21+ hour, 24+ min ago (480+ words) Community solar companies across Maine sued the Public Utilities Commission Monday, attempting to block the implementation of a new law designed to reduce the impact of subsidies for solar development on the state's electricity customers. A group of 11 companies are claiming the law, which modifies Maine's long-fought-over net energy billing program, violates their constitutional rights. The law, passed earlier this year, restructured the program, including by creating a monthly charge for some community solar projects based on their size. Those charges could range from $2,800 to $30,000, depending on how much electricity a given system is capable of producing, and are designed to offset the distribution costs that could otherwise fall to ratepayers. But the community solar companies claim it would cause "immediate and irreparable harm" to their business and are asking for a preliminary injunction before Jan. 1, when the new law…...