This bill establishes an advisory council for the electric assistance program, which will be chaired by the commissioner of the department or their designee. The council will include representatives from various stakeholders, including electric utilities, the office of the consumer advocate, New Hampshire Legal Assistance, community action agencies, and the Local Welfare Administrator’s Association. Additionally, the bill caps the system benefits charge for the electric assistance program at 2 mills (0.2 cents) per kilowatt-hour, with future adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The program year will begin annually on November 1, and the advisory council will recommend a budget and program design to the commissioner by September 1 each year.

The bill repeals and reenacts RSA 374-F:4, VIII(c), which previously governed the electric assistance program, transferring its administration from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Energy. The new legal language includes the establishment of the advisory council and the new cap on the system benefits charge, which is an increase from the previous cap of 1.5 mills per kilowatt-hour. The bill does not provide additional funding or authorize new positions, and it is expected to raise approximately $5,326,979 in revenue for the electric assistance program through the increased system benefits charge. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.