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HB 1775 · 2026 · House · Science, Technology and Energy Committee

Utility ownership of gas and nuclear plants

AI-generated

relative to utility ownership of natural gas and nuclear power generation facilities.

Expands the purpose of RSA 374-G to authorize electric utilities to invest in or own natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear generation resources up to 10 percent of peak load, with rate recovery eligibility, while repealing certain existing investment limitations.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 20, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill: I. Expands the purpose of RSA 374-G to include investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies for grid reliability. II. Authorizes electric utilities to own or invest in such resources up to 10 percent of peak load. III. Allows rate recovery eligibility for those investments. IV. Repeals certain limitations on utility-funded generation equipment and prior investment restrictions.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted.

“a New Hampshire electric utility may invest in or own natural gas or nuclear energy resources as whole generation units, or as part of a generation unit, located on or interconnected to the local electric distribution system. No individual generation unit may exceed 5 megawatts in size.”
RSA 374-G:2-a, I

The reversal in one sentence: utilities may own generation again — capped at 5 MW per unit and tied to the distribution system.AI-generated

“The cumulative name plate capacity in megawatts of natural gas and nuclear electric generation owned by or receiving investments from an electric utility under this chapter shall not exceed 10 percent of the utility’s total distribution peak load in megawatts.”
RSA 374-G:2-a, II

The ceiling on the whole program: 10 percent of the utility’s peak load.AI-generated

“It is therefore in the public interest to stimulate investment in natural gas, hydrogen, and nuclear technologies, including battery storage, to ensure reliable and efficient energy in addition to renewable and clean distributed energy resources.”
RSA 374-G:1

The purpose section rewritten — the chapter was written for renewables, and now names gas and nuclear alongside them.AI-generated

“Prior to authorizing a utility's recovery of investments made in [distributed energy resources] natural gas or nuclear distributed energy resources, or other distributed energy resources, the commission shall determine that the utility's investment and its recovery in rates, as proposed, are in the public interest. Determination of the public interest under this [section] chapter shall include giving a balanced consideration and proportional weight to each of the following factors:”
RSA 374-G:5, II

Ratepayers’ protection is the commission’s public-interest finding, which the bill leaves in place.AI-generated

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. JD BernardyRPrimeClerk· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Rep. Douglas ThomasRVice Chair· Science, Technology and Energy
  • Sen. Kevin AvardRChair· Energy and Natural Resources

Public testimony

10 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

10% support80% oppose10% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and 335 members of Seacoast Anti-Pollution League throughout the Seacoast NH region, I would like to offer the following comments regarding HB 1775-FN.…”
— Doug Bogen, Barrington · Seacoast Anti-Pollution Leagueopposes
“I oppose HB 1775 because allowing utilities to own natural gas or nuclear generation would undermine competitive markets and shift long-term financial risk onto ratepayers.…”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchesteropposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 2, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy35:01–37:232m 22slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy2:32:12–2:33:211m 9slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0594h — roll call; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor5:38:33–5:44:065m 33slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0594h — adopted, roll call 191-149; Amendment # 2026-0594h — adopted, division 178-145; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 9, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division I2:24:34–2:31:457m 11slocated in the stream transcriptDivision I Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance1:38:17–1:43:435m 26slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floor4:05:17–4:09:334m 16slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 198-153
  • Apr 14, 2026Public hearingSenate Energy and Natural Resources13:28–22:168m 48slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1705s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote; Sen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1705s (Reps. Vose, Weyler) — adopted, voice vote; Speaker Appoints: Reps. Vose, Bernardy, D. Thomas, Notter
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2067c; Conference Committee Report # 2026-2067c, Adopted — voice vote; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e Adopted — voice vote
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateHouse floor2:09:44–2:10:3147slocated in the stream transcriptConference Committee Report 2026-2067c: Adopted — division 306-46; Enrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e — adopted, voice vote; Removed from Consent (Reps. Granger, Harrington, Kaczynski, Tom Mannion, Drew, Mehegan, Popovici-Muller, Ploszaj, Farrington, DeRoy)

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Science, Technology and Energy HJ 1 P. 35
  2. Feb 2, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/02/2026 09:30 am GP 229
  3. Feb 9, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/09/2026 03:00 pm GP 229
  4. Feb 9, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0594h 02/09/2026 (Vote 11-6; RC) HC 7 P. 39
  5. Feb 11, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0594h: AA DV 178-145 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 103
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0594h: MA RC 191-149 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 104
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 106
  9. Mar 9, 2026HouseDivision I Work Session: 03/09/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  10. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Mar 17, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 15-10; RC)
  12. Mar 19, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 198-153 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 37
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Energy and Natural Resources; SJ 7
  15. Apr 14, 2026SenHearing: 04/14/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 14
  16. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s, 05/07/2026; Vote 4-0; CC; SC 17
  17. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1705s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  18. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1705s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  19. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18A
  20. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  21. May 14, 2026HouseHouse Non-Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1705s (Reps. Vose, Weyler): MA VV 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 150
  22. May 14, 2026HouseSpeaker Appoints: Reps. Vose, Bernardy, D. Thomas, Notter 05/14/2026 HJ 13 P. 150
  23. May 14, 2026SenSen. Avard Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, MA, VV; (In recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  24. May 14, 2026SenPresident Appoints: Senators Avard, Pearl, Watters; (In Recess 05/14/2026); SJ 13
  25. May 26, 2026HouseConference Committee Meeting: 05/26/2026 10:00 am GP 228
  26. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report Filed, # 2026-2067c; 06/04/2026
  27. Jun 4, 2026HouseRemoved from Consent (Reps. Granger, Harrington, Kaczynski, Tom Mannion, Drew, Mehegan, Popovici-Muller, Ploszaj, Farrington, DeRoy) 06/04/2026 HJ 14
  28. Jun 4, 2026SenConference Committee Report # 2026-2067c, Adopted, VV; 06/04/2026; SJ 14
  29. Jun 4, 2026HouseConference Committee Report 2026-2067c: Adopted, DV 306-46 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  30. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e Adopted, VV, (In recess of 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  31. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled Bill Amendment # 2026-2193e: AA VV (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  32. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  33. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 15
  34. Jul 15, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/15/2026; Chapter 334; eff. 09/13/2026

Coverage

Background reading

Evergreen reading on the policy area — spanning perspectives — not coverage of this specific bill.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.