Bill Text - HB352 (2017)

Relative to the energy efficiency fund.


Revision: Jan. 30, 2017, 9:57 a.m.

HB 352-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2017 SESSION

17-0213

06/09

 

HOUSE BILL 352-FN

 

AN ACT relative to the energy efficiency fund.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Richardson, Coos 4; Rep. Murotake, Hills. 32; Rep. Backus, Hills. 19; Rep. Shepardson, Ches. 10; Rep. Merner, Coos 7; Rep. S. Harvey, Hills. 29

 

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill changes the name of the energy efficiency fund to the energy fund.  This bill also adds project categories that may be funded by the energy fund.

 

This bill was requested by the department of environmental services.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

17-0213

06/09

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seventeen

 

AN ACT relative to the energy efficiency fund.

 

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

 

1  State Facility Energy Cost Reduction; Energy Efficiency Fund.  Amend RSA 21-I:19-f to read as follows:

21-I:19-f  Energy [Efficiency] Fund.  There is hereby established an energy [efficiency] fund into which shall only be deposited moneys received by the state for participating in demand response, or utility or public utility commission programs, or both.  The state treasurer may invest moneys in the fund as provided by law, with interest received on such investment credited to the fund.  Moneys in the fund shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the division of plant and property to be used exclusively to fund energy efficiency or renewable energy projects and energy efficiency or renewable energy contracts; to reimburse the department of administrative services, division of public works design and construction, for costs of providing construction administration services including, but not limited to, design and oversight of design and construction of energy saving or renewable energy measures; and to reimburse state agencies for demand response program expenses or completing energy saving or renewable energy measures.

2  State Treasurer; Application of Receipts.  Amend RSA 6:12, I(b)(271) to read as follows:

(271)  Moneys deposited in the energy [efficiency] fund established in RSA 21-I:19-f.

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

 

LBAO

17-0213

1/4/17

 

HB 352-FN- FISCAL NOTE

as introduced

 

AN ACT relative to the energy efficiency fund.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

   Expenditures

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [    ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill changes the name of the Energy Efficiency Fund to the Energy Fund and provides that both energy efficiency and renewable energy projects may be used to generate moneys to be deposited into the fund.  Under current law, the fund only receives revenues from the State's participation in demand response programs which may result from energy efficiency savings.  This bill would allow moneys in the fund to be used for renewable energy projects and contracts in addition to energy efficiency projects and contracts which are permitted under current law.  The Fund is and would remain under this bill, nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the Department of Administrative Services.    

 

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) states that by adding renewable energy project revenues and allowing those revenues to be generated from utility and PUC programs, this bill adds potential additional restricted revenue to the fund.  The PUC is unable to predict the extent to which State agencies will participate in renewable energy projects to estimate the impact on additional state expenditures.  

 

The Department of Administrative Services estimates the amount of additional annual revenue from demand response, utility and or PUC programs to be $75,000.  The Department estimates additional annual expenses for energy projects to be $50,000 and the average payback period for such projects to be 7 years or approximately $7,142.  Based on those assumptions the Department estimates the following impact to state expenditures and potential savings over time:

 

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

FY 2021

Estimated Energy Project Investment Running Total

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

Annual Savings Running Total

$7,142

$14,284

$21,426

$28,568

 

The Department of Environmental Services and Treasury Department state this bill will not impact their respective operating budgets.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, Department of Administrative Services, Treasury Department, and Department of Environmental Services