HB 690-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0508
06/05
HOUSE BILL 690-FN
SPONSORS: Rep. Summers, Rock. 20; Rep. Spillane, Rock. 2; Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. Notter, Hills. 12; Rep. Harrington, Straf. 18
COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy
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ANALYSIS
This bill directs the department of energy to investigate the state's withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategic decisions affecting ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.
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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0508
06/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Department of Energy Investigation. Amend RSA 12-P by inserting after section 16 the following new section:
12-P:17 Investigation. The department of energy shall investigate the state of New Hampshire's withdrawal from ISO-New England and other strategies to insulate ratepayers from costs associated with New England's environmental policy.
I. This investigation may answer the following questions:
(a) What are the current functions of ISO-New England? What function could New Hampshire itself not replace?
(b) What has happened when other utilities have left their Regional Transmission Organization? How do vertical utilities interact with their Regional Transmission Organization?
(c) What capabilities would the state of New Hampshire and its utilities need to develop?
(d) What are the benefits of leaving ISO-New England? Are there long-term costs associated with market outcomes that may be avoided? Are there direct costs associated with participating in ISO-New England that may be avoided?
(e) What costs would be associated with leaving ISO-New England? Would there be duplicative functions, exit fees, or operational costs?
(f) Would there be reliability impacts, negative or positive, associated with leaving?
(g) Would there be costs associated with ISO-New England that could not be avoided, even if New Hampshire were to leave?
(h) What are the benefits of participating in ISO-New England? What opportunities exist to improve outcomes?
(i) How can a regional market balance varying policy goals? Where do ISO-New England markets currently shift costs, and how can those cost shifts be limited?
(j) What state laws or PUC orders conflict with leaving ISO New England? How would they need to be modified to allow New Hampshire to leave?
(k) Would any changes need to be made to the ISO-New England tariff to allow New Hampshire to leave?
(l) When operating independently of ISO-New England, what restrictions would be placed on the state by the Federal Power Act or principles of federalism? What powers are beyond the state's purview?
(m) What alternative regulatory structures could the state explore that would better allow it to serve reliable, affordable electricity to its citizens?
II. The report of answers shall be provided to the science, technology, and energy committee within one year of its passage.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
25-0508
Revised 1/31/25
HB 690-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.
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Estimated State Impact | ||||||
| FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None | |||||
Expenditures* | $0 | Increase in excess of $200,000 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | RSA 365:37 Special Utility Assessment | |||||
Appropriations* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None | |||||
*Expenditure = Cost of bill *Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill | ||||||
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires the Department of Energy to investigate the state's potential withdrawal from ISO-New England, as well as other strategic decisions impacting ratepayers in relation to New England's environmental policy.
The Department of Energy states that this investigation would require substantial knowledge of ISO-New England's regional electricity markets, which exceeds the Department's current resources. As a result, a consultant would be necessary to fulfill the bill's requirements. While consultant costs can vary, the Department's recent experiences indicate an expenditure of $200,000 or more. It is assumed that all costs associated with the investigation will be specially assessed to electric distribution utilities in accordance with RSA 365:37.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Energy