Revision: Sept. 17, 2022, 7:42 a.m.
CHAPTER 346
HB 2023-FN-A - FINAL VERSION
2022 SESSION
22-3136
10/07
HOUSE BILL 2023 -FN-A
SPONSORS: Rep. Steven Smith, Sull. 11
COMMITTEE: [committee]
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ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a state emergency fuel assistance program and a supplemental electric benefit to be administered by the department of energy for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and makes appropriations to the department of energy to fund the programs. The bill also makes an appropriation to the department for the electric low-income program fund.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
22-3136
10/07
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
346:1 Legislative Findings and Purpose. The general court finds that:
I. Heating costs in the state of New Hampshire are predicted to rise to unprecedented and potentially catastrophic levels during the 2022-2023 winter season and electric costs have approximately doubled for many Granite Staters.
II. In addition to these fuel and electric costs, Granite Staters are also facing price inflation on everyday items and high gasoline prices, which affect household budgets. There are programs in New Hampshire delivering monetary aid to households having up to 60 percent of the median income in New Hampshire, and it is reasonable to assume that inflation will extend the potential need for aid to households with income above that limit.
III. Price inflation is largely driven by federal policies, federal spending, the Federal Reserve, and worldwide events over which we have no control. Inflation reduces spending power. Due to reduced spending power, households with New Hampshire residents who earn between 60 percent and 75 percent of the state median income may also need relief.
IV. The fiscally responsible leadership of the 2021-2022 general court has created a favorable economic environment that has helped businesses outperform initial estimates thereby creating a budget surplus. This budget surplus can be used to supplement electric and home heating expenses for households within the 60 percent to 75 percent median income bracket without raising the future tax burden of the state.
V. It is prudent to enact a one-time relief package for these extraordinary circumstances and not a permanent program. Relief payments will not be paid to applicants, but rather directly to their utility companies.
VI. Providing direct aid via these surplus funds may reduce the burden on local municipalities’ welfare programs thereby offsetting a potential increased tax burden that would otherwise be passed along to property owners at the local level.
346:2 Department of Energy; State Emergency Fuel Assistance Program; Supplemental Electric Assistance Program; Appropriation; Report.
I.(a) The department of energy, division of policy and programs, shall administer a state emergency fuel assistance program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. To the extent of funds specifically appropriated for the program, the program shall provide assistance in the amount of $450. To be eligible, a household shall have an annual income greater than 60 percent of the state median income to at or below 75 percent of the state median income. The program shall provide assistance with regard to the same fuels and shall be administered in the same manner as LIHEAP is managed in New Hampshire on the effective date of this act. Applications for this program shall be accepted through April 30, 2023.
(b) The sum of $25,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023 is hereby appropriated to the department of energy for the purpose of implementing the state emergency fuel assistance program under subparagraph (a), including administrative and advertising costs related to this program. These funds shall be accounted for separately from federal LIHEAP funds and other funds held by the department of energy. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Any unexpended funds remaining on June 30, 2023 shall be lapsed to the general fund.
II.(a) The department of energy, division of policy and programs, shall administer a program to provide a supplemental electric benefit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023. To the extent of funds specifically appropriated for the program, the program shall provide a household single credit in the amount of $200. To be eligible, a household shall have an annual income greater than 60 percent of the state median income to at or below 75 percent of the state median income and have an electric account in their name with any electric distribution utility providing service in the state, including municipal electric distribution utilities. Applications for this program shall be taken in conjunction with the emergency fuel assistance program.
(b) There is hereby appropriated the sum of $ 10,000,000 for fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to the commissioner of the department of energy for the purpose of administering a supplemental electric benefit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, including administrative and advertising costs related to this program. These funds shall be accounted for separately from all other funds held by the department of energy. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated. Any sum not expended by the department of energy by June 30, 2023, shall lapse to the general fund.
III. The administration of the state emergency fuel assistance program in paragraph I and the supplemental electric benefit in paragraph II by the department of energy shall be exempt from the provisions of RSA 541-A.
IV. On or before 60 days after the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, the department shall report to the fiscal committee of the general court and governor and executive council, the amount of moneys paid under this act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.
346:3 Electric Low-Income Program Fund. Amend RSA 374-F:4, VIII(c) to read as follows:
(c) The portion of the system benefits charge due to programs for low-income customers shall not exceed 1.5 mills per kilowatt hour. If the commission determines that the low-income program fund has accumulated an excess of $1,000,000 and that the excess is not likely to be substantially reduced over the next 12 months, it shall suspend collection of some or all of this portion of the system benefits charge for a period of time it deems reasonable. The commission shall take no action to determine the accumulation of any excess in the low-income program fund or otherwise suspend the collection of some or all of the system benefits charge related to the low-income program fund before June 30, 2024.
346:4 Appropriation; Electric Low-Income Program Fund. There is hereby appropriated the sum of $7,000,000 to the department of energy, which shall be continually appropriated to the department and shall be nonlapsing, to supplement the dedicated fund described in RSA 6:12, I(b)(71), which, like other moneys in that fund, shall be maintained pursuant to the provisions of RSA 6:12-b and managed in accordance with the electric assistance program benefit levels and procedures established by the public utilities commission. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
346:5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved: September 15, 2022
Effective Date: September 15, 2022