Committee backs transferring low-income electric assistance from PUC to Department of Energy

Senate Bill 236, which would transfer administration of New Hampshire’s Electric Assistance Program from the Public Utilities Commission to the New Hampshire Department of Energy, won unanimous committee support on a voice and roll-call vote.

Supporters told the Science, Technology and Energy Committee the change is an administrative cleanup meant to align program oversight and fiscal authority in a single agency and to improve coordination with related household energy programs.

The bill moves the Electric Assistance Program (EAP) — funded by a portion of the system benefit charge — under the Department of Energy’s purview. Proponents argued the department already manages related federally funded programs and the single-agency approach would shorten the current two-step process that requires the PUC to hold adjudicative hearings on EAP adjustments while lacking direct control of the dedicated fund.

Senator Kevin Avard, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee, “SB 236 transfers the control of the electric assistance program from the Public Utilities Commission to the…