Bill Text - HB1796 (2018)

Relative to the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring.


Revision: May 2, 2018, 3:02 p.m.

HB 1796 - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

 

05/02/2018   1798s

2018 SESSION

18-3028

10/06

 

HOUSE BILL 1796

 

AN ACT relative to the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Backus, Hills. 19; Rep. Richardson, Coos 4; Sen. Feltes, Dist 15

 

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill renames the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring as the legislative oversight committee to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services.

 

This bill is a request of the committee to study transmission, distribution, generation, and other costs in the state's electricity system.

 

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

05/02/2018   1798s 18-3028

10/06

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eighteen

 

AN ACT relative to the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring.

 

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

 

1  Legislative Oversight Committee; Name Change;  Duties.  Amend RSA 374-F:5 to read as follows:

374-F:5  Oversight Committee; Establishment; Report; Meetings.

I.  There is established a legislative oversight committee [on electric utility restructuring] to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services consisting of 7 members as follows:

(a)  Five members of the house, at least 3 of whom shall be members of the [science, technology and energy] committee[, or its successor] with jurisdiction over utilities and energy, and at least one of whom shall be a member of a minority party, appointed by the speaker of the house.

(b  Two members of the senate, at least one of whom shall be a member of the [energy and economic development] committee[, or its successor] with jurisdiction over utilities and energy, and at least one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, appointed by the president of the senate.

II.  Committee members shall be appointed to 2-year terms expiring on the first Wednesday of even-numbered years.  Members may succeed themselves.

III.  The committee shall provide an interim report on or before April 1, and an annual report on or before November 1 to the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, the state library, and the public utilities commission on [the status of electric utility restructuring, including the status of core energy efficiency programs monitored under RSA 374-F:6] activities before the public utilities commission and other cognizant state agencies in regard to evolving changes in the provision of electric services to New Hampshire customers, including modernization of the electric grid, development of technologies for electric storage, electrification of transportation, the growth of distributed generation, the commission's role in a deregulated market, and such matters as may arise that may present opportunities to improve the delivery of electric services or to reduce cost.

IV.  The committee shall meet quarterly or as often as is necessary to conduct its business. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

V.  Members shall receive mileage when attending to the duties of the committee.

2  Reference Changed; Mercury Emissions Reports.  Amend RSA 125-O:13, IX to read as follows:

IX.  The owner shall report by June 30, 2007 and annually thereafter, to the legislative oversight committee [on electric utility restructuring] to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services, established under RSA 374-F:5, and the chairpersons of the house science, technology and energy committee and the senate energy and [economic development] natural resources committee, on the progress and status of complying with the requirements of paragraphs I and III, relative to achieving early reductions in mercury emissions and also installing and operating the scrubber technology including any updated cost information.  The last report required shall be after the department has made a determination, under paragraph V, on the maximum sustainable rate of mercury emissions reductions by the scrubber technology.

3  Reference Changed; Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  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] to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services 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:

4  Reference Changed; Renewable Energy Fund.  Amend RSA 362-F:10, IV to read as follows:

IV.  The commission shall make an annual report by October 1 of each year, beginning in 2009, to the legislative oversight committee [on electric utility restructuring] to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services established under RSA 374-F:5, the house science, technology and energy committee, and the senate energy and natural resources committee detailing how the renewable energy fund is being used and any recommended changes to such use.  The report shall also include information on the total peak generating capacity that is net energy metered under RSA 362-A:9 within the franchise area of each electric distribution utility, and the percentage this represents of the amount that is allowed to be net metered within each franchise area.  Information shall be provided on net metered group host registrations and the associated customer groups, including number and location of group host facilities, generation by renewable source and size of facility, and group load served by such facilities.

5  Reference Changed; Implementation of Restructuring.  Amend RSA 374-F:4, VIII(f) to read as follows:

(f)  Beginning in 2000, the commission shall submit a report to the legislative oversight committee [on electric utility restructuring] to monitor the transformation of delivery of electric services by October 1 of each year.  The report shall concern the results and effectiveness of the system benefits charge.

6  Repeal  RSA 369-B:3-a, V, relative to a 2015 report on divestiture of PSNH generation assets, is repealed.

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