CHAPTER 335
SB 323 – FINAL VERSION
03/24/10 1013s
12May2010… 1705h
2010 SESSION
09/10
SENATE BILL 323
AN ACT requiring the public utilities commission to study certain energy policy issues.
SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24; Sen. Merrill, Dist 21
COMMITTEE: Energy, Environment and Economic Development
This bill requires the public utilities commission to contract for an independent study of certain energy policy issues and submit the results of its study to the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/24/10 1013s
12May2010… 1705h
10-2797
09/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT requiring the public utilities commission to study certain energy policy issues.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
335:1 Public Utilities Commission; Study of Energy Policy Issues.
I. The public utilities commission shall contract for an independent study, through means of a nonadjudicative investigation utilizing a broad collaborative process, regarding legislative, regulatory, and market-based policy options to address the following issues:
(a) A comprehensive review and analysis of energy efficiency, conservation, demand response, and sustainable energy programs and incentives in the state, and recommendations for possible improvements to maximize their effectiveness and increase coordination of those programs and incentives.
(b) The appropriate role of regulated energy utilities, providers of energy and energy efficiency, and others in helping the state and consumers achieve the state’s energy efficiency potential for all fuels.
(c) The effectiveness and sustainability of all funds available to stimulate investment in energy efficiency and clean energy to advance the state’s energy goals.
(d) Policy changes that may be necessary in order to achieve the state’s energy efficiency and sustainable energy goals and to create the most cost-effective delivery systems to ensure optimum use of state funds, initiatives, and programs.
II. The public utilities commission shall work in cooperation and close consultation with the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board in choosing an independent consultant and managing the development of the study.
III. The cost of the study shall not exceed $300,000, and shall be performed by an independent entity with expertise in energy efficiency, sustainable energy, program design and implementation, and evolving energy technologies. The public utilities commission shall utilize in the first instance available funding for monitoring, evaluation, and verification of existing programs, to the extent feasible, in support of this study. The commission may supplement these funds as needed by utility assessment pursuant to RSA 365:37.
IV. The public utilities commission shall submit the results of the study to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairs of the senate energy, environment and economic development committee and the house science, technology and energy committee, and the energy efficiency and sustainable energy board in an interim report on or before November 1, 2010 and a final report on or before November 1, 2011. All reports shall also be posted on the public utilities commission website.
V. The energy efficiency and sustainable energy board shall provide its recommendations, upon review of the comprehensive study, to the senate president, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the chairs of the senate energy, environment and economic development committee and the house science, technology and energy committee as soon as practicable.
335:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: July 20, 2010
Effective Date: July 20, 2010