Relative to the limitations on community customer generators.
Summary
SB 228 revises New Hampshire’s net energy metering and community solar statutes. The bill changes how “community customer generators” and related group-host arrangements are defined and administered, expands the ability of group net metering members to contract with more than one host, and directs the Department of Energy to adopt rules for registration and membership changes. It also increases the metering threshold for simpler net metering treatment from 100 kilowatts to 500 kilowatts, while preserving different billing treatment for larger systems.
The bill also reshapes the state’s low-moderate income community solar program. It raises the maximum aggregate annual capacity for designated projects from 6 megawatts to 18 megawatts, updates the definition of low-moderate income community solar projects, and places a 3-megawatt cap on qualifying arrays. In addition, it broadens the definition of “political subdivision” for municipal-host purposes to include nonprofit educational institutions and public housing authorities, while removing the prior special-purpose-entity language.
Impact
SB 228 would amend multiple provisions in RSA 362-A and RSA 362-F governing net metering, municipal hosts, and low-moderate income community solar projects. It would affect how solar developers, utilities, customer-generators, municipalities, public housing authorities, and eligible low-income households participate in and are credited under community solar and group net metering programs. The bill would also require new Department of Energy rulemaking and registration processes, and the fiscal note anticipates increased administrative costs to the state and possible rate impacts passed through utility assessments.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill was controversial and did not command broad consensus. The House vote on the ITL motion was 190-151, indicating a divided chamber and a substantial minority opposed to killing the bill. The bill’s structure suggests support from clean-energy and community-solar advocates, but the close vote indicates significant concern about the costs, eligibility changes, and regulatory complexity.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be the expansion of community solar and net metering eligibility versus the potential cost and administrative burden on utilities and ratepayers. Opponents likely focused on the fiscal note’s projected Department of Energy staffing cost and the possibility of higher electricity costs, while supporters likely emphasized broader access to solar, especially for low- and moderate-income households and public housing residents. Another disputed issue is the expansion of municipal-host eligibility to nonprofits and the removal of prior special-purpose-entity language, which could change which entities can participate in group solar arrangements.