SB 449 — relative to relative to the participation of large customer-generators in net metering and relative to energy storage in connection with net metering.

SB 449-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/12/2026 1000s SESSION 26-2027 06/05 SENATE BILL 449-FN AN ACT relative to relative to the participation of large customer-generators in net metering and relative to energy storage in connection with net metering.

Energy and Natural Resources ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── AMENDED ANALYSIS This billbill: requires large customer-generators participating in net metering to consume at least 33 percent of their own generation.

I.

Directs electric distribution utilities to make available alternative tariffs for net metering to eligible customer-generators in accordance with PUC Order 26,029 and net metering rules adopted by the commission.

II.

Authorizes energy storage in connection with net metering and directs the department of energy to adopt rules relative to the installation and interconnection of such energy storage systems.

SB 449-FN - AS INTRODUCEDAMENDED BY THE SENATE 03/12/2026 1000s 26-2027 06/05 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six AN ACT relative to relative to the participation of large customer-generators in net metering and relative to energy storage in connection with net metering.

Eligible Customer-Generator.Customer Generator.

Amend RSA 362-A:1-a,362- A:1-a, II-b is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

"Eligible customer-generator" or "customer-generator" means an electric utility customer who owns, operates, or purchases power from an electrical generating facility either powered by renewable energy or which employs a heat led combined heat and power system, with a total peak generating capacitycapacity, or maximum nameplate rating, of up to and including one megawatt, except as provided for a municipal host as defined in paragraph II-c[,11-c thatand isas locatedprovided behindfor a retail meter on the customer's premises,] and an industrial hostcustomer as defined underin paragraph II-g,11-g, that is located behind a retail meter on the customer's premises, provided it is interconnected and operates in parallel with the electric grid, and is used to offset the customer's own electricity requirements.

IncrementalEnergy storage, as defined in RSA 374- H:1, III, may be added to and charged solely from such a generation facility without affecting the generation facility's size determination relating to its eligibility meIncremental generation added to an existing generation facility, that does not itself qualify for net metering, shall qualify if such incremental generation meets the qualifications of this paragraph and is metered separately from the [nonqualifying] non-qualifying facility.

LimitedDefinition; Electrical Energy Producers Act Definitions.

Industrial Customer.

"Industrial host"customer" means a customer-generatorcustomer generator with a total peak generating capacity of greater than one megawatt and less than 5 megawatts,megawatts used to offset the electricity requirements of aone groupindustrial consistingentity exclusively of commercial, industrial, or institutional entities with one or more accounts, provided that all accounts are located within the same utility franchise service territory.

IfIn anthe industrialevent host’sof totalexcess annual net exported generation exceedsby the totalindustrial annualcustomer electricityabove usage of the hostindustrial andcustomer's membersannual ofelectricity theuse, group,such thenet industrialexcess hostexported generation shall be entitledsubject to compensationthe forpayment thatadjustment excess generation according to the process establishedwithin by the department’sPuc 900 rulesrules. for annual reconciliation.

An industrial host may be owned by either a public or private entity.

AlternativeEach tariffselectric fordistribution netutility metering shall bemake made available toalternative eligibletariffs customer-for generatorsnet bymetering eachto electriceligible distributioncustomer-generators utility in conformanceaccordance with Order No.

26,029 dated June 23, 2017, and withthe net metering rules adopted by the commission.

Any projecteligible customer-generator that beginshas receivingsubmitted an interconnection application to a distribution utility on or before December 31, 2031 and that is used to offset the electricity requirements of an industrial customer that first receives SB 449-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE - Page 2 - compensation under an Order No.

26,029 alternative tariffstariff willshall beremain eligible to continuereceive receiving that tariff for eitherthe longer of 20 years from the first year itin firstwhich beginscompensation receivingis compensationreceived, or throughuntil theJanuary initial1, tariff2040. term ending on December 31, 2040, whichever is longer.

IfIf, during these terms, the commission createsadopts new net SBmetering 449-FNtariffs -through ASan INTRODUCEDadjudicated -proceeding, Pageany 2eligible -customer-generator meteringthat tariffshas throughsubmitted an adjudicatedinterconnection proceedingapplication to a distribution utility on or before December 31, 2040,2031 and that is used to offset the electricity requirements of an industrial customer that elects to participate in a new net metering tariff shall be eligible customer-to generatorsreceive receivingthat Ordertariff No.until the date that is 20 years from the first date on which the eligible customer-generator received net metering compensation.

26,029Eligible alternativecustomer-generators tariffson willan haveOrder theNo. option of transitioning to new tariffs created through that proceeding.

If26,029 analternative eligibletariff customer-generatormay electsopt to transfertransition to a new net metering tariff established in such a proceeding, provided however, once a customer-generator transitions to a new tariff, they may not returnrevert to an Order No.

26,029 alternative tarifUpontariff. the expiration of a customer-generator’s eligibility under Order No.

26,029Upon alternativeexpiration tariffs, the eligible customer- generator will have the option of transitioningeligibility tounder thean tariffOrder availableNo. at that time.

26,029 alternative tariff, an eligible customergenerator may transition to the tariff available at that time.

NetCustomer Metering;Energy Storage Definitions.

Consumption.Amend RSA 374-H:1 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

AmendII-a. RSA 362-A:9 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

IV-a.(a)"Department" Facilitiesmeans eligible for the netdepartment metering tariff under this section for customer- generators larger than one megawatt and up to 5 megawatts with an in-service date after January 1, 2027, and not acting as a group net metering host, must consume at least 33 percent of theenergy. generation on an annual basis.

(b)5 ConsumptionCustomer requirementsEnergy underStorage thisSystems. section shall not apply to low and moderate income customers as defined in administrative rules of the public utilities commission in PUC 902.21.

5Amend Effectivethe Date.introductory paragraph for RSA 374-H:2, I to read as follows:

I.

The [commission]department shall adopt rules [or approve tariffs] clarifying policy for the installation[,] and interconnection[, and use] of energy storage systems by customers of utilities, while the commission may approve tariffs and issue orders in adjudicated proceedings that are consistent with such rules and pertain to the use of and utility compensation for such energy storage systems.

The department and the commission [and] shall incorporate the following principles into the rules [or approved tariffs]and orders, respectively:

6 New Paragraph;

Net Metering.

Amend RSA 362-A:9 by inserting after paragraph XXIII the following new paragraph:

XXIV.

The PUC may determine terms and conditions for how a customer-generator may use and be compensated for exports to the grid for energy storage added to and charged solely from renewable energy generation sources in conjunction with net metering and related tariff provisions.