New Hampshire HB 1741: relative to the enrollment and use of distributed energy resource aggregations by electric utilities.

Bill Text

HB 1741-FN - AS INTRODUCED

2026 SESSION

 26-2724

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1741-FN

AN ACT relative to the enrollment and use of distributed energy resource aggregations by electric utilities.

SPONSORS: Rep. Caplan, Merr. 8; Rep. Cormen, Graf. 15; Rep. McGhee, Hills. 35; Rep. Cloutier, Sull. 6; Rep. Parshall, Ches. 8; Rep. W. Thomas, Hills. 12; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

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ANALYSIS

 This bill establishes a distributed power plant program requiring electric utilities to coordinate distributed energy resources for grid services, with commission oversight, incentive payments, cost recovery mechanisms, and performance targets.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

 Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

 26-2724

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the enrollment and use of distributed energy resource aggregations by electric utilities.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 1 Purpose. The general court finds:

 I. It is in the public interest to advance customer choice and leverage private sector innovation to implement cost-effective clean energy solutions.

 II. Aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) can provide grid resilience, reduce ratepayer costs, and support public policy goals.

 III. Distributed power plants (DPPs), aggregations of behind-the-meter DERs, can reduce peak demand, shift load, provide ancillary services, and improve system reliability.

 IV. DPPs optimize renewable energy use and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel peaker plants.

 V. DPPs promote equity by expanding DER access and reducing emissions.

 VI. The Department of Energy estimates that 80–160 GW of DPPs could be deployed by 2030, yielding significant ratepayer savings.

 VII. Statutory and regulatory support is needed to overcome barriers to DPP deployment and integration.

 2 New Subdivision; Distributed Power Plants. Amend RSA 362-A by inserting after section 9 the following new subdivision:

Distributed Power Plants

 362-A:10 Definitions. In this subdivision:

 I. “Aggregator” means a third-party entity that enrolls customers in a distributed power plant (DPP) program and coordinates distributed energy resources (DER) operations.

 II. “Battery” means distributed storage as defined in RSA 374-F:2, IX.

 III. “Commission” means the public utilities commission.

 IV. “Customer” means an active electric service account holder of a regulated distribution utility.

 V. “Direct participant” means a customer enrolled directly with the utility.

 VI. “Distributed energy resource” or “DER” means a resource connected to the distribution grid as defined in RSA 374-F:2, VII or RSA 374-G:2, I(b), including solar PV, batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicles.

 VII. “Distributed power plant” or “DPP” means an aggregation of DERs operated in coordination to provide grid services.

 VIII. “Enrollment program” means a utility-approved program for enrolling DERs, either directly or through aggregators.

 IX. “Grid event” means a condition for which the utility dispatches enrolled devices.

 X. “Grid service” means a capacity, energy, or ancillary service that supports grid operations.

 XI. “Participant” means an aggregator or direct participant.

 XII. “Performance payment” means compensation for grid services during a grid event.

 XIII. “Performance payment rate” means the rate paid for grid services.

 XIV. “Upfront incentive payment” means a one-time enrollment payment.

 362-A:11 Distributed Power Plant Program.

 I. Each electric utility shall file a DPP program proposal with the commission.

 II. The commission shall conduct an adjudicated proceeding with stakeholder input and approve or modify each proposal within 100 days.

 III. Each DPP program shall include:

 (a) Upfront incentive payments for DERs providing peak load reduction and grid services;

 (b) Enrollment programs for batteries, electric vehicles, and combined technologies; and

 (c) Aggregator programs compensating for avoided costs and grid services.

 IV. Utilities may integrate existing demand management programs into DPP enrollment programs.

 V. Grid services may include:

 (a) Systemwide and local peak reduction;

 (b) Transmission and distribution deferral;

 (c) Voltage support and ancillary services; or

 (d) Emergency services.

 VI. The program