ME LD1963

Establishes the "Maine Public Utility Whistleblower Protection Act" protecting employees and contractors of public utilities, competitive electricity providers, and affiliated interests who report imprudent or illegal activity to legislative committees, the Public Utilities Commission, or the Public Advocate

Whistleblowers may receive financial compensation of 10% to 30% of any administrative penalty or ratepayer savings resulting from their report, with the amount based on how instrumental their information was to the outcome

Requires employers to provide live or recorded whistleblower training and assessment to all employees at least every 2 years, administered by the Office of the Public Advocate, with aggregate results reported to the commission

Creates a secure anonymous hotline or portal for reporting, though anonymous reports alone cannot serve as the sole evidentiary basis for penalties, rate reductions, or disallowances against utilities

Prohibits retaliation against whistleblowers including discharge, threats, discrimination, or contract termination, with civil remedies available including reinstatement, back wages, benefits restoration, and attorney's fees for prevailing parties