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Commission To Examine DER Interconnection Standards
In response to a new state law (SB 391 of 2024), the New Hampshire Department of Energy (NHDOE) opened this proceeding “to examine and assess draft rules to be adopted for the purposes of setting uniform procedures for distributed energy resources (DER) that are proposed for a customer generator’s interconnection to the electrical infrastructure of New Hampshire’s investor-owned utilities.”
The NH DOE “intends to consider several topics in addition to the examination of interconnection rules required by SB 391. These topics include, but are not limited to, the incorporation of SB 270 (2022) establishing the Electric Assistance Program Low Moderate Income Community Solar Program (EAP LMI Program); Municipal Host Group Net Metering as enabled through HB 315 (2021); SB 161 (2023) enabling certain housing projects to be considered eligible entities for LMI Community Solar Projects; SB 40 (2023) enabling certain hydroelectric generators to be customer generators as a matter of law; rule updates related to utility and host group administration; and other updates reflecting regulatory changes that occurred from 2019-2024. The Department will also consider certain recommendations of the Grid Modernization Advisory Group, included in its September 1, 2024, report titled Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Cost Allocation: An Evaluation of Alternatives and Recommendations for Consideration.”
Report to legislature on interconnection rule status was due by March 24, 2025.
Next Steps
- Interconnection working group technical session #3 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on March 31, 2025.
- Session #4 is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on April 10, 2025.
- Session #5 scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on May 8, 2025.
- Session #6 scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET is scheduled for May 29, 2025.
- Non-interconnection working group technical session #4 is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. ET on April 14, 2025.
- Combined stakeholder meeting #2 scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on May 22, 2025.
- Preliminary draft rule set due to NHDOE by May 10, 2025.
- NHDOE finalized draft rules for filing with Office of Legislative Services (OLS) expected September 15, 2025.
- Submission of initial proposed rules to OLS expected October 1, 2025.
- OLS publication of Form IIC in Rulemaking Register expected October 8, 2025.
- Public comment hearing scheduled for October 28, 2025.
- Approval of final rules expected April 6, 2026.
As background, the Department is adopting rules pursuant to RSA 12-P:5, IV, related to net metering and interconnection of distributed energy resources to the infrastructure of New Hampshire’s investor-owned electric utilities. The Department initially opened a single proceeding, RUL 2024-005, to adopt these rules, but after a November 18, 2024, stakeholder session, the Department decided to open a separate rulemaking proceeding, RUL 2024-007, to consider the interconnection rules. Going forward, RUL 2024-005 will consider only the net metering rules. For information about the interconnection rulemaking before November 18, 2024, please see RUL 2024-005.
RUL 2024-007 (Opened 09/24/2024)
(Department of Energy Chapter En 1000 Interconnection of Distributed Electric Energy Resources)
