State PUC 'Gurus' Recommend Consolidation Of Dispatch Centers

PUC: Merging 911 call centers would save lives

By Leslie Bridgers
Staff writer 

HALLOWELL — The state should cover some costs for local dispatch centers to consolidate with regional 911 call centers, the Public Utilities Commission recommends.

The commission believes getting local dispatch centers to consolidate voluntarily with one of 17 regional call centers would reduce costs and improve public safety.

Many municipalities are reluctant to give up control of their dispatching services, however, and will need incentives to do so, the commission wrote in a letter to legislators.

The PUC made a final recommendation Monday to the Legislature on how to consolidate the number of 911 call centers in the state from 26 to 17 and improve emergency dispatching services.
All emergency calls in the state are answered at designated 911 call centers, called public-safety answering points. Many are then transferred to local dispatchers who alert police, fire and rescue departments.

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