The bill introduces significant amendments to New Hampshire's laws governing electric utilities and energy generation, particularly focusing on the inclusion of "advanced nuclear resources" (ANR) as a viable option alongside renewable energy sources. It establishes new guidelines for investments in distributed electric generation and clarifies the responsibilities of the coordinator of nuclear development, which now includes managing funding for nuclear incentive programs and public safety outreach. Additionally, the bill raises the peak generating capacity threshold for certain metering requirements from 100 kilowatts to 500 kilowatts and expands the definition of low-moderate income community solar projects to encompass solar arrays with a total peak generating capacity of up to 3 megawatts. The annual cap for low-moderate income community solar projects is also increased from 6 MW to 12 MW, and group net metering members are allowed to sign agreements with multiple hosts, provided their combined load does not exceed their total load.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that energy projects must benefit at least five residential end-user customers, with a majority earning at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, or residents of public housing authorities where the majority earn at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. It limits the non-residential customer load to no more than 15 percent of the projected load for these projects. Key changes include extending the deadline for investor-owned electric distribution utilities to issue requests for proposals for multi-year energy agreements from 2025 to 2040, allowing these agreements to encompass energy from various sources, and extending the deadline for utilities to petition for authorization to enter into these agreements from 2026 to 2041. The act will take effect 60 days after its passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 374-F:3
As Amended by the Senate: 362-A:9, 374-F:2, 362-F:2, 374-F:11