SB 540 - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2860
10/05
SENATE BILL 540
AN ACT requiring the department of energy to investigate behind the meter and utility scale energy storage.
SPONSORS: Sen. Lang, Dist 2; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Perkins Kwoka, Dist 21; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4
COMMITTEE: Energy and Natural Resources
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires the department of energy to investigate ways to facilitate both behind the meter energy storage and utility scale energy storage in the state.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2860
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
AN ACT requiring the department of energy to investigate behind the meter and utility scale energy storage.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1. New Paragraph; Customer Energy Storage; Definitions. Amend RSA 374-H:1 by inserting after paragraph I the following new paragraph:
I-a. "Department" means the department of energy.
2 Customer Energy Storage; Department of Energy Investigation of Energy Storage. RSA 374-H:3 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
374-H:3 Department of Energy Investigation of Energy Storage.
I. The department shall investigate ways to facilitate both behind the meter energy storage and utility scale energy storage in the state.
II. The department's investigative proceeding shall specifically consider the following for behind the meter energy storage:
(a) The costs and benefits of a potential bring your own device program.
(b) How such a program might be implemented, taking into consideration the work done on this topic in DE 17-189, DE 23-039, and in any other current or future commission dockets that address energy storage.
(c) Identify regulatory challenges outside of the utility context to behind the meter energy storage, such as, but not limited to, building code requirements.
(d) Review programs and regulatory requirements in other jurisdictions to identify best practices for a potential program.
(e) Any statutory or regulatory changes that might be needed to create, facilitate, and implement such a program.
(f) Any other topic the department reasonably believes it should consider in order to diligently conduct the proceeding.
III. The department's investigative proceeding shall specifically consider the following
for utility scale energy storage:
(a) Review utility scale energy storage compensation mechanisms in other jurisdictions to identify best practices.
(b) Identify market barriers to utility scale energy storage projects in the state.
(c) Identify hurdles for the siting of utility scale energy storage projects in the state and identify solutions to overcome those hurdles.
(d) How to encourage both utility and private sector investments in utility scale energy storage projects at the least cost to ratepayers.
(e) How to fairly compensate energy storage projects that participate in wholesale electricity markets for actual avoided transmission and distribution costs in a manner that provides net savings to ratepayers.
(f) Any statutory or regulatory changes that might be needed to facilitate utility energy storage in the state.
(g) Any other topic the department reasonably believes it should consider in order to diligently conduct the proceeding.
IV. The department shall report its findings and recommendations to the standing committees of the house of representatives and senate with jurisdiction over energy and utility matters no later than June 30, 2026. The report shall identify ways any recommended statutory changes can minimize any potential conflict with the restructuring policy principles of RSA 374-F.
V. The department shall engage any consultants necessary to complete its work by June 30, 2026, and assess electric distribution utilities for the cost thereof in conformance with RSA 365:37.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.