HB 690-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
05/08/2025 1810s
2025 SESSION
25-0508
06/05
HOUSE BILL 690-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Summers, Rock. 20; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Harrington, Straf. 18
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of energy to investigate the state's withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategic decisions affecting ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05/08/2025 1810s 25-0508
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Department of Energy Investigation. Amend RSA 12-P by inserting after section 16 the following new section:
12-P:17 Investigation. The department of energy shall conduct an investigation into the state of New Hampshire’s withdrawal from ISO New England and other strategies to assure that New Hampshire ratepayers do not pay for public policy initiatives of other New England states, including environmental policies, in a manner that is unjust and unreasonable. It shall be funded by an assessment in accordance with RSA 365:37.
I. This investigation shall answer the following questions:
(a) What are the current rights and obligations of ISO New England? Which responsibilities, currently held by ISO New England, could New Hampshire meet on its own through state agencies, utilities, or otherwise?
(b) Have other states, or utilities in other states, or both, left or considered leaving ISO New England or any other regional transmission organization? What has been the result of such initiatives?
(c) What new capabilities would state government and/or utilities need to develop if New Hampshire were no longer participating in ISO New England?
(d) What are the costs and benefits to New Hampshire of leaving ISO New England? Would the state and its electric ratepayers suffer economically inefficient outcomes as a result, including exit fees, duplication of investments or costs, or operational redundancies?
(e) What effect would exiting ISO New England have on the reliability of the bulk power transmission system serving New Hampshire?
(f) What are the benefits to New Hampshire of continued participation in ISO New England? What opportunities exist to improve such outcomes should New Hampshire continue to participate in ISO New England?
(g) What impediments to ISO New England withdrawal exist as the result of federal law, state law, or other legal obligations?
(h) How can a regional wholesale electricity market balance differing state policy goals while ensuring just and reasonable outcomes for New Hampshire utility customers?
(i) What changes to existing ISO New England tariffs would be necessary in order to allow New Hampshire to withdraw from ISO New England?
(j) What obligations would New Hampshire, and entities operating in New Hampshire, incur under the Federal Power Act if New Hampshire were to withdraw from ISO New England?
(k) What alternative regulatory structures, beyond reliance on a regional transmission organization like ISO New England, should New Hampshire consider to assure that New Hampshire electric customers receive safe and reliable service at the lowest possible cost?
(l) Is the governance of ISO New England, including its board of directors as well as its stakeholder advisory body NEPOOL, sufficiently accountable to the public and adequate to assure that ISO New England is operated in the public interest?
(m) When operating independently of ISO-New England, what restrictions would be placed on the state by the Federal Power Act or principles of federalism? What powers are beyond the state's purview?
(n) What alternative regulatory structures could the state explore that would better allow it to serve reliable, affordable electricity to its citizens?
II. The report of answers shall be provided to the senate and house committees responsible for energy policy within one year of its passage.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
25-0508
Revised 1/31/25
HB 690-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Increase in excess of $200,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | RSA 365:37 Special Utility Assessment | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Energy to investigate the state's potential withdrawal from ISO-New England, as well as other strategic decisions impacting ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.
The Department of Energy states that this investigation would require substantial knowledge of ISO-New England's regional electricity markets, which exceeds the Department's current resources. As a result, a consultant would be necessary to fulfill the bill's requirements. While consultant costs can vary, the Department's recent experiences indicate an expenditure of $200,000 or more. It is assumed that all costs associated with the investigation will be specially assessed to electric distribution utilities in accordance with RSA 365:37.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Energy
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2025 | 2025-1810s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 10, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 18, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 8, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 8, 2025 | Senate | Floor Vote |
May 8, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1810s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
May 8, 2025: Committee Amendment # 2025-1810s, AA, VV; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
April 30, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1810s, 05/08/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 20
April 3, 2025: Hearing: 04/08/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:30 am; SC 16
March 28, 2025: Introduced 03/27/2025 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 10
March 27, 2025: Ought to Pass: MA RC 200-155 03/27/2025 HJ 11
Feb. 21, 2025: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 21, 2025: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 02/18/2025 (Vote 10-8; RC) HC 17 P. 68
Feb. 12, 2025: Executive Session: 02/18/2025 01:00 pm LOB 302-304
Feb. 5, 2025: Public Hearing: 02/10/2025 03:00 pm LOB 302-304
Jan. 21, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 01/09/2025 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 3 P. 23