New Hampshire HB 1775: relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.

Bill Text

HB 1775-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE

19Feb2026... 0594h

05/07/2026 1705s

2026 SESSION

 26-2700

 06/08

HOUSE BILL 1775-FN

AN ACT relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bernardy, Rock. 36; Rep. D. Thomas, Rock. 16; Sen. Avard, Dist 12

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

 I. Expands the purpose of RSA 374-G to include investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies for grid reliability.

 II. Authorizes electric utilities to own or invest in such resources up to 10 percent of peak load.

 III. Allows rate recovery eligibility for those investments.

 IV. Repeals certain limitations on utility-funded generation equipment and prior investment restrictions.

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 Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0594h

05/07/2026 1705s 26-2700

 06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.

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

 1 Purpose; Electric Utility Investment in Distributed Energy Resources. Amend RSA 374-G:1 to read as follows: 

 374-G:1 Purpose. Distributed energy resources can increase overall energy efficiency and provide energy security and diversity by eliminating, displacing, or better managing traditional fossil fuel energy deliveries from the centralized bulk power grid, in keeping with the objectives of RSA 362-F:1. It is therefore in the public interest to stimulate investment in distributed energy resources in New Hampshire in diverse ways, including by encouraging New Hampshire electric public utilities to invest in renewable and clean distributed energy resources at the lowest reasonable cost to taxpayers benefiting the transmission and distribution system under state regulatory oversight. Reliable, dispatchable, and controllable power generation must also be available to provide all essential electric service when renewable distributed energy resources, including storage, are not sufficient. It is therefore in the public interest to stimulate investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies, including battery storage, to ensure reliable and efficient energy in addition to renewable and clean distributed energy resources. Given the ability of nuclear technology to provide reactive power, it also ensures grid stability and supports voltage regulation. 

 2 New Section; Investments in Natural Gas and Nuclear Resources. Amend RSA 374-G by inserting after section 2 the following new section: 

 374-G:2-a Investments in Natural Gas and Nuclear Energy Resources.

 I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a New Hampshire electric utility may invest in or own natural gas or nuclear energy resources as whole generation units, or as part of a generation unit, located on or interconnected to the local electric distribution system. No individual generation unit may exceed 5 megawatts in size.

 II. The cumulative nameplate capacity in megawatts of natural gas and nuclear electric generation owned by or receiving investments from an electric utility under this section shall not exceed 10 percent of the utility’s total distribution peak load in megawatts.

 3 Rate Filing; Authorization. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 374-G:5, I to read as follows: 

 I. A New Hampshire electric public utility may be eligible to seek rate recovery for its portion of investments in [distributed] natural gas and nuclear energy resources, in addition to renewable distributed energy resources, from the commission by making an appropriate rate filing. At a minimum, such filing shall include the following: 

 4 Rate Filing; Authorization. Amend the introductory paragraph for RSA 374-G:5, II to read as follows: 

 II. Prior to authorizing a utility's recovery of investments made in [distributed energy resources] natural gas or nuclear distributed energy resources, or other distributed energy resources, the commission shall determine that the utility's investment and its recovery in rates, as proposed, are in the public interest. Determination of the public interest under this section shall include giving a balanced consideration and proportional weight to each of the following factors: 

 5 Repeal. The following are repealed: 

 I. RSA 374-G:3, V, relative to electric generation equipment funded by public utility and their requirements.

 II. RSA 374-G:4, III, relative to investments