legislature in 35-A M.”

Doc v. Puc, 2009 ME 40 (Me. 2009). “"Telephone utility," which is also defined in the statute, includes "every person, its lessees, trustees, receivers or trustees appointed by any court, that provides telephone service for compensation inside this State.”

Savage v. Cent. Maine Power (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “35-A M.R.S. § 103(2)(A). "Regulating public utilities is in the first instance the function of the Legislature, not the judiciary.”

— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 103(2)(B) — 2 cases

United States v. Adams, 473 F. Supp. 2d 108 (D. Me. 2007). “The PUC’s statutory area of responsibility and expertise is to “regulate public utilities,” 35-A M.R.S.A. § 103(2)(B); it is not charged with evaluating threats to national security, investigating the NSA, or holding businesses in contempt when their silence was mandated by the…”

Quiland, Inc. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2008 ME 135 (Me. 2008). “2d at 1046 ; see also 35-A M.R.S. § 103(2)(B) (2007) (“The commission shall set the basic policies of the Public Utilities Commission and shall regulate public utilities in accordance with this Title.”

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