(WGAN) Gov. Janet Mills has unveiled legislation that aims to significantly reform and strengthen the state’s approach to the oversight and accountability of electric utilities.

Gov. Mills says her proposed bill, which was unveiled Wednesday, would require the Maine Public Utilities Commission to establish minimum standards of service that must be met by Maine’s electric utilities.

The legislation would give the PUC the authority to impose harsher penalties, and if necessary, allow the PUC to force the sale of a utility that doesn’t meet the new standards.

The proposal could potentially serve as an alternative to a referendum drive to create a consumer-owned utility to replace CMP and Versant Power.