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Bangor Hydro Electric Company offers a two-tiered incentive program for residential and small commercial customers. Mini-Split Heat Pumps are eligible for a rebate of $600, as well as a loan to cover the initial cost of the heat pump purchase. Financing is offered at 7.75% APR, for up to five years for approved customers. Bangor Hydro or Maine Public Service residential or small commercial customer in good standing may participate.

''Much of the information presented in this summary is drawn from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Energy Codes Program and the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP). For more detailed information about building energy codes, visit the [http://www.energycodes.gov/states/ DOE] and [http://bcap-ocean.org/ BCAP] websites.''

Note: This model ordinance was designed to provide guidance to local governments that wish to develop their own siting rules for wind turbines. While it was developed as part of a cooperative effort involving several state agencies, the model itself has no legal or regulatory authority.

All of Maine's electric utilities -- investor-owned utilities (IOUs), consumer-owned utilities (COUs), which include municipal utilities and electric cooperatives -- must offer net energy billing for individual customers. Furthermore IOUs are required to offer net metering for shared ownership customers, while COUs may offer net metering to shared ownership customers at their discretion. "Shared ownership" allows for community net metering, where several people invest in an eligible system and are therefore allowed to benefit (see below for more information).

Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing effectively allows property owners to borrow money to pay for energy improvements. The amount borrowed is typically repaid via a special assessment on the property over a period of years. Maine has authorized certain local governments to establish such programs, as described below.

Note: Maine's PACE program is accepting applications from homeowners in participating municipalities. Applications are submitted online.

The Public Service Company offers a two-tiered incentive program for residential and small commercial customers. Mini-Split Heat Pumps are eligible for a rebate of $600, as well as a loan to cover the initial cost of the heat pump purchase. Financing is offered at 7.75% APR, for up to five years for approved customers. Bangor Hydro or Maine Public Service residential or small commercial customer in good standing may participate.

Legislation enacted in 2009 directed the Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to develop a program offering green power as an option to residential and small commercial customers in the state. The PUC issued rules in October 2010 and issued an RFP. The PUC selected a company, 3 Degrees, to manage the statewide green power program for Maine's transmission and distribution territories. The program includes community-based renewable energy projects (to the extent possible). The green power program launched in April 2012.

Maine's 1997 restructuring legislation directed the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) to establish environmental disclosure rules for retail electric billing. The PUC rules require utilities to disclose to residential and small commercial customers details regarding the fuel mix and emissions of electric generation. Such information must be provided to customers at least once annually in the form of a standard label and upon request.

In 2003, Maine's governor established a goal for the state government to buy at least 50% of its electricity from "reasonably priced" renewable-power sources, paid for by energy conservation improvements in all state buildings. The goal was contained in the governor's "Vision" for meeting Maine's environmental needs. As of March 2007, Maine's state government was purchasing 100% of its power from renewable energy resources. The state's existing renewable energy portfolio standard accounts for 30% of this total.