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Committee defers Public Utilities Commission rule after legal dispute over fine authority
Summary
Committee members and agency lawyers debated whether the statute cited gives the Public Utilities Commission authority to assess fines on competitive natural‑gas suppliers. After extended legal questioning and requests for research and legislative history, the committee waived and postponed action until next month to allow attorneys to reconcile the statutes.
The Administrative Rules Committee deferred action on a Public Utilities Commission rule that would govern competitive natural‑gas suppliers after members and legal reviewers disputed whether the commission has statutory authority to impose fines.
Committee staff told members the draft rule cited a statute that authorizes rulemaking by the Department of Energy but does not clearly grant the commission the specific authority to assess fines on competitive natural‑gas suppliers. A staff presenter said a statute now located at RSA 12‑P‑15 and other general rulemaking provisions did not…
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