HB 246-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
14Feb2023... 0288h
2023 SESSION
23-0483
10/05
HOUSE BILL 246-FN
AN ACT relative to uses of moneys in the renewable energy fund.
SPONSORS: Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill provides that for a 2-year period all moneys in the renewable energy fund derived from renewable energy certificates shall be used to reduce ratepayer costs, and requires the public utilities commission to open a docket to determine how renewable energy fund moneys will be distributed to ratepayers.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
14Feb2023... 0288h 23-0483
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three
AN ACT relative to uses of moneys in the renewable energy fund.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Renewable Energy Fund; Use of Funds. Amend RSA 362-F:10, I to read as follows:
I. There is hereby established a renewable energy fund. This nonlapsing special fund shall be continually appropriated to the department of energy to be expended in accordance with this section; provided that at the start of the period in which there is no adopted state operating budget, the department of energy shall in a timely manner seek the approval of the fiscal committee of the general court to continue using moneys from the renewable energy fund to support renewable energy rebate and grant programs in order to ensure there are no interruptions to the programs. The state treasurer shall invest the moneys deposited therein as provided by law. Income received on investments made by the state treasurer shall also be credited to the fund. All payments to be made under this section shall be deposited in the fund.
(a) For the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, notwithstanding paragraphs V through XI, any remaining moneys paid into the fund under paragraph II of this section shall be used by the department of energy to reduce ratepayer costs via a public utilities commission approved reduction in electric rates.
(b) Commencing July 1, 2025, any remaining moneys paid into the fund under paragraph II of this section, excluding class II moneys, shall be used by the department of energy to support thermal and electrical renewable energy initiatives. Class II moneys shall primarily be used to support solar energy technologies in New Hampshire. All initiatives supported out of these funds shall be subject to audit by the department of energy as deemed necessary. All fund moneys including those from class II may be used to administer this chapter, but all new employee positions shall be approved by the fiscal committee of the general court. No new employees shall be hired by the department of energy due to the inclusion of useful thermal energy in class I production.
2 Public Utilities Commission; Proceedings on Use of Renewable Energy Fund. Within 60 days after the effective date of this act, the public utilities commission shall open a docket to determine how the moneys in the renewable energy fund under RSA 362-F:10, as amended by this act, will be distributed to ratepayers. The public utilities commission shall complete its action on such docket within 60 days after the date the docket was opened.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
23-0483
Amended 3/6/23
HB 246-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE (AMENDMENT #2023-0288h)
AN ACT relative to uses of moneys in the renewable energy fund.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | $0 |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ X ] Highway [ X ] Other - Various Government Funds, Renewable Energy Fund | |||
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COUNTY: |
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Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | $0 |
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LOCAL: |
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Revenue | $0 | Indeterminable | Indeterminable | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Decrease | Indeterminable Decrease | $0 |
METHODOLOGY:
This bill provides that for a 2-year period all moneys in the renewable energy fund derived from renewable energy certificates shall be used to reduce ratepayer costs, and requires the public utilities commission to open a docket to determine how renewable energy fund moneys will be distributed to ratepayers.
The Department of Energy assumes the intent of this bill, as amended by the House, is to require alternative compliance payments made in FY 2024 and FY 2025 by electric distribution utilities or competitive suppliers to be refunded to ratepayers through a process determined by the public utilities commission. Beginning in fiscal year 2026, alternative compliance payments made would be deposited into the renewable energy fund. The Department provided the following information concerning the fiscal impact of the bill:
The Department of Energy suggests, in order to add clarity, the following sentence be added at the end of proposed RSA 362-F:10,I (a): "Commencing July 1, 2025 all payments to be made under this section shall be deposited in the fund."
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Energy
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 9, 2023 | 2023-0288h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2023 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 24, 2023 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 31, 2023 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 3, 2023 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2023 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 3, 2023 | House | Floor Vote |
Oct. 27, 2023: Died on Table, Session ended 10/26/2023 HJ 18
Feb. 15, 2023: Lay HB246 on Table (Rep. Hoell): MA VV 02/14/2023 HJ 5 P. 23
Feb. 15, 2023: Inexpedient to Legislate: MF DV 184-184 02/14/2023 HJ 5 P. 23
Feb. 15, 2023: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2023-0288h: MF RC 179-186 02/14/2023 HJ 5 P. 21
Feb. 15, 2023: Amendment # 2023-0288h: AA VV 02/14/2023 HJ 5 P. 20
Feb. 8, 2023: Committee Report: Without Recommendation 02/03/2023 (Vote ; RC) HC 11 P. 13
Jan. 31, 2023: Executive Session: 02/03/2023 04:00 pm LOB 302-304
Jan. 25, 2023: Executive Session: 02/03/2023 04:00 pm LOB 302-304
Jan. 25, 2023: Public Hearing: 01/31/2023 10:00 am LOB 302-304
Jan. 18, 2023: Executive Session: 01/24/2023 04:00 pm LOB 302-304
Jan. 18, 2023: ==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/23/2023 03:00 pm LOB 302-304
Jan. 9, 2023: Introduced (in recess of) 01/05/2023 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 2 P. 8