Bill Text - SB66 (2013)

Relative to the regional greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program.


Revision: Jan. 23, 2013, midnight

SB 66-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2013 SESSION

13-0924

09/05

SENATE BILL 66-FN

AN ACT relative to the regional greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15; Rep. Kaen, Straf 5

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the department of environmental services and the public utilities commission to include a review of effectiveness of allowance price control and consumer protection mechanisms in their annual report on the regional greenhouse gas initiatives (RGGI) program. The bill requires the department and commission to include recommendations for revisions to the New Hampshire RGGI program in their 2013 annual report.

The bill also establishes a method for determining the threshold price for any allowance sale.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

13-0924

09/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Thirteen

AN ACT relative to the regional greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Annual Report to Include Review of Consumer Protection Mechanisms. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 125-O:21, VI to read as follows:

VI. The department and the commission shall report on an annual basis to the air pollution advisory committee under RSA 125-J:11 and the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring under RSA 374-F:5, on the status of the implementation of RGGI in New Hampshire, with emphasis on the prices and availability of RGGI allowances to affected CO2 sources, consumer protection mechanisms, and the trends in electric rates for New Hampshire businesses and ratepayers. The report shall include but not be limited to:

2 Deletion. Amend RSA 125-O:21, VI(f) to read as follows:

(f) The spending of revenues from auction allowances by each RGGI state; [and]

3 Annual Report to Include Effectiveness of Allowance Price Control and Consumer Protection Mechanisms. Amend RSA 125-O:21, VI(h) to read as follows:

(h) Effectiveness of allowance price control and consumer protection mechanisms including, but not limited to, offsets, cost containment reserves, cost thresholds, and consumer rebates; and

(i) The status of any proposed or adopted federal CO2 cap and trade program, the impact on New Hampshire's RGGI program, and recommendations for any proposed legislation necessary to accommodate the federal program.

4 Use of Auction Proceeds; Threshold Price for Allowance Sale Increased. Amend RSA 21-O:23, II to read as follows:

II. The threshold price shall equal the current auction price minus 25 percent of the positive value of the difference between the previous quarterly auction price and the current auction price, except the maximum increase in the threshold price shall not exceed $1 for any allowance sale. All amounts in excess of the threshold price [of $1] for any allowance sale shall be rebated to all [default service] electric ratepayers in the state on a per-kilowatt-hour basis, in a timely manner to be determined by the commission.

5 Review of New Hampshire RGGI Program. Amend RSA 125-O:27 to read as follows:

125-O:27 Review of the New Hampshire RGGI Program. At the time of the 2012 comprehensive review by the signatory states as required in the MOU, the commission and the department shall concurrently review New Hampshire specific elements of the RGGI program, in particular RSA 125-O:23, II and IV and RSA 125-O:25, and include the results of such review and any recommendations for revisions to the New Hampshire RGGI program resulting from this review in the agencies' 2013 annual report under RSA 125-O:21, VI.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

13-0924

01/22/13

SB 66-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to the regional greenhouse gas initiative cap and trade program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

    Due to time constraints, the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to provide a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, at this time. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.