Energy

HB 1002 repeals the property tax exemption for solar energy systems, meaning homeowners and businesses with solar installations will no longer be excluded from taxable property assessments. The bill removes specific tax code provisions (RSA 72:62 and related sections) that previously allowed solar systems to be valued separately for tax purposes. Starting April 1, 2027, solar energy systems will be included in standard property tax valuations, requiring owners to pay taxes on these systems as part of their property assessment. This change directly affects property owners who currently benefit from the exemption, shifting their tax obligation to align with standard property valuation practices.

HB 1775 allows New Hampshire electric utilities to own or invest in natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities, up to 10% of their total peak electricity demand. Utilities must seek approval from the Public Utilities Commission for these investments and can recover costs through customer rates. The bill repeals prior restrictions on utility-funded generation equipment and expands the definition of eligible investments to include natural gas and nuclear resources. This directly affects NH utilities by changing their investment rules, with no new state funding required.

HB 1542 sets all renewable energy fund compliance payments (the fees electric providers pay if they can't meet renewable energy requirements) to $0, effective January 1, 2027. This eliminates the primary revenue source for New Hampshire's Renewable Energy Fund (REF), which currently funds programs like low-income solar initiatives, non-residential renewable grants, and community solar projects. The fiscal note states this change would reduce annual REF revenue by approximately $6.7 million starting in 2028, causing all REF-funded programs and nine state positions supporting renewable energy compliance to cease without new legislative funding. The bill directly affects electric service providers (by removing compliance penalties), state programs, and low-income communities relying on REF-funded solar projects.

HB 219 phases out New Hampshire's minimum requirement for electricity providers to source a certain percentage of power from renewable sources. It mandates a 20% annual reduction in these renewable energy targets starting in 2026, fully eliminating the minimum standard by 2030. This directly affects electricity providers (including distribution companies, competitive suppliers, and community aggregators) who must meet these renewable sourcing requirements. The bill replaces the current standard with a structured 5-year phase-out, allowing utilities to offer 100% renewable power options to default service customers starting in 2026.

SB 106 requires customer generators with facilities between 100 kilowatts and 5 megawatts (operational after January 1, 2023) to consume at least 20% of their own annual electricity generation through net energy metering. This applies to larger residential, commercial, or industrial systems that generate renewable energy but not to low- and moderate-income customers, who are exempt. The bill modifies existing net metering rules to allow these generators to retain their current tariff for up to 20 years or until 2040, whichever is longer. It does not create new funding but may involve utility billing system upgrades to track cross-territory energy data.