The bill aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and the Department of Energy in New Hampshire, particularly regarding contested cases. It mandates that any settlement agreement in such cases must be approved by the PUC unless it finds any provision contrary to law, thereby streamlining dispute resolution. Key changes include the insertion of new language that defines the PUC's authority to conduct contested adjudicative proceedings and adopt administrative rules, while deleting references to the PUC's supervisory and inspection powers, which are transferred to the Department of Energy. This reorganization emphasizes the PUC's role as an independent agency focused on adjudicative proceedings and rulemaking.

Additionally, the bill formalizes the Department of Energy's role in petitioning the PUC for relief when public utilities fail to meet obligations, and it introduces new procedural requirements for prosecuting violations related to Dig Safe and pipeline safety. These changes are expected to increase the Department's workload, necessitating the hiring of additional staff, including two attorneys and a compliance officer, with projected costs of $434,000 in FY 2026 and $440,000 in subsequent years. However, the bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions, highlighting a potential gap in resources needed to manage the expanded responsibilities effectively.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 363:1, 365:6, 365:7, 374:3, 374:4, 374:5, 374:7, 374:18, 365:19