Bill > HB95

This bill requires the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), a member-owned electric utility, to file a certificate of deregulation with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) every three years, with the first filing due by December 31, 2026, and subsequent filings due by December 31 every third year thereafter. The purpose of this requirement is to give NHEC's customer-members the opportunity to decide whether the cooperative should remain exempt from PUC regulatory oversight. If NHEC fails to file the certificate of deregulation, it would automatically become subject to PUC regulation, which could potentially require the commission to hire additional staff (including an attorney, a senior advisor, and utility analysts) at an estimated annual cost of $605,500. The bill would take effect on January 1, 2026, and does not provide any new funding or authorize new positions. The decision to file or not file the certificate ultimately rests with NHEC's membership, and the potential regulatory change would be determined through a vote subject to the cooperative's bylaws.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0129&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB95