Energy

failed · New Hampshire · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 1290: relative to customer energy storage.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill creates rules for customer energy storage (home batteries), enabling renewable energy integration and grid modernization without restricting existing policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Solar Transmission

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died · New Hampshire · House Aug 20, 2026

HB 1741: relative to the enrollment and use of distributed energy resource aggregations by electric utilities.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires utilities to create DER programs for solar/batteries, offering payments and low-income incentives to advance renewable grid integration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Solar

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passed both · New Hampshire · House May 21, 2026

HB 1542: establishing a committee to study New Hampshire's electric renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy fund.

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.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesEliminates primary revenue source for Renewable Energy Fund, defunding essential programs like low-income solar initiatives and community solar projects.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyEliminates primary revenue for renewable energy fund, defunding low-income solar, non-residential grants, and community solar projects.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentDefunds renewable energy programs by eliminating REF revenue source, removing $6.7M annual funding for solar initiatives and grants per fiscal note.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

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in committee · New Hampshire · House May 19, 2026

HB 1748: establishing the New Hampshire energy efficiency and resource development authority.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes authority for energy efficiency programs and promotes nuclear power development, advancing energy efficiency and clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes nuclear power development and coordinates energy efficiency programs, aligning with clean energy goals and reducing emissions through cost-effective measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Efficiency Nuclear

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in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 628: enabling curbside electric-vehicle charging.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables EV charging infrastructure, promoting electric vehicles and reducing fossil fuel dependence. Directly advances clean energy infrastructure development for transportation.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEnables EV charging infrastructure to promote electric vehicle adoption, reducing transportation emissions and supporting clean energy transition.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnables curbside EV charging infrastructure in public rights-of-way, promoting sustainable transportation and modernizing transportation infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles Pedestrian Safety Roads & Highways

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jul 9, 2026

SB 540: relative to plug-in solar generation systems.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts portable solar devices from utility barriers, enabling consumer adoption of renewable energy without fees or approval requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Solar Transmission

signed · New Hampshire · House Jul 16, 2026

HB 1718: relative to authorizing energy storage in connection with net metering.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly enables battery storage for renewable systems under net metering, removing size limitations and promoting renewable energy adoption without restricting clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Renewable Energy Solar

in committee · New Hampshire · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 597: relative to utility rate increases to inflation-adjusted thresholds and performance incentive metrics for utilities.

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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCaps utility rate hikes to protect consumers and mandates grid modernization incentives, aligning with energy infrastructure efficiency goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Utility Regulation

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signed · New Hampshire · Senate Jun 24, 2026

SB 590: relative to electric aggregation plans.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill prohibits use of tax funds for aggregation plans, promoting fiscal responsibility by mandating non-tax revenue (customer fees) use instead.92% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables municipalities to use non-tax revenues for electric aggregation plans, facilitating consumer choice in electricity providers which often includes renewable options, thus supporting community energy initiatives.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Government Spending

died · New Hampshire · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1724: relative to public transparency of electric utility retail charges and cost reporting for transmission, wholesale electricity, capacity, and generation adequacy.

HB 1724 requires New Hampshire electric utilities to submit annual public reports detailing transmission costs, wholesale electricity market impacts, capacity market auctions, and generation resource adequacy. These reports must include project-specific transmission cost breakdowns, wholesale purchase strategies, capacity auction results, and specific analyses of data center interconnection costs (for facilities 5+ MW). Utilities must also propose how ratepayers will be protected from costs if data centers fail or withdraw, with reports due annually starting January 1, 2027. The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission will hold public hearings every three years to review these filings.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRequires utilities to report costs and protect ratepayers from burdens, aligning with consumer protection in energy policy indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Transmission

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