This bill mandates that the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) file a certificate of deregulation with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) every three years, starting no later than December 31, 2026. The new legal language inserted into RSA 301:57 establishes this requirement in a new paragraph (III-a), which specifies the timeline for these filings. If the NHEC fails to comply with this requirement, it will be classified as a public utility, thus becoming subject to the regulatory authority of the PUC, which it is currently not.

The bill does not allocate any funding or authorize new positions, and its fiscal impact is deemed indeterminable for the state, county, and local levels. If the NHEC complies with the filing requirements, there would be no fiscal impact. However, should the NHEC choose not to file and subsequently gain public utility status, the PUC estimates that additional personnel would be needed, resulting in an annual cost of approximately $605,500 starting in January 2026. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 301:57