This bill mandates that public utilities submit an integrated distribution plan to the public utilities commission. The bill amends the subdivision heading preceding RSA 378:37 from "Least Cost Energy Planning" to "Electric Utility Integrated Distribution Planning." It repeals and reenacts RSA 378:38 through 378:40 to establish new requirements for the submission of these plans. Electric utilities are required to file a plan within five years of the effective date of this section and every five years thereafter. The plan must include a 10-year electric demand forecast, assessments of demand-side energy management programs, distribution infrastructure, non-wires solutions, and consistency with the state energy strategy. Similarly, gas public utilities must file an integrated gas distribution plan that includes a 10-year gas demand forecast, assessments of energy management programs, supply options, infrastructure, non-pipeline solutions, and consistency with the state energy strategy.

The commission is tasked with reviewing the integrated distribution plans through an adjudicative proceeding and must approve, reject, or modify the plans within one year of filing. If a plan is rejected, the utility has three months to amend and resubmit it, with the commission having 12 weeks to act on the resubmitted plan. This process continues until a plan is approved, with the previously approved plan remaining in effect until a new one is approved. The commission may waive any requirement for good cause upon written request by a utility. The standard for approval is set forth in RSA 378:41, which requires the commission to accept and approve a plan that satisfies the requirements of RSA 378:38 or RSA 378:39, as applicable. The act takes effect upon its passage.