Committee advances bill ordering state study of transformer vulnerability to geomagnetic storms and EMPs

House Bill 1723, which directs the New Hampshire Department of Energy to work with utilities to survey the state’s high‑voltage transmission transformers for vulnerabilities to geomagnetic storms and electromagnetic pulses, was advanced out of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote after the panel adopted a drafting amendment. Representative JD Bernardi, speaking for absent prime sponsor Rep. Rita Matson, told the committee the bill ‘‘simply directs the New Hampshire Department of Energy to work with our utilities to survey New Hampshire's high voltage transmission transformers to find their vulnerabilities to coronal mass ejections… and high altitude electromagnetic pulses’’ to identify risks and protective measures.

Why it matters: Sponsors said the step is aimed at documenting risk and identifying measures that could protect residents and reduce the likelihood of long, costly blackouts. Bernardi cited federal standards and cost estimates, saying that new protection technology ‘‘could protect the entire US grid for $4 billion’’ compared with annual repair costs he said utilities face.

State response and timing: Josh Elliot, director of the division of policy and programs, and Emily Tamasi of the state energy program told the committee the department is neutral on the bill and expects to hire a consultant to perform the technical work under a cap laid out in the bill. Tamasi noted the statute currently gives the department 90 days to commence the investigation but said that procurement and governor and council approvals make that timeline ‘‘tight’’; she asked the committee to consider extending the statutory start to 120 days to allow time to issue a request for proposals and secure contracts.

Funding and scope: Eversource representative Michael Lata proposed a drafting clarification to confirm that the customer‑funded assessment would be an assessment on ratepayers, not a penalty charged to the utility, and said the company supports the bill’s goals if funding language is explicit. The committee revised the text to replace the 90‑day commencement deadline with 120 days, clarified special‑assessment language and instructed staff to adopt the cleaner paragraph on funding and procurement.

Outcome and next steps: After the adjustments the committee moved HB1723 to pass as amended by consent. The amended bill requires the Department of Energy to begin the study under the revised timetable, use a competitive consultant process (with a $350,000 cap stated in testimony), and report findings and recommendations to the legislature. The transcript does not record a roll‑call vote or implementation timetable beyond the amended statutory language; the department testified it will begin procurement under the revised 120‑day window and expects to complete the technical assessment within the one‑year rulemaking window prescribed in the bill.