HB 224 requires the state to rebate excess funds in the Renewable Energy Fund directly to all retail electric ratepayers (including households, businesses, and government entities) on a per-kilowatt-hour basis. The bill mandates that any money remaining in the fund after covering administrative costs and renewable energy incentive programs must be returned to ratepayers, rather than being retained or redirected. This applies to funds generated from Alternative Compliance Payments (ACPs) paid by utilities that fail to meet renewable energy requirements under the state’s portfolio standard. The rebates would be administered by the Public Utilities Commission, with the amount depending on annual fund balances and program expenditures.
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.
SB 538 extends the net metering eligibility term to 20 years for municipal energy projects in New Hampshire, directly affecting cities and towns developing community-based renewable energy systems. The bill ensures these projects can continue receiving compensation under current or future utility tariffs for the longer of 20 years from their start date or until January 1, 2040, addressing delays that previously shortened project viability. Municipalities participating in group net metering under House Bill 315 (2021) can transition to new utility tariffs while maintaining their 20-year eligibility period. This change restores the financial viability of municipal projects by aligning with the original intent of 2021 legislation and preventing premature loss of net metering benefits.
SB 440 modifies how New Hampshire municipalities can create energy-efficient and clean energy districts. It requires towns without charters (and village districts) to hold at least one public hearing before adopting such districts, with specific notice rules: 10-day advance notice posted in two public locations (including the municipality's website), detailing district boundaries and proposals. The bill also allows 50 registered voters to petition for a town meeting vote on district adoption. These changes streamline the process while adding transparency and community input requirements, directly affecting local governments seeking to establish district-based energy initiatives.
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 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.
HB 1534 clarifies how electric utilities recover costs related to default service - the safety-net option for customers who don’t choose a provider. It requires utilities to recover costs (including those from renewable energy compliance) through approved default service rates, ensuring past under- or over-collections are addressed in future rates for the same service tier. The bill also allows the utility commission to implement measures discouraging long-term use of default service, with any revenue from such measures used to offset stranded costs. This directly affects customers on default service plans and utilities managing these rates.
HB 1028 updates New Hampshire's legal definition of "renewable generation facility" to explicitly include energy produced from bio-oil, bio-synthetic gas, and biodiesel (as defined in RSA 362-A:1-a). This change directly affects renewable energy projects seeking tax benefits under RSA 72:73, particularly those using these biofuels. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, clarifying which facilities qualify for related tax provisions.
