Section 407-395-1 - Definitions The following definitions apply to the provisions of this Chapter:
A.Contribution in Aid of Construction (CIAC). A "contribution in aid of construction" (or "CIAC") is a payment to a transmission and distribution (T&D) utility for the construction of an electric line extension that is taxed as income to the T&D utility.B.Consumer-Owned Transmission and Distribution Utility. A "Consumer-owned transmission and distribution utility" has the same meaning as contained in Title 35-A, section 3201(6).C.Contribution of Facilities. A "contribution of facilities" is the transfer of ownership of a line extension to a utility for which the utility does not pay the transferring owner, and that is taxed as income to the T&D utility.D.Development. "Development" means property owned or under the control of a single person, entity or association when that single person, entity or association has offered two or more parcels within the property for sale or it is reasonable to expect that two or more parcels within the property will be offered for sale.E.Electric Distribution Line Extension. "Electric distribution line extension" means any new single-phase or polyphase distribution facility that will be connected to a T&D utility's distribution system after the new facility's completion. An electric distribution line extension does not include a "service drop.". For the purpose of reallocation of the costs of a line extension pursuant to section 9, a line extension shall be considered to last 20 years from the date that the line extension first provided service to a customer.F.Interconnection point. "Interconnection point" means the point, located on a pole or other structure, that separates a line extension, or a portion thereof, that is privately-owned from electric distribution facilities (including a portion of the line extension) owned by the T&D utility.G.Licensing Authority. "Licensing authority" means the "applicable licensing authority" defined in 35-A M.R.S.A. §2502(1) that must issue a location permit pursuant to 35-A M.R.S.A. §2503 for a person to construct or own facilities in a public way.H.Line Extension. "Line extension" means an "electric distribution line extension," as defined above.I.Make-Ready Work. "Make-ready work" means work necessary to connect an electric distribution line extension to existing utility infrastructure.J.National Electric Safety Code (NESC). "National Electric Safety Code (NESC)" is a set of standards developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) that is designed to ensure safe installation, operation and maintenance of electric supply and communication lines and associated equipment, and that T&D utilities in Maine must comply with pursuant to the provisions of 35-A M.R.S.A. §2305-A.K.Person. "Person" means an individual, corporation, or any other legal entity.L.Private Line Extension Contractor. "Private line extension contractor" means a person who is not an employee of a T&D utility or otherwise acting on the utility's behalf and is constructing a line extension under a contract with a non-utility person.M.Private Way. "Private way" means any location that is not a public way.N.Privately-Constructed Line Extension. "Privately-constructed line extension" means an electric line extension constructed by a private line extension contractor.O.Privately-Owned Line Extension. "Privately-owned line extension" means a line extension that is located on a public or private way and is owned by a person who is not a T&D utility.P.Public Way. "Public way" means a street or public right-of-way that has been accepted and is owned or controlled by a municipal, county or state government.Q.Registered Professional Engineer. "Registered professional engineer" means a registered professional engineer licensed by the Maine Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.R.Rural Utilities Service (RUS); RUS Standards. The "Rural Utilities Service" is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that provides loans and other assistance to cooperatives and utility districts that provide electric service in rural areas. "RUS standards" are the "Electric Standards And Specifications For Materials And Construction" contained in the regulations of the RUS at 7 C.F.R. Part 1728. The RUS requires that any utility that borrows money through the USDA loan program must follow the RUS standards.S.Service Drop. A "service drop" is the service cable or other conductor and associated equipment that provides secondary voltage to the customer's service entrance equipment from a transformer or from a secondary conductor located on the utility's distribution system or on a privately-owned line extension. A "service drop" does not include a transformer or poles.T.Standard. "Standard" means a requirement that governs the design, construction and certification of an electric line extension that is approved and implemented pursuant to this Chapter. "Standards" include "utility line construction standards," the NESC, and the RUS, if applicable.U.Transmission and Distribution (T&D) Utility. "Transmission and distribution utility" means a person, its lessees, trustees or receivers or trustees appointed by a court, owning, controlling, operating or managing a transmission and distribution plant for compensation within the State.V.Utility. "Utility" means a transmission and distribution (T&D) utility.W.Utility Line Construction Standards. "Utility line construction standards" means the requirements, other than those imposed by the National Electric Safety Code (NESC) or the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), of a T&D utility that apply to electric distribution line extensions and that a constructor of a line extension must meet before, during, or after the construction of a line extension prior to the energization of the line. Utility line construction standards may be contained in a utility's Terms and Conditions or in a separate document that is incorporated by reference in its Terms and Conditions. They include but are not limited to construction procedures and specifications for facilities and materials.65- 407 C.M.R. ch. 395, § 1