HB 0443

CHAPTER 121

HB 443 - FINAL VERSION

AN ACT relative to a state energy plan and relative to road toll fees for vehicles powered by alternate energy sources.

SPONSORS: Rep. Norelli, Rock 31; Rep. Langley, Rock 24; Rep. J. Bradley, Carr 8; Rep. Leach, Hills 9; Rep. Pitts, Rock 35; Sen. Below, Dist 5; Sen. Hollingworth, Dist 23; Sen. Cohen, Dist 24

This bill requires the governor's office of energy and community services, in consultation with the public utilities commission and other state agencies, to prepare a state energy plan covering a 10-year period. This bill authorizes the governor's office of energy and community services to expend up to $100,000 to be provided by jurisdictional electric distribution utilities, to complete the plan. This bill also repeals the definition of alternative energy sources and the provision requiring prepayment of road toll fees for vehicles powered by alternate energy sources.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to a state energy plan and relative to road toll fees for vehicles powered by alternate energy sources.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

121:1 Purpose. The state of New Hampshire has recently moved to restructure its electric and natural gas industries. Electric utilities were formerly responsible for developing least cost energy plans and integrated resource plans. While it is expected that the restructuring of the electric and natural gas industries will provide market responses to energy supply and demand conditions, it is nonetheless important that the governor's office of energy and community services and the public utilities commission be involved in some aspects of energy planning.

121:2 Findings. The general court finds that a comprehensive and integrated energy plan will provide useful information about the supply of and demand for natural gas and electricity, the adequacy of transmission and distribution infrastructure, siting requirements, fuel diversity, and energy efficiency and conservation. The general court further finds that use of the system benefits charge to fund the plan within the limitations legislatively established for those charges is in the public interest.

I. The governor's office of energy and community services, in consultation with the public utilities commission and other state agencies as needed, shall prepare a state energy plan covering a 10-year period. The governor's office of energy and community services shall solicit the input of independent parties, including the Whittemore School of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. The plan shall be consistent with the legislative policies set forth in RSA 162-H, RSA 378:37, RSA 374-F, and RSA 369-A. The plan shall include:

(a) An analysis of the demand projections for energy consumption of electricity and natural gas in New Hampshire.

(b) An analysis of the adequacy of electricity generation in New Hampshire, and of transmission and distribution resources in New Hampshire for the natural gas and electric industries, and how regional generation, transmission, and distribution resources affect New Hampshire.

(c) An analysis of siting requirements for electric generation resources and natural gas and electric transmission and distribution resources.

(e) An analysis of the efficient use of energy resources and conservation initiatives.

(f) An analysis of how these New Hampshire-specific issues relate to regional initiatives to assure the adequacy of generation, transmission, and distribution assets.

(g) Recommendations, based on the analyses completed under subparagraphs (a)-(f), for state implementation actions to achieve the legislative policies set forth in RSA 162-H, RSA 378:37, RSA 374-F, and RSA 369-A, or for other energy policies that should be pursued.

II. In developing the plan, the governor's office of energy and community services shall seek public comment by holding at least 4 public hearings in different geographic locations around the state.

III. The governor's office of energy and community services is authorized to expend up to $100,000 to complete the plan. Such funds shall be provided proportionally by jurisdictional electric distribution utilities out of funds collected from the energy efficiency portion of each utility's approved system benefits charge, or as otherwise directed by the public utilities commission.

IV. The governor's office of energy and community services shall complete the state energy plan by November 1, 2002. Prior to publication of the plan, the governor's office of energy and community services shall consult with the legislative oversight committee on electric utility restructuring established by RSA 374-F:5 and the gas utility restructuring oversight committee established by RSA 374:60. Upon completion, the plan shall be distributed to the speaker of the house of representatives, the senate president, the chairpersons of the house science, technology, and energy committee and the senate energy and economic development committee, the governor, and the state library.

121:4 Road Toll Fees for Vehicles Powered by Alternate Energy Sources; Refunds. Any person who has prepaid a road toll fee for a vehicle powered by alternate energy sources pursuant to RSA 260:52, XVIII shall be entitled to a prorated refund, consistent with the provisions of RSA 260, of the fee paid for the portion of the year following the effective date of this section.

II. RSA 260:52, XVIII, relative to road toll fees for vehicles powered by alternate energy sources.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.

II. Remainder of act shall take effect June 27, 2001)