CHAPTER 334
HB 1775-FN - FINAL VERSION
19Feb2026... 0594h
05/07/2026 1705s
4Jun2026... 2067CofC
4Jun2026... 2193EBA
2026 SESSION
26-2700
06/08
HOUSE BILL 1775-FN
AN ACT relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.
SPONSORS: Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Sen. Avard, Dist 12
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill:
I. Expands the purpose of RSA 374-G to include investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies for grid reliability.
II. Authorizes electric utilities to own or invest in such resources up to 10 percent of peak load.
III. Allows rate recovery eligibility for those investments.
IV. Repeals certain limitations on utility-funded generation equipment and prior investment restrictions.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.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... 0594h
05/07/2026 1705s
4Jun2026... 2067CofC
4Jun2026... 2193EBA 26-2700
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
AN ACT relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
334:1 Purpose; Electric Utility Investment in Distributed Energy Resources. Amend RSA 374-G:1 to read as follows:
374-G:1 Purpose. Distributed energy resources can increase overall energy efficiency and provide energy security and diversity by eliminating, displacing, or better managing traditional fossil fuel energy deliveries from the centralized bulk power grid, in keeping with the objectives of RSA 362-F:1. It is therefore in the public interest to stimulate investment in distributed energy resources in New Hampshire in diverse ways, including by encouraging New Hampshire electric public utilities to invest in renewable and clean distributed energy resources at the lowest reasonable cost to taxpayers benefiting the transmission and distribution system under state regulatory oversight. Reliable, dispatchable, and controllable power generation must also be available to provide all essential electric service when renewable distributed energy resources, including storage, are not sufficient. It is therefore in the public interest to stimulate investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies, including battery storage, to ensure reliable and efficient energy in addition to renewable and clean distributed energy resources. Given the ability of nuclear technology to provide reactive power, it also ensures grid stability and supports voltage regulation.
334:2 New Section; Investments in Natural Gas and Nuclear Resources. Amend RSA 374-G by inserting after section 2 the following new section:
374-G:2-a Investments in Natural Gas and Nuclear Energy Resources.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a New Hampshire electric utility may invest in or own natural gas or nuclear energy resources as whole generation units, or as part of a generation unit, located on or interconnected to the local electric distribution system. No individual generation unit may exceed 5 megawatts in size.
II. The cumulative name plate capacity in megawatts of natural gas and nuclear electric generation owned by or receiving investments from an electric utility under this chapter shall not exceed 10 percent of the utility’s total distribution peak load in megawatts.
334:3 Rate Filing; Authorization. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 374-G:5, I to read as follows:
I. A New Hampshire electric public utility may be eligible to seek rate recovery for its portion of investments in [distributed] natural gas and nuclear energy resources, in addition to renewable distributed energy resources, from the commission by making an appropriate rate filing. At a minimum, such filing shall include the following:
334:4 Rate Filing; Authorization. Amend the introductory paragraph for RSA 374-G:5, II to read as follows:
II. Prior to authorizing a utility's recovery of investments made in [distributed energy resources] natural gas or nuclear distributed energy resources, or other distributed energy resources, the commission shall determine that the utility's investment and its recovery in rates, as proposed, are in the public interest. Determination of the public interest under this [section] chapter shall include giving a balanced consideration and proportional weight to each of the following factors:
334:5 Repeal. The following are repealed:
I. RSA 374-G:3, V, relative to electric generation equipment funded by public utilities and their requirements.
II. RSA 374-G:4, III, relative to investments in distributed energy resources.
334:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 15, 2026
Effective Date: September 13, 2026
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Feb. 11, 2026 | 2026-0594h |
| April 29, 2026 | 2026-1705s |
| May 26, 2026 | 2026-2067CofC |
| June 23, 2026 | 2026-2193EBA |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 2, 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 14, 2026 | Senate | Hearing |
| May 7, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| May 14, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| June 4, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
July 20, 2026: Signed by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 334; eff. 09/13/2026
July 6, 2026: Enrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
July 6, 2026: Enrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 23, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
June 23, 2026: Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
June 4, 2026: Conference Committee Report 2026-2067c: Adopted, DV 306-46 06/04/2026 HJ 15
May 29, 2026: Conference Committee Report # 2026-2067c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
June 4, 2026: Removed from Consent (Reps. Granger, Harrington, Kaczynski, Tom Mannion, Drew, Mehegan, Popovici-Muller, Ploszaj, Farrington, DeRoy) 06/04/2026 HJ 14
May 28, 2026: Conference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2067c; 06/04/2026
May 26, 2026: Conference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:00 am GP 228
May 20, 2026: President Appoints: Senators Avard, Pearl, Watters; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 20, 2026: Sen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
May 19, 2026: Speaker Appoints: Reps. Vose, Bernardy, D. Thomas, Notter 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 19, 2026: House Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1705s (Reps. Vose, Weyler): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13
May 13, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
May 12, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18A
May 5, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
May 5, 2026: Committee Amendment # 2026-1705s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
April 29, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
April 8, 2026: Hearing: 04/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 14
March 30, 2026: Introduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
March 26, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA RC 198-153 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 37
March 19, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
March 19, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 15-10; RC)
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. 106
Feb. 19, 2026: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2026-0594h: MA RC 191-149 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 104
Feb. 19, 2026: Amendment # 2026-0594h: AA DV 178-145 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 103
Feb. 11, 2026: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
Feb. 11, 2026: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0594h 02/09/2026 (Vote 11-6; RC) HC 7 P. 39
Feb. 5, 2026: Executive Session: 02/09/2026 03:00 pm GP 229
Jan. 29, 2026: Public Hearing: 02/02/2026 09:30 am GP 229
Dec. 17, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 35