CHAPTER 148

SB 60 – FINAL VERSION

02/12/2015 0192s

15Apr2015… 1259h

05/21/2015 1842EBA

2015 SESSION

15-0513

06/05

SENATE BILL 60

AN ACT establishing a commission to investigate implementation of decoupling for New Hampshire utilities.

SPONSORS: Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 21; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Borden, Rock 24; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. Baber, Straf 14

COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a commission to investigate implementation of decoupling for New Hampshire utilities.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

02/12/2015 0192s

15Apr2015… 1259h

05/21/2015 1842EBA

15-0513

06/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Fifteen

AN ACT establishing a commission to investigate implementation of decoupling for New Hampshire utilities.

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

148:1 New Section; Commission to Investigate Implementation of Decoupling for New Hampshire Utilities. Amend RSA 374-F by inserting after section 4 the following new section:

374-F:4-a Commission Established.

I. There is established a commission to investigate implementation of decoupling for New Hampshire utilities.

II. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, one appointed by the president of the senate and one appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

(b) Two members of the house of representatives, one appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and one appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

(c) The chairperson of the public utilities commission, or designee.

(d) A representative of Public Service Company of New Hampshire, appointed by the president of that company.

(e) A representative of Unitil, appointed by the president of that company.

(f) A representative of Liberty Utilities, appointed by the president of that company.

(g) The director of the office of energy and planning, or designee.

(h) The consumer advocate, or designee.

(i) The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development, or designee.

(j) A representative of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire, appointed by the president of that organization.

(k) One member of the public with knowledge of environmental issues, appointed by the governor.

III. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

IV. The commission shall investigate implementation of decoupling for New Hampshire utilities, with regard to both electricity and natural gas, including but not limited to:

(a) A review of other states’ decoupling legislation and procedures.

(b) A review of all public utility commission past dockets related to decoupling.

(c) A determination of whether or not decoupling would result in increased energy efficiency in the state.

(d) A determination of whether or not decoupling is the best mechanism to achieve greater energy efficiency for both utilities and consumers.

(e) A determination of the optimal decoupling approach to best meet the needs of New Hampshire utilities and consumers, taking into consideration rate or bill impacts, improvements in utility bill stability, cost shifting, incentives, and other related issues.

V. The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Seven members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.

VI. The commission shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the chairperson of the senate energy and natural resources committee, the chairperson of the house science, technology and energy committee, the chairmen of the public utilities commission, the senate clerk, the house clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2015.

VII. Nothing in this section shall preclude the public utilities commission from acting on a decoupling proposal as part of a proceeding before the commission.

148:2 Repeal. RSA 374-F:4-a, relative to the commission to investigate implementation of decoupling of New Hampshire utilities, is repealed.

148:3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect November 1, 2015.

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

Approved: June 12, 2015

Effective Date: I. Section 2 shall take effect November 1, 2015.

II. Remainder shall take effect June 12, 2015.