Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 703 – Rebates; discounts and discrimination
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1. Free or special rates prohibited. No person may knowingly solicit, accept or receive any rebate, discount or discrimination in respect to any service rendered, or to be rendered by a public utility, or for any related service where the service is rendered free or at a rate less than named in the schedules in force, or where a service or advantage is received other than is specified.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 703
- Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Person: includes a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, estate, any other legal entity or natural person. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
- Public utility: includes every gas utility, natural gas pipeline utility, transmission and distribution utility, telephone utility, water utility and ferry, as those terms are defined in this section, and each of those utilities is declared to be a public utility. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
2. Free and special rates allowed under certain circumstances. This Title does not prohibit:
A. A public utility from granting service at free or reduced rates for charitable or benevolent purposes or for national or civilian defense purposes; [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
B. A public utility from supplying water and service free or at reduced or special rates to any person, firm or corporation for fire protection purposes through or by means of any apparatus or appliances furnished, installed or maintained by the person, firm or corporation, provided it is approved by the commission; or [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
C. A public utility from making special rates for its employees or in case of emergency service. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
3. Existing contracts. The furnishing by a public utility of a product or service at the rates and upon terms and conditions provided for in a contract in existence January 1, 1913, may not be construed as constituting a discrimination or undue or unreasonable preference or advantage within the meaning specified. When any such contract or contracts are or become terminable by notice of a utility, the commission may order that the contract or contracts be terminated by the utility as and when directed by the order.
[PL 1995, c. 254, §2 (AMD).]
3-A. Special contracts. A public utility, subject to the commission’s approval, may make a contract for a definite term for its product or service, but the published rates for the product or service may not be changed during the term of the contract without the commission’s consent.
[PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. C, §3 (AMD).]
4. Forfeiture.
[PL 2003, c. 505, §14 (RP).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 490, §A2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 254, §§2,3 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 505, §14 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 66, §1 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 623, Pt. C, §3 (AMD).