The bill, HB 610-FN, proposes the repeal of the Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA) and the transfer of its responsibilities, assets, and liabilities to the New Hampshire Department of Energy (DoE) within 120 days of the bill's passage. All properties, rights, and obligations of the OCA will be assumed by the DoE, which will inherit the OCA's duties, including managing ongoing legal actions and maintaining bondholder rights. The bill also amends RSA 12-P:5 to remove references to the OCA and establishes a new consumer advocate position within the DoE, tasked with representing residential utility consumers, contracting for expert assistance, and promoting consumer education. This position will also have the authority to challenge regional or federal policies that may negatively impact New Hampshire consumers.

Additionally, the bill introduces new positions, such as an assistant consumer advocate and a secretary, classified as full-time employees, and aims to enhance public awareness of Lifeline Telephone Assistance programs. It modifies the electric aggregation plan process by removing the requirement for submission to the OCA and allows for public comment on these plans. The bill also eliminates references to the OCA in various sections, including its role in expense ascertainment and support for the Residential Ratepayers Advisory Board, thereby streamlining the regulatory process and shifting oversight dynamics within the energy sector. The fiscal impact suggests a potential decrease in revenue and expenditures related to the OCA's operating budget, with the DoE assuming any remaining liabilities after the repeal.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 12-P:5, 12-P:16, 53-E:7, 94:1-a, 363:28-a, 363-A:2, 365:37, 369-B:2, 374-F:11