Revision: Dec. 11, 2025, 4:10 p.m.
HB 1718-FN - AS INTRODUCED
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
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:
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 and charged solely from such a generation facility without affecting the generation facility's size determination relating to its eligibility to net meter. 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.
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.
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]:
4 New Paragraph; Net Metering. Amend RSA 362-A:9 by inserting after paragraph XXIII the following new paragraph:
XXIV. The PUC may determine terms and conditions for how a customer-generator may use and be compensated for exports to the grid for energy storage added to and charged solely from renewable energy generation sources in conjunction with net metering and related tariff provisions.
5 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
26-3131
12/10/25
HB 1718-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Indeterminable Increase $127,000+ (Utility Assessments) | Indeterminable Increase $133,000+ (Utility Assessments) | Indeterminable Increase $140,000+ (Utility Assessments) | ||||
Indeterminable Increase (State's utility costs) | Indeterminable Increase (State's utility costs) | Indeterminable Increase (State's utility costs) | ||||||
Funding Source(s) | Utility Assessments under RSA 363-A:1, General Fund, Highway Fund, and Various Agency Funds | |||||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact | ||||||||
| FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | FY 2029 | ||||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
County Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill authorizes energy storage to be added to net-metered renewable generation systems without affecting eligibility size limits, adds rulemaking authority for the Department of Energy regarding customer energy storage systems, clarifies definitions under RSA 374-H, transfers certain rulemaking responsibilities from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to the Department, and authorizes the PUC to set compensation terms for exports to the grid from storage systems charged solely from renewable generation.
The Department of Energy states this bill updates the definition of eligible customer generator to allow energy storage to be added to and charged solely from a renewable generation facility without affecting the one megawatt size limit and transfers storage related rulemaking authority from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department. The Department indicates these changes align with its current administrative responsibilities and that reviewing net metering applications under the updated criteria would not require additional staff or resources.
Additionally, the Department states it is not possible to determine the fiscal impact on electricity costs, net metering compensation, or Class II renewable energy certificate obligations, and notes that costs could increase or decrease depending on system configuration. Because the State accounts for approximately 1% of total electricity purchases, an electric rate increase of $0.001 per kilowatt hour would result in an estimated State cost increase of about $77,000 per year.
The Public Utilities Commission states this bill would require new rulemaking and adjudicatory proceedings to establish terms and conditions for compensation of exports from storage systems charged solely from renewable energy. The Commission anticipates needing one Miscellaneous Business Operations Specialist (13-1190 MISC BUS OPS SPECS-5 SOC11-06) beginning in FY 2027. The Commission estimates annual expenditures of $127,000 in FY 2027, $133,000 in FY 2028, and $140,000 in FY 2029, funded through the Utility Assessment under RSA 363-A:1.
To the extent utility assessments increase County and local utility expenditures could also see an increase.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Energy and Public Utilites Commission