A. Political
Activities. It is the policy of the Commission and it adopts the standard that
no pubic [public] utility shall recover from any person other than its
shareholders or other owners for any expenditures, contributions, expenses, or
costs of such utility incurred with respect to political activities. This
subsection applies to all direct or indirect expenditures, contributions,
expenses, and costs incurred by a public utility with respect to political
activities, or through another corporation, organization, association, or
individual which engages in political activities on behalf of the utility.
Each public utility which files with the Commission for a
change in rates shall account separately for all expenditures, contributions,
expenses, and costs associated with political activities, in accordance with
the provisions of section
3 of this rule, and shall not include
such expenditures, contributions, expenses, and costs as an operating expense
for ratemaking purposes. Any request for allowance of such expenditures,
contributions, expenses, or costs as an operating expense for ratemaking
purposes shall be made in the form of an adjustment to test period operating
expenses, which adjustment must be supported by adequate evidence and
documentation. The Commission may allow or disallow the adjustment, or any part
thereof, on the basis of the policy expressed in this rule and the justness and
reasonableness of the expenditure, contribution, expense, or cost in the
particular case.
B.
Political Contributions under 35 M.R.S.A. §51-A. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this rule, pursuant to 35 M.R.S.A. §51-A(1978), contributions
or gifts to political candidates, political parties, political or legislative
committees, or to any committees or organizations working to influence
referendum petitions or elections, whether paid directly or indirectly, through
reimbursement or otherwise, incurred by a public utility, shall not be included
or incorporated in operating expenses.
C. Institutional Advertising, Promotional
Advertising, and Promotional Allowances by Electric and Gas Utilities. It is
the policy of the Commission and it adopts the standard that no electric or gas
utility shall recover from any person other than its shareholders or other
owners for any expenditures, contributions, expenses, or costs of such utility
incurred with respect to institutional advertising, promotional advertising, or
promotional allowances. This subsection applies to all direct or indirect
expenditures, contributions, expenses, or costs incurred by a public utility
with respect to institutional advertising, promotional advertising, or
promotional allowances, or through another corporation, organization,
association, or individual which engages in institutional advertising,
promotional advertising, or promotional allowances, or through another
corporation, organization, association, or individual which engages in
institutional advertising, promotional advertising, or promotional allowances
on behalf of the utility.
Each electric or gas utility which files with the Commission
for a change in rates shall account separately for all expenditures,
contributions, expenses, and costs associated with institutional advertising,
promotional advertising, and promotional allowances, in accordance with the
provisions of section
3 of this rule, and shall not include
such expenditures, contributions, expenses, and costs as an operating expense
for ratemaking purposes. Any request for allowance of such expenditures,
contributions, expenses, or costs as an operating expense for ratemaking
purposes shall be made in the form of an adjustment to test period operating
expenses, which adjustment must be supported by adequate evidence and
documentation. The Commission may allow or disallow the adjustment, or any part
thereof, on the basis of the policy expressed in this rule and the justness and
reasonableness of the expenditure, contribution, expense, or cost in the
particular case.
D. Other
Expenses. The inclusion or exclusion of any provision in this rule shall not
restrict or limit, nor be construed to restrict or limit, the Commission's
power in any rate case involving any public utility to disallow, in whole or in
part, any expense which the Commission finds to be unjust, unreasonable,
excessive, or unwarranted.
