CHAPTER 309
HB 1718-FN - FINAL VERSION
19Feb2026... 0582h
05/07/2026 1791s
05/14/2026 1909s
4Jun2026... 2157EBA
2026 SESSION
26-3131
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1718-FN
AN ACT relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
SPONSORS: Rep. Vose, Rock. 5; Rep. Cormen, Graf. 15; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Harrington, Straf. 18; Rep. Mattson, Ches. 18; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 35; Rep. Schneller, Hills. 2; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Watters, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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ANALYSIS
This bill adds rulemaking authority for the department of energy regarding customer energy storage systems, updates terminology, and authorizes the PUC to set compensation terms for energy storage exports charged solely from renewable sources.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Feb2026... 0582h
05/07/2026 1791s
05/14/2026 1909s
4Jun2026... 2157EBA 26-3131
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
309:1 Limited Electrical Energy Producers Definitions. Amend RSA 362-A:1-a, II-b to read as follows:
II-b. "Eligible customer-generator" or "customer-generator" means an electric utility customer who owns, operates, or purchases power from an electrical generating facility either powered by renewable energy or which employs a heat led combined heat and power system, with a total peak generating capacity, or maximum nameplate rating, of up to and including one megawatt, except as provided for a municipal host as defined in paragraph II-c, that is located behind a retail meter on the customer's premises, is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electric grid, and is used to offset the customer's own electricity requirements. Energy storage, as defined in RSA 374-H:1, III, may be added to such a generation facility without affecting the generation facility's size determination relating to its eligibility to net meter. Such energy storage, if configured to allow electricity to be exported to the grid, shall be charged only from such generation facility, except as provided for in RSA 362-A:9, XXIV. Incremental generation added to an existing generation facility, that does not itself qualify for net metering, shall qualify if such incremental generation meets the qualifications of this paragraph and is metered separately from the [nonqualifying] non-qualifying facility.
309:2 New Paragraph; Customer Energy Storage Definitions. Amend RSA 374-H:1 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:
II-a. "Department" means the department of energy.
309:3 Customer Energy Storage Systems. Amend the introductory paragraph for RSA 374-H:2, I to read as follows:
I. The [commission] department shall adopt rules [or approve tariffs] clarifying policy for the installation[,] and interconnection[, and use] of energy storage systems by customers of utilities, while the commission may approve tariffs and issue orders in adjudicated proceedings that are consistent with such rules and pertain to the use of and utility compensation for such energy storage systems. The department and the commission [and] shall incorporate the following principles into the rules and orders, respectively [or approved tariffs]:
309:4 New Paragraph; Net Metering. Amend RSA 362-A:9 by inserting after paragraph XXIII the following new paragraph:
XXIV. The commission may determine terms and conditions for how a customer-generator may use and be compensated for exports to the grid from energy storage added to renewable energy generation sources in conjunction with net metering and related tariff provisions. The commission shall require such energy storage, if configured to allow electricity to be exported to the grid, to be charged only from such generation facility, unless charging is under the control of an entity other than the customer-generator or as otherwise authorized by the commission in an adjudicated proceeding.
309:5 Customer Energy Storage; Customer Energy Storage Systems. Amend RSA 374-H:2, II to read as follows:
II. Nothing in this section alters or supersedes either:
(a) The principles of net energy metering under RSA 362-A:9, except to clarify that the commission has the authority to allow storage as part of the net metering; or
(b) Any existing electrical permit requirements or any licensing or certification requirements for installers, manufacturers, or equipment.
309:6 Customer Energy Storage Systems; Department Safety Requirements. Amend RSA 374-H:2, I(b) to read as follows:
(b) New Hampshire's consumers of electricity have a right to install, interconnect, and use energy storage systems on their property, subject to appropriate size and safety requirements established by the [commission] department, without the burden of unnecessary restrictions or regulations and without unduly discriminatory rates or fees, provided that such storage systems conform to local zoning ordinances and building codes.
309:7 Limited Electrical Energy Producers Definitions. Amend RSA 362-A:1-a, II-b to read as follows:
II-b. "Eligible customer-generator" or "customer-generator" means an electric utility customer who owns, operates, or purchases power from an electrical generating facility either powered by renewable energy or which employs a heat led combined heat and power system, with a total peak generating capacity, or maximum nameplate rating, of up to and including one megawatt, except as provided for a municipal host as defined in paragraph II-c, that is located behind a retail meter on the customer's premises, is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electric grid, and is used to offset the customer's own electricity requirements. Energy storage, as defined in RSA 374-H:1, III, may be added to such a generation facility without affecting the generation facility's size determination relating to its eligibility to net meter. Such energy storage, if configured to allow electricity to be exported to the grid, shall be charged only from such generation facility, except as provided for in RSA 362-A:9, XXV. Incremental generation added to an existing generation facility, that does not itself qualify for net metering, shall qualify if such incremental generation meets the qualifications of this paragraph and is metered separately from the [nonqualifying] non-qualifying facility.
309:8 New Paragraph; Net Metering. Amend RSA 362-A:9 by inserting after paragraph XXIV the following new paragraph:
XXV. The commission may determine terms and conditions for how a customer-generator may use and be compensated for exports to the grid from energy storage added to renewable energy generation sources in conjunction with net metering and related tariff provisions. The commission shall require such energy storage, if configured to allow electricity to be exported to the grid, to be charged only from such generation facility, unless charging is under the control of an entity other than the customer-generator or as otherwise authorized by the commission in an adjudicated proceeding.
309:9 Contingency. If HB 1742 of the 2026 regular legislative session becomes law, sections 1 and 4 of this act shall not take effect and sections 7 and 8 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027. If HB 1742 of the 2026 regular legislative session does not become law, sections 1 and 4 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027 and sections 7 and 8 of this act shall not take effect.
I. Sections 1, 4, 7, and 8 of this act shall take effect as provided in section 9 of this act.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Approved: July 10, 2026
Effective Date:
I. Sections 1,4,7, and 8 effective as provided in section 9
II. Remainder effective January 1, 2027
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2026 | 2026-0391h |
| Feb. 11, 2026 | 2026-0582h |
| April 29, 2026 | 2026-1714s |
| May 7, 2026 | 2026-1791s |
| May 12, 2026 | 2026-1909s |
| June 16, 2026 | 2026-2157EBA |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 26, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 27, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 29, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Feb. 9, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Feb. 9, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| March 17, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| March 17, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
| April 9, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 14, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
July 16, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/10/2026; Chapter 309; eff. I. Secs 1.4.7.8 eff prov sec 9 II. Rem eff 1/1/2027
July 1, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026
June 30, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
June 17, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2157e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 17, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2157e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
May 21, 2026: House Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1909s and 2026-1791s (Reps. Vose, Weyler): MA VV 05/21/2026 HJ 14
May 14, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1909s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 14, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1909s, AA, VV; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1909s, 05/14/2026, Vote 7-0; SC 18A
May 7, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1791s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Sen. Watters Floor Amendment # 2026-1791s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1714s, AF, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 7, 2026: HB 1718 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 29, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1714s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
April 1, 2026: Hearing: 04/09/2026, Room 103, SH, 02:00 pm; SC 13
March 30, 2026: Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 3
March 18, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 25-0; CC)
March 13, 2026: Executive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 24, 2026: Division I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
Feb. 19, 2026: Referred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 102
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0582h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 102
Feb. 19, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0582h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 102
Feb. 11, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0582h 02/09/2026 (Vote 17-0; RC) HC 7 P. 38
Feb. 5, 2026: Executive Session: 02/09/2026 11:00 am GP 229
Jan. 23, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/29/2026 02:00 pm GP 158
Jan. 21, 2026: ==CANCELLED== Executive Session: 01/27/2026 03:00 pm GP 229
Jan. 21, 2026: ==CANCELLED== Public Hearing: 01/26/2026 02:00 pm GP 229
Dec. 12, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 32