Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 35-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302 (2026)

Complaints

✓ current as of May 2026
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1.  Filing a complaint.  When a written complaint is made against a public utility by 10 persons aggrieved that the rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rate or rates of a public utility are in any respect unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory; that a regulation, measurement, practice or act of a public utility is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory; or that a service is inadequate or cannot be obtained, the commission, being satisfied that the petitioners are responsible, shall, with or without notice, investigate the complaint.  
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
2.  Processing of complaint.  The commission, immediately upon the filing of a complaint, shall notify in writing the public utility complained of that a complaint has been made and of the nature of the complaint. The utility shall file its response to the complaint within 10 days of the date the notice of complaint is issued. After receipt of the response, if the commission is satisfied that the utility has taken adequate steps to remove the cause of the complaint or that the complaint is without merit, the complaint may be dismissed. If the complaint is not dismissed, the commission shall promptly set a date for a public hearing. The commission may allow for all parties to attempt to resolve the complaint to their mutual satisfaction. If a mutually satisfactory resolution does not appear to be forthcoming, the hearing shall be held on the complaint pursuant to section 1304. The commission may not enter an order affecting the rates, tolls, charges, schedules, regulations, measurements, practices or acts complained of without an opportunity for public hearing. In the absence of an informal disposition pursuant to Title 5, section 9053, the commission shall render a decision upon the complaint no later than 9 months after its filing.  
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
3.  Complaint by utility or commission.  The commission may institute or any public utility may make complaint as to any matter affecting its own product, service or charges. The complaint shall be processed in accordance with subsection 2.  
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW).
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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: Ed Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2016 ME 19 (Me. 2016).
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Ed Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2016 ME 19 (Me. 2016). · cites it 3× “In 2011, the Commission initiated an investigation pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1) (2015) after receiving multiple complaints regarding the safety of CMP’s smart meters.”
Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 48 A.3d 794 (Me. 2012). · cites it 6× “[¶ 4] In July 2011, Ed Friedman and eighteen other CMP customers filed a complaint with the Commission against both the Commission and CMP pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302 (2011). Friedman’s complaint explained: [T]he complaint is directed not only at CMP for levying what, given…”
Agro v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 611 A.2d 566 (Me. 1992). · cites it 5× “Plaintiffs filed their complaint with the PUC pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988). 2 That section provides that when a complaint is made by ten aggrieved persons that the rates, charges, tolls, or services of a public utility are in any respect unreasonable, unjustly…”
United States v. Adams, 473 F. Supp. 2d 108 (D. Me. 2007). · cites it 4× “Although the Order referenced this law suit and Verizon’s August 21, 2006 letter, the PUC stated that the “August 9, 2006 Order makes clear that the fulfillment of our duty to consider whether to open an investigation pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 requires that we obtain the…”
Pine Tree Tel. & Tel. Co. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 631 A.2d 57 (Me. 1993). · cites it 2× “In May 1990, 12 Pine Tree customers requested, pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988), 1 that the commission investigate Pine Tree’s *61 rates, revenues, and management policies to determine whether Pine Tree was: (1) earning more than a reasonable rate of return; (2)…”
Trask v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 1999 ME 93 (Me. 1999). “[¶ 6] Mary-Ann MacMaster and others filed a complaint with the Commission pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302. The complaint requested the Commission to investigate the transfer of the dam to Trask for various reasons.”
Dep't of Corr. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 968 A.2d 1047 (Me. 2009). “FACTS AND PROCEDURE [¶ 2] This matter involves a complaint brought pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1)(2008) asking the Commission to investigate whether the Department’s rates for the inmate telephone service are unreasonable and unjustly discriminatory.”
Jennifer Gamage v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2021 ME 50 (Me. 2021). · cites it 4× “Previous Statutory Construction [¶13] By statute, ten aggrieved persons may file a written complaint with the Commission to allege that a “practice or act of a public utility is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory.”
Savage v. Cent. Maine Power (Me. Super. Ct 2018). · cites it 2× “See 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1). The PUC is required to investigate these complaints, and is entitled to order reparation pursuant to 35-A M.”
Doc v. Puc, 2009 ME 40 (Me. 2009). “FACTS AND PROCEDURE [¶ 2] This matter involves a complaint brought pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1)(2008) asking the Commission to investigate whether the Department's rates for the inmate telephone service are unreasonable and unjustly discriminatory.”
Gen. Marine Constr. Corp. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2022 ME 20 (Me. 2022). · cites it 2× “See 35-A M.R.S. §§ 1302, 1303 (2021). Section 1302 provides: When a written complaint is made against a public utility by 10 persons aggrieved that the rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rate or rates of a public utility are in any respect unreasonable or unjustly…”
Quirion v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 691 A.2d 205 (Me. 1997). · cites it 3× “35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988) provides: Complaints 1.”
Show all 13 citing cases →
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302(1) — 7 cases
Ed Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2016 ME 19 (Me. 2016). “In 2011, the Commission initiated an investigation pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1) (2015) after receiving multiple complaints regarding the safety of CMP’s smart meters.”
Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 48 A.3d 794 (Me. 2012). “[¶ 4] In July 2011, Ed Friedman and eighteen other CMP customers filed a complaint with the Commission against both the Commission and CMP pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302 (2011). Friedman’s complaint explained: [T]he complaint is directed not only at CMP for levying what, given…”
Agro v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 611 A.2d 566 (Me. 1992). “Plaintiffs filed their complaint with the PUC pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988). 2 That section provides that when a complaint is made by ten aggrieved persons that the rates, charges, tolls, or services of a public utility are in any respect unreasonable, unjustly…”
Savage v. Cent. Maine Power (Me. Super. Ct 2018). “See 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1). The PUC is required to investigate these complaints, and is entitled to order reparation pursuant to 35-A M.”
Jennifer Gamage v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2021 ME 50 (Me. 2021). “Previous Statutory Construction [¶13] By statute, ten aggrieved persons may file a written complaint with the Commission to allege that a “practice or act of a public utility is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302(1)(2008) — 2 cases
Dep't of Corr. v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 968 A.2d 1047 (Me. 2009). “FACTS AND PROCEDURE [¶ 2] This matter involves a complaint brought pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1)(2008) asking the Commission to investigate whether the Department’s rates for the inmate telephone service are unreasonable and unjustly discriminatory.”
Doc v. Puc, 2009 ME 40 (Me. 2009). “FACTS AND PROCEDURE [¶ 2] This matter involves a complaint brought pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302(1)(2008) asking the Commission to investigate whether the Department's rates for the inmate telephone service are unreasonable and unjustly discriminatory.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302(2) — 4 cases
Friedman v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 48 A.3d 794 (Me. 2012). “[¶ 4] In July 2011, Ed Friedman and eighteen other CMP customers filed a complaint with the Commission against both the Commission and CMP pursuant to 35-A M.R.S. § 1302 (2011). Friedman’s complaint explained: [T]he complaint is directed not only at CMP for levying what, given…”
Agro v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 611 A.2d 566 (Me. 1992). “Plaintiffs filed their complaint with the PUC pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988). 2 That section provides that when a complaint is made by ten aggrieved persons that the rates, charges, tolls, or services of a public utility are in any respect unreasonable, unjustly…”
United States v. Adams, 473 F. Supp. 2d 108 (D. Me. 2007). “Although the Order referenced this law suit and Verizon’s August 21, 2006 letter, the PUC stated that the “August 9, 2006 Order makes clear that the fulfillment of our duty to consider whether to open an investigation pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 requires that we obtain the…”
Jennifer Gamage v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 2021 ME 50 (Me. 2021). “Previous Statutory Construction [¶13] By statute, ten aggrieved persons may file a written complaint with the Commission to allege that a “practice or act of a public utility is in any respect unreasonable, insufficient or unjustly discriminatory.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302(3) — 1 case
Quirion v. Pub. Utils. Comm'n, 691 A.2d 205 (Me. 1997). “35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 (1988) provides: Complaints 1.”
— Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 35-A, § 1302(a) — 1 case
United States v. Adams, 473 F. Supp. 2d 108 (D. Me. 2007). “Although the Order referenced this law suit and Verizon’s August 21, 2006 letter, the PUC stated that the “August 9, 2006 Order makes clear that the fulfillment of our duty to consider whether to open an investigation pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. § 1302 requires that we obtain the…”
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