Bill Text - HB1555 (2018)

Relative to participation by the public utilities commission in regional activities.


Revision: Nov. 9, 2017, 9:30 a.m.

HB 1555 - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2018 SESSION

18-2062

10/06

 

HOUSE BILL 1555

 

AN ACT relative to participation by the public utilities commission in regional activities.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Harrington, Straf. 3

 

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the public utilities commission and the office of the consumer advocate to advocate against regional or federal policies which are not the policies in this state and which would result in higher electric rates.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18-2062

10/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to participation by the public utilities commission in regional activities.

 

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

 

 

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 any regional or federal rules or policies or any proposed regional or federal rules or policies that were created or proposed based the policies, rules, or laws of other states if:

I.  Such other state policies, rules, or laws are not the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire; and

II.  Implementation of the regional or federal rule or policy would result in higher rates to New Hampshire ratepayers.

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 any regional or federal rules or policies or any proposed regional  or federal policies that were created or proposed based on the policies, rules, or laws of other states if;

(a)  Such other state policies, rules, or laws are not the policies, rules, or laws of New Hampshire; and

(b)  Implementation of the regional or federal rule or policy would result in higher rates to New Hampshire ratepayers.

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