The bill, HB 755-FN, seeks to modernize New Hampshire's electric utility market by revising the definition of "grid modernization" to include cost-effective measures that support a competitive marketplace for electricity suppliers. It introduces the term "load reducer," which refers to distributed energy resources (DERs) that can help lower transmission and wholesale energy charges. Key changes include the insertion of language that defines grid modernization as improvements that facilitate the integration of DERs and renewable energy, as well as the establishment of new definitions for "load reducer" and other terms used by ISO New England. The bill also mandates retail market reforms that allow DER aggregators to own and install revenue meters, ensuring their participation in wholesale markets and requiring electric distribution utilities to provide comparable metering options for retail customers utilizing DERs.

Additionally, the bill allows municipal and county aggregations, as well as competitive electricity suppliers, to own and install revenue meters and act as assigned meter readers for qualifying DERs. It mandates electric distribution utilities to offer optional transmission rates based on individual customer demand and to compensate DERs for avoided regional network service transmission charges, while excluding compensation for avoided local network service charges. The bill emphasizes improved access to data for aggregations and suppliers, requiring timely account and meter data, and mandates the implementation of consolidated billing services. The Public Utilities Commission, the Department of Energy, and electric distribution utilities are tasked with implementing these provisions by November 1, 2026, with regular progress reporting. While the bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, it is expected to incur significant costs for utility system upgrades, potentially impacting electricity costs in the future.

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