The bill, HB 755-FN, seeks to modernize New Hampshire's electric utility market by revising the definition of "grid modernization" to encompass cost-effective measures that promote a competitive marketplace for electricity suppliers. Key insertions include the introduction of the term "load reducer," which refers to distributed energy resources (DERs) that can help reduce transmission and wholesale energy charges. The bill emphasizes retail market reforms to enhance customer choice, allowing suppliers to offer time-varying rates and net metering options. It mandates collaboration between electric distribution utilities and the commission to ensure efficient integration of DERs, while also allowing municipal and county aggregations, as well as competitive electricity suppliers, to own and install revenue meters for DERs.

Additionally, the bill outlines provisions for improved load estimation and settlement processes, requiring utilities to address inaccuracies and reflect individual net loads from DERs. It mandates the provision of optional transmission rates based on customer demand and compensation for avoided regional network service charges, while excluding local network service charges. The bill also emphasizes the need for improved access to data for aggregators and suppliers, ensuring timely and detailed account and meter data. While it sets a deadline for implementation by November 1, 2026, it does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, and the financial impact on state and local governments remains uncertain, with potential costs for necessary upgrades reaching millions of dollars.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 374-F:2
HB755 text: 374-F:2