LD 1777 Signed into Law
Maine electricity customers will save more than $1.2 billion over the next 16 years under new law
June 30, 2025
MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Sanborn, 207-624-3687, Heather.Sanborn@maine.gov
June 30, 2025 | HALLOWELL, ME – Maine Public Advocate Heather Sanborn today praised Governor Janet Mills for signing LD 1777, An Act to Reduce Costs and Increase Customer Protections for the State’s Net Energy Billing Program, into law on Friday, June 27.
“This new law will deliver real relief to Maine ratepayers while maintaining our state’s commitment to clean energy,” Sanborn said.
LD 1777 is the result of extensive negotiations and collaboration among solar developers, utilities, consumer advocates, and lawmakers. It is projected to save Maine electricity customers more than $1.2 billion over the next 16 years by addressing high and rising costs in the state’s current community solar program. The bill passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support earlier this month.
The Office of the Public Advocate has long raised concerns about the costs of Maine’s expanded net energy billing program, which are expected to top $234 million in 2025 alone.
“Maine’s community solar program needs reform precisely because it has been so successful,” Sanborn explained. “We set out to build 750 MW of solar, and instead we’ve built more than 1600 MW. Now we need to make sure that solar power is delivered affordably to Mainers going forward.”
LD 1777 offers a balanced path forward, reforming the program to reduce costs and improve fairness while preserving support for solar energy.
Key Benefits of LD 1777:
- Delivers significant savings to electricity customers by reducing excessive solar-related costs
- Maintains Maine’s rooftop solar program with no changes, protecting homeowner and business investments
- Reduces payments to large-scale community solar projects by approximately 20%
- Ends the link between solar compensation and future utility rate increases, a major driver of inflated costs
- Introduces strong consumer protections, including safeguards against solar oversubscription and abusive billing practices
- Supports the integration of battery storage in future solar developments, helping ensure energy is available when it’s needed most
“We can’t afford to let soaring electricity bills undermine public support for renewable energy. This new law is a responsible, forward-looking reform that ensures we can continue growing clean energy while protecting Mainers from rising electricity bills,” Sanborn said.