1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the Granite State Ratepayer Protection Act.

2 Public Utilities Commission; Participation in Regional Activities; Costs. 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

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Short Title. This act shall be known as the Granite State Ratepayer Protection Act.

2 Public Utilities Commission; Participation in Regional Activities; Costs. 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 , including, but not limited to, unjust or unreasonable returns on equity. The commission shall directly assess gas and electric distribution utilities the costs and expenses of fulfilling its duties under this section, including the costs and expenses of assistants hired by the commission, based on the annual revenues of the utilities in the same manner as issued in assessing the annual operating expenses of the commission, or as appropriate and equitable on a case by case basis. Such costs and expenses shall not include any part of the salaries of the commissioners or of employees of the commission, or the commission's membership fees for the New England Conference of Public Utility Commissioners and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. The commission may make and the utilities shall pay such assessments monthly, quarterly, or annually at the commission's election. The commission shall by order establish rate recovery mechanisms for any public utility assessment imposed pursuant to this section. Such rate recovery mechanisms shall adjust at least annually to recover any change in a utility's assessment.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.