This bill proposes a significant transfer of regulatory responsibilities from the public utilities commission to the department of energy, amending various sections of the law to replace references to the "commission" with the "department of energy." Key provisions include the prohibition of unauthorized telecommunications service provision, the protection of ratepayer communication preferences, and the adjustment of procedures related to complaints and investigations. The department is now tasked with developing rules for customer communication preferences and managing complaints against entities under its jurisdiction. Additionally, the bill introduces new language regarding the assessment of public utilities, stating that entities registered with the department on July 1 of the new fiscal year will be liable for their entire assessed amount.

Furthermore, the bill establishes new regulations for municipal and county aggregators, mandating the creation of rules for aggregation services, including metering and billing. It specifies that complaints regarding municipal or county aggregators or electric distribution utilities must be directed to the department, which will handle these complaints without the previous requirement to forward them to involved parties. The bill also repeals RSA 362-A:9, XVIII, eliminating limitations on net metering. The act is set to take effect 60 days after passage, on September 30, 2025, aiming to enhance oversight and accountability in the aggregation process while improving consumer protections.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 374:28-a, 374-F:4-b, 362-A:9, 363-A:3, 365:1, 365:1-a, 365:3, 53-E:7
As Amended by the Senate: 374-F:4-b, 362-A:9, 363-A:3, 365:1, 365:1-a, 365:3, 53-E:7
As Amended by the House: 374-F:4-b, 363-A:3, 365:1, 365:1-a, 365:3, 53-E:7, 362-A:9
Version adopted by both bodies: 374-F:4-b, 363-A:3, 365:1, 365:1-a, 365:3, 53-E:7, 362-A:9
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 374-F:4-b, 363-A:3, 365:1, 365:1-a, 365:3, 53-E:7, 362-A:9