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Department of Energy supports cleanup bill clarifying PUC role and appeal rights
Summary
The Department of Energy told the Senate committee it supports House Bill 266, a cleanup measure clarifying the department’s authority across statutes it administers, affirming party status in Public Utilities Commission proceedings and its right to appeal, and administratively attaching the PUC to the department; staff said the language addresses prior PUC concerns.
The Senate Committee on Executive Departments and Administration heard from the Department of Energy in support of House Bill 266, a technical cleanup bill that the department says clarifies its role in Public Utilities Commission (PUC) matters and other statutes it administers.
Meg Stone, legislative liaison for the Department of Energy, told the committee the department "supports House Bill 266" and described the measure as a cleanup bill that resolves earlier PUC concerns. Stone outlined several specific changes: Section 1 clarifies that the department’s authority extends to all statutes it administers (not only matters before the PUC); Section 2 affirms the department’s right to appeal in adjudicative and nonadjudicative proceedings; Section 3 administratively attaches the PUC to the department consistent with RSA 21 g 10; and Section 4 makes explicit that the department’s authority to require responses from regulated companies includes document production as well as verbal answers.
Stone said the bill reflects existing practice and the legislature’s intent to separate regulatory advocacy from decision‑making, noting the department currently participates as an automatic party in PUC adjudications and has an active appeal to the Supreme Court in a recent Eversource rate case. She said the language before the committee should address the PUC’s prior concerns.
The committee had no substantive questions on the technical language and closed the hearing. The chair noted a technical provision had been withdrawn and that the bill would remain on the regular calendar for further handling.
The next step for House Bill 266 is continued legislative consideration; the chair indicated Senator McGee would take the bill out (i.e., carry it forward) for the committee.
