This bill proposes the transfer of the Electric Assistance Program from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Energy. It amends existing laws to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both entities in managing low-income assistance programs. Specifically, it changes the language in RSA 369-B:1, XIII to indicate that both the commission and the department shall design low-income programs with high operating efficiency, replacing the previous wording that suggested the commission should do so. Additionally, a new definition for "Department" is added to RSA 369-B:2, establishing the Department of Energy as the governing body for these programs.

Furthermore, the bill modifies RSA 374-F:4, VIII(c) to ensure that the system benefits charge includes a specific allocation of 1.5 mills per kilowatt-hour to fund the electricity assistance program for low-income customers, with the Department of Energy given authority over the program's administration. The bill allows the department to use a non-adjudicative hearing process to make decisions regarding eligibility tiers, benefit levels, and program modifications. It also stipulates that if the low-income program fund exceeds $1,000,000, the department may suspend the collection of the system benefits charge to maintain the fund at a necessary level. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 369-B:1, 369-B:2, 374-F:4
As Amended by the Senate: 369-B:1, 369-B:2, 374-F:4
Version adopted by both bodies: 369-B:1, 369-B:2, 374-F:4
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 369-B:1, 369-B:2, 374-F:4