NH Public Utilities Commission | New Hampshire Public Radio

Seacoast State Reps Raise Concerns About Eversource Plan to Buy Water Utility

By Jason Moon • Nov 15, 2017

Two state representatives from the Seacoast are raising concerns about Eversource’s plan to buy a water utility company.

Eversource, New England’s largest energy company, announced back in June that it had plans to buy Aquarion, the region’s largest private water company.

The deal spans three states and is valued at about $1.7 billion.

Democratic Representatives Mindi Messmer of Rye and Renny Cushing of Hampton say it’s a bad deal for New Hampshire rate payers, and they've been working to stop it.

Record Demand Puts Popular N.H. Renewable Energy Rebate Program On Hold

By Todd Bookman • Jul 17, 2017

Due to record demand, the Public Utilities Commission is putting a state-managed rebate program for renewable energy investments on hold.

According to a letter issued by the PUC on Friday, both the Commercial and Industrial Solar Rebate Program, as well as the Residential Solar and Wind Rebate Program, are closed to new applicants until at least September 1st. The PUC points to high demand, as well as an application wait list valued at $1.5 million.

Net Metering: Energy Providers Clash On Cap, Utility Rates

By The Exchange • Feb 3, 2017

New Hampshire already permits a limited amount of net-metering, which allows solar panel owners to sell some power back to the electric grid. The solar industry has long called for those limits to be lifted, but the state's utilities say they can only accommodate so much, without passing on costs to other customers.

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Solar Energy in N.H.: Debate over Nearing Net Metering Cap

By The Exchange • Oct 20, 2015

In recent years, New Hampshire has seen rapid growth in solar power. With the approaching cap on a solar development incentive known as net metering, though, many in the industry say they can’t expand much more. We’ll find out what’s going on, and how bright or dim the future might be for solar in the Granite State.

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State Releases 10-Year Energy Strategy

By Sam Evans-Brown • Sep 2, 2014

At the tail-end of the section that opens New Hampshire’s ten-year energy strategy, released Tuesday, there are three paragraphs that acknowledge the issue which has been dominating the regional energy conversation. During the winter prices spike because natural gas electricity plants have been built and homeowners have converted to natural gas for heating and the region’s network of gas pipelines has not expanded as demand has grown.

PSNH Anticipates Rate Hike For Customers

By Amanda Loder • May 5, 2014

New Hampshire’s largest utility estimates customers will see a two percent average rate hike this year. Public Service of New Hampshire filed its rate adjustment forecast with the Public Utilities Commission Friday. PSNH says higher energy prices over the winter and continued volatility in the market could translate into higher power bills. The utility has not yet requested a rate change from the PUC.

PUC Says It Will Investigate Public Service Of New Hampshire

By Chris Jensen • Jan 18, 2013

The state’s Public Utilities Commission is planning to investigate whether PSNH is charging consumers too much for electricity.

In an order issued Friday afternoon the state’s Public Utilities Commission says it wants to know more about how Public Service of New Hampshire is operating and how that affects consumers and the state.

In particular the commission says it will investigate “how PSNH proposes to maintain safe and reliable service” and “just and reasonable rates” in light of market conditions.

Snowtober Report Praises Unitil Response, Criticizes PSNH

By Amanda Loder • Nov 23, 2012

White Lines — James Lee / Flickr Creative Commons

A new report from the state's Public Utilities Commission finds PSNH failed to properly prepare for last year’s October snowstorm. Meanwhile, Unitil was able to effectively restore power to customers following Snowtober.

A Conflict-of-Interest Challenge To Newly Appointed PUC Commissioner

By Chris Jensen • Mar 12, 2012

Last week the Executive Council confirmed Michael Harrington’s appointment as one of three Public Utilities Commissioners.

But before Harrington could preside over his first hearing on Monday a couple from the North Country filed a motion asking he be disqualified for a conflict of interest.