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HB 1736 · 2026 · House · Science, Technology and Energy Committee

Repealing alternative utility regulation authority

AI-generated

repealing the authority of the public utilities commission to approve alternative forms of regulation for utilities.

Repeals the public utilities commission's authority to approve and implement alternative forms of regulation for investor-owned electric and gas utilities outside traditional cost-of-service, rate base, and rate of return methods.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · March 5, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill repeals the public utilities commission authority to approve and implement alternative forms of regulation for investor-owned electric and gas utilities outside of traditional cost-of-service, rate base, and rate of return methods.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as introduced. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“RSA 374:3-a, relative to alternative forms of regulation and incentive regulations, is repealed.”
Section 1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Joe SweeneyRPrimeDeputy Majority Leader

Public testimony

12 signed in online · 1 wrote testimony

67% support33% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I strongly support HB 1736 because repealing alternative regulation authority preserves strong PUC oversight and prevents utilities from shifting risk onto ratepayers through automatic or reduced-scrutiny rate mechanisms”
— Hannah Meiselman, Manchestersupports

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
  • Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Inexpedient to Legislate18–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 5, 2026HouseVoice voteInexpedient to Legislateadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 10, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy5:23:35–5:28:485m 13slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Science, Technology and Energy1:57:10–1:59:522m 42slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate; Executive Session
  • Mar 5, 2026Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamInexpedient to Legislate — adopted, voice vote

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. 33
  2. Feb 10, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 02/10/2026 02:00 pm GP 229
  3. Feb 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/17/2026 10:00 am GP 229
  4. Feb 17, 2026House: Inexpedient to Legislate 02/17/2026 (Vote 18-0; CC) HC 9 P. 28
  5. Mar 5, 2026HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 03/05/2026 HJ 6 P. 37

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

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