SB 539 reclassifies all eligible biomass technologies under "Class III" for renewable energy compliance, replacing previous subcategories. It specifically affects existing biomass plants (under 25 MW or operating in Coos County by 2026) and landfill methane projects. The bill removes methane gas from Class III eligibility if landfill sites exceed 10 MW total capacity, requiring new landfill projects to meet strict size limits. This change streamlines eligibility rules but restricts certain methane sources from qualifying under the renewable portfolio standards.
SB 599 changes how leftover funds from electricity provider payments are used in New Hampshire's renewable energy fund. First, up to $1 million annually must cover administrative costs for the Department of Energy. Remaining funds must then support thermal and electrical renewable energy initiatives, but cannot be used for individual residential solar projects. Any leftover funds after these allocations are transferred to the state general fund. The bill applies to funds collected from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
HB 1290 requires New Hampshire's Department of Energy to create rules for the installation, interconnection, and use of customer-owned energy storage systems (like home batteries). These rules will guide the Public Utilities Commission when approving utility tariffs and making decisions about customer compensation for such systems. The bill does not change existing net metering rules or electrical permit requirements for installers. It directly affects homeowners, businesses, and utilities by establishing a regulatory framework for customer energy storage. The rules must be adopted by the Department of Energy, with the Commission using them to approve tariffs and orders.
HB 1741 requires New Hampshire electric utilities to create programs that coordinate customer-owned distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar panels, batteries, and smart thermostats to support the grid. Utilities must file proposals with the Public Utilities Commission for enrollment programs offering upfront payments and performance-based payments during grid events, with special incentives for low-income customers. The bill establishes rules for aggregators (third-party coordinators) and direct customer participation, including payment structures, equipment requirements, and restrictions on penalties. It aims to reduce peak demand, lower costs for ratepayers, and improve grid reliability by integrating existing DERs into utility-managed systems.
HB 1748 establishes the New Hampshire Energy Efficiency and Resource Development Authority, a new independent nonprofit body separate from state government. The authority will coordinate all state energy efficiency programs (like home heating improvements and business energy upgrades) to reduce costs for residents and businesses, while also promoting nuclear power development and related industries. It will be governed by a 10-member board including state energy officials, utility regulators, consumer advocates, and four governor-appointed public members. The bill directly affects all New Hampshire residents and businesses by consolidating scattered energy efficiency programs under one agency and advancing nuclear power initiatives as part of the state's energy strategy.
SB 628 enables highway authorities (state or local governments) to license curbside electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in public rights-of-way, such as sidewalks or street spaces. It establishes two options for electricity supply: either a dedicated new service or a "host energy reimbursement arrangement" where operators pay adjacent property owners for electricity use via separate metering. The bill sets strict siting rules to ensure pedestrian accessibility, safety, and compliance with disability standards, while clarifying that operators are not considered public utilities. This directly affects highway authorities, property owners hosting chargers, and EV charging operators by creating a legal framework for public EV charging infrastructure.
SB 540 defines "portable solar generation devices" as movable solar units under 1,200 watts that plug into standard home outlets to offset personal electricity use. The bill exempts these devices from utility interconnection rules and net metering requirements, while requiring safety standards like anti-islanding protection (UL 1741/IEEE 1547) and compliance with building codes. Electric utilities cannot demand approval, fees, or extra equipment for compliant devices, and the bill limits utility liability for customer-installed devices. This directly affects homeowners using small portable solar systems, simplifying their installation without utility oversight.
HB 1718 authorizes residential and commercial customers with renewable energy systems (like solar panels) to add battery storage without affecting their eligibility for net metering. The bill updates definitions to clarify that energy storage charged solely from renewable sources does not count toward the 1-megawatt size limit for net metering eligibility. It grants the Department of Energy rulemaking authority for customer energy storage systems and gives the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) the power to set compensation terms for energy exported from storage systems. This bill directly affects homeowners and businesses using renewable energy who want to install battery storage to use more of their own generated power. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment with no state funding impact.
SB 597 caps annual electric utility rate increases at 4% above inflation, preventing excessive hikes for New Hampshire residents. It requires the Public Utilities Commission to develop performance-based incentives tied to specific metrics like service reliability, customer satisfaction, grid modernization, and reducing peak demand. The Commission must complete an initial review within one year to establish these incentives and update them every four years. This bill directly affects electric utilities and their customers in New Hampshire, where high utility costs have been a longstanding concern.
SB 590 allows municipalities to use revolving funds to support energy services under approved electric aggregation plans. It specifically authorizes the use of non-tax revenues (like fees from participating customers) to supplement these programs, while prohibiting the use of local tax funds for this purpose. This bill directly affects towns and cities operating aggregation plans, which let residents and businesses collectively choose electricity providers. The key change is enabling municipalities to establish revolving funds for these services, with potential local expenditure increases estimated between $10,000 and $100,000 per municipality that adopts the provision. Participation in aggregation plans remains voluntary for residents and businesses.
