1 Electric Utility Restructuring; Participation by the Public Utilities Commission in Regional Activities. Amend RSA 374-F:8 to read as follows:

374-F:8 Participation in Regional Activities. The commission shall advocate for New Hampshire interests before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regional and federal bodies. The commission shall participate in the activities of the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and the New England States Committee on Electricity, or other similar organizations, and work with the New England Independent System Operator and NEPOOL to advance the interests of New Hampshire with respect to wholesale electric issues, including policy goals relating to fuel diversity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, and to assure nondiscriminatory open access to a safe, adequate, and reliable transmission system at just and reasonable prices. The commission shall advocate against proposed regional or federal rules or policies that are inconsistent with the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire. In its participation in regional activities, the commission shall consider how other states' policies will impact New Hampshire rates and work to prevent or minimize any rate impact the commission determines to be unjust or unreasonable.

2 Office of the Consumer Advocate. Amend RSA 363:28, IV to read as follows:

IV. The consumer advocate shall have authority to promote and further consumer knowledge and education. The consumer advocate shall advocate against proposed regional or federal rules or policies that are inconsistent with the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire. In its participation in regional activities, the consumer advocate shall consider how other states' policies will impact New Hampshire rates and work to prevent or minimize any rate impact the consumer advocate determines to be unjust or unreasonable.

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

1 Electric Utility Restructuring; Participation by the Public Utilities Commission in Regional Activities. Amend RSA 374-F:8 to read as follows:

374-F:8 Participation in Regional Activities. The commission shall advocate for New Hampshire interests before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regional and federal bodies. The commission shall participate in the activities of the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and the New England States Committee on Electricity, or other similar organizations, and work with the New England Independent System Operator and NEPOOL to advance the interests of New Hampshire with respect to wholesale electric issues, including policy goals relating to fuel diversity, renewable energy, and energy efficiency, and to assure nondiscriminatory open access to a safe, adequate, and reliable transmission system at just and reasonable prices. The commission shall advocate against proposed regional or federal rules or policies that are inconsistent with the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire. In its participation in regional activities, the commission shall consider how other states' policies will impact New Hampshire rates and work to prevent or minimize any rate impact the commission determines to be unjust or unreasonable.

2 Office of the Consumer Advocate. Amend RSA 363:28, IV to read as follows:

IV. The consumer advocate shall have authority to promote and further consumer knowledge and education. The consumer advocate shall advocate against proposed regional or federal rules or policies that are inconsistent with the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire. In its participation in regional activities, the consumer advocate shall consider how other states' policies will impact New Hampshire rates and work to prevent or minimize any rate impact the consumer advocate determines to be unjust or unreasonable.

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