New Hampshire Utility Restructuring Legislation

Legislation Cite and Date
HB 1392 (5/96), PUC DR 96-150 (2/97)
PUC Orders (11/00)

Low-Income Provisions
HB 1392 requires that a utility must provide "programs and mechanisms that enable residential customers with Low-Incomes to manage and afford essential electricity."  And, "a non-bypassable and competitively neutral system benefits charge applied to the use of the distribution system may be used to fund public benefits...such as programs for low-income customers."

Low-Income Rate Assistance
An electric assistance program, the tiered-discount program (TDP), began in October 2002. A modified percentage of income plan, its tiers are structured to provide qualified low-income households with monthly energy bill payments. Under a new design implemented by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission in FY 2007, customers are responsible for electric bills equal to approximately 4.5 percent of household income.

Low-Income Conservation
Statewide Core Energy Efficiency Program, including low-income component, began June 1, 2002. Eligible low-income households can receive up to $4,000 in energy efficiency measures and program services.

Annual Funding (2008)
Rate Assistance: $12 million
Conservation: $2.6 million

Funding Mechanism
All electric distribution customers contribute to a system benefit charge.
Rate Assistance: 1.5 mills per kWh
Conservation: 1.8 mills per kWh

Administration
Rate assistance: Utilities with implementation by local community action agencies.
Conservation: Utilities

Pre-Restructuring Funding
Rate Assistance: none
Conservation: $500,000

Page Last Updated: September 24, 2009