Bill > HB169

This bill modifies the legal framework for the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by making two key changes. First, it adds the term "regulatory" to officially describe the PUC as a regulatory agency, clarifying its administrative role. Second, and more significantly, the bill redefines what constitutes a "majority" of the commission, stipulating that a majority now means at least 2/3 of the commissioners, regardless of any vacancies. This change has practical implications: previously, hearings could be conducted by two or even one commissioner, but now all three commissioners (or a proportional number representing a 2/3 majority) would need to be present for official proceedings. The bill effectively requires the PUC to potentially retain a special commissioner "on call" to ensure they can always meet the 2/3 majority requirement, even when regular commissioners are unavailable due to leave, meetings, or other obligations. The fiscal note indicates this could cost up to $150,850 annually, funded through utility assessments, though the overall impact on utility rates is expected to be minimal.

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https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_docket.aspx?lsr=0147&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=HB169