HB1250: requiring the public utilities commission to consider climate change in making rate-setting decisions.

HB 1250 - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2264

12/04

HOUSE BILL 1250

AN ACT requiring the public utilities commission to consider climate change in making rate-setting decisions.

SPONSORS: Rep. Gallager, Merr. 15; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1

COMMITTEE: Science, Technology and Energy

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the public utilities commission to consider climate change when setting rates, fees, or charges.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2264

12/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT requiring the public utilities commission to consider climate change in making rate-setting decisions.

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

1 Fixing of Rates by the Public Utilities Commission. Amend RSA 378:7 to read as follows:

378:7 Fixing of Rates by Commission. Whenever the commission shall be of opinion, after a hearing had upon its own motion or on motion of the department of energy or upon complaint, that the rates, fares or charges demanded or collected, or proposed to be demanded or collected, by any public utility for service rendered or to be rendered are unjust or unreasonable, or that the regulations or practices of such public utility affecting such rates are unjust or unreasonable, or is in any [wise in] way a violation of any provision of law, or that the maximum rates, fares or charges chargeable by any such public utility are insufficient, and after taking into consideration their impact on climate change, the commission shall determine the just and reasonable or lawful rates, fares and charges to be thereafter observed and in force as the maximum to be charged for the service to be performed, and shall fix the same by order to be served upon all public utilities by which such rates, fares and charges are thereafter to be observed. The commission shall be under no obligation to investigate or hear any rate matter which it has investigated within a period of 2 years, but may do so within said period at its discretion.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2023.