Disclosure of Electric Service Energy Sources and Environmental Characteristics
Section 378:49
378:49 Disclosure of Electric Service Energy Sources and Environmental Characteristics. –
I. The public utilities commission shall, after notice and hearing, by order or rule, approve a standard format and methodology that providers of electricity, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, XIV, shall use when providing information to existing or prospective customers regarding the energy sources and environmental characteristics of their electric service. Such information shall include but not be limited to:
(a) A presentation of energy sources used to generate the electricity and their respective contributions to the service's total energy mix, by percentage;
(b) The environmental characteristics of the service's energy mix, including but not limited to air pollutant emission rates; and
(c) A comparison of source and emissions data between the service's energy mix and the average energy mix of the region available from the Independent System Operator of New England.
II. Each provider of electricity, as defined in RSA 362-F:2, XIV, shall in standard format:
(a) Provide and make easily accessible on the provider's Internet site the information for each electric service that it sells in the state;
(b) Update such information at least annually; and
(c) Provide such information to electric customers at least annually in conjunction with billing, whether distributed through the mail or online, or other mailed or online communication to customers, as approved by the department, including the department's estimated cost on a per kilowatt-hour basis and estimated annual cost for the average residential ratepayer for compliance with the electric renewable portfolio standard under RSA 362-F for the prior compliance year. The estimated cost for the compliance year shall be calculated once per year and provided in the customer's December bill, whether distributed through the mail or online. Each customer's bill shall identify the cost as an estimate and provide a link to information about the electric renewable portfolio standard, including its benefits, at the department's website. Utilities shall also be required to include an annual estimated cost to be calculated by multiplying the average per kilowatt hour cost of the electric renewable portfolio standard under RSA 362-F for the prior compliance year by the average residential monthly consumption of 625 kilowatt hours. The costs for a utility to provide this information shall be recovered from electric customers through the distribution rates of the respective electric distribution utility.
III. Appropriate access or reference to relevant public information, including emissions by source, that is more detailed than that contained in the standard format shall be included in the standard format.