reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:6-a - Solid Waste Management District Agreements.

53-B:6-a Solid Waste Management District Agreements. –
The business affairs and actions of a district shall be conducted and governed pursuant to the terms, conditions, and provisions of its district agreement. The agreement shall include but not be limited to the following:
I. A list of the municipalities included in the district.
II. Provisions for the sharing of planning, construction, operating, maintenance, and closing costs of one or more facilities, if any.
III. The method of selection and method of removal of representatives to the district committee, whether by legislative or governing bodies; the number of representatives and the weight of each representative's vote; the terms of office of the representatives; and, except as provided otherwise by law, the powers, duties and authorities of the district committee officers.
IV. A description of the facilities and sites, if applicable.
V. The terms by which other municipalities may be admitted to the district or a member municipality may withdraw from the district before or after debt has been incurred.
VI. The method by which the district agreement may be amended including conditions under which an amendment must be approved by the governing or legislative bodies of member municipalities.
VII. The procedure for dissolution of the solid waste management district before or after debt has been incurred.
VIII. Provisions for varied levels of participation by member municipalities in multiple facilities, if applicable.
IX. The procedure for the preparation and adoption of the annual budget, including the apportionment of district expenses and a schedule of payments, and other procedures relative to governing the district's fiscal affairs in accordance with RSA 53-B:9.
X. The remedies and penalties which the district committee may assert against a member which defaults in its obligations to the district, if any.
XI. Any debt incurrences by the district for specified purposes that are exempt from the debt rejection provisions of RSA 53-B:7, VI(a) and (c).
XII. Any long-term contracts entered into by the district for specified purposes that are exempt from the contract rejection provisions under RSA 53-B:7, XX(a) and (c) and the term of contract to be subject to such provision if different from 5 years.
XIII. The powers delegated to the district by member municipalities to enact bylaws and regulations concerning solid waste management, as provided in RSA 53-B:7, XV.
XIV. The procedure, if any, for establishing the district when not all of the legislative bodies vote to approve the district agreement, as provided in RSA 53-B:6, II.
Source.
1994, 367:6, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:7-a - Repealed by 1994, 367:17, IV, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.

53-B:7-a Repealed by 1994, 367:17, IV, eff. Aug. 8, 1994. –
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:7-b - Project Financing.

53-B:7-b Project Financing. –
I. Bonds or notes issued pursuant to this chapter may be secured by any assets or revenues, or both, of the district. The district may mortgage a facility and grant security interests in such other assets or rights to receive money as the district committee may determine. Such bonds or notes may, but need not be, the full faith and credit obligation of the district, provided that bonds or notes which are not the full faith and credit obligation of the district shall so state in a conspicuous manner on their face.
II. A district may use the proceeds of bonds or notes to acquire land and to plan, construct and equip, or purchase or otherwise acquire the use of, one or more facilities, or to close one or more facilities, and to create such reserve funds and to pay such costs of financing and capitalized interest as the district committee deems appropriate, or it may loan such proceeds to any person for such purposes in connection with a facility which by contract it has the right to use or which by contract will provide management services to the district for a period at least equal to the period of the bonds or notes.
Source.
1982, 23:2. 1994, 367:8, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:7-c - Member Municipality Obligations.

53-B:7-c Member Municipality Obligations. –
Any member municipality that withdraws from a district shall be liable for its share of existing debt and contractual obligations, and any existing operating and capital costs its withdrawal would impose on remaining members. All liabilities, obligations, and indebtedness of the district incurred by it through the exercise of its powers and duties shall be full faith and credit obligations of the individual member municipalities except to the extent that the district agreement otherwise provides.
Source.
1994, 367:9, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:8 - District Committee.

53-B:8 District Committee. –
I. The powers, duties, and liabilities of a district shall be vested in and exercised by a district committee organized in accordance with the district agreement. The district committee shall authorize and govern all actions of a district, and the district committee's actions which are consistent with the district agreement and this chapter are binding on member municipalities without any additional action by the governing or legislative bodies of those municipalities. A majority of district committee representatives shall constitute a quorum, unless the district agreement provides for weighted voting, in which case a quorum shall consist of representatives holding more than 50 percent of the voting power. A simple majority of the voting authority present shall be sufficient to approve an action by the committee except as otherwise provided in the district agreement and with the following exceptions. An affirmative 2/3 vote of the total votes of the district committee shall be required to authorize the incurrence of long-term debt or the dissolution of the district.
II. The committee shall choose a chairman by ballot from its membership. It shall appoint a secretary and a treasurer, who may be the same person, but who need not be members of the committee, and such other officers as may be provided for in the district agreement. The treasurer shall receive and take charge of all money belonging to the district and shall pay any debt of the district which has been approved by the committee. The treasurer may, by vote of the committee, be compensated for his services. Proceedings of the committee shall be held in accordance with RSA 91-A.
III. The committee shall send to the member municipalities, by January 31 of each year, an annual report on the general activities and affairs of the district, including a detailed financial report.
Source.
1967, 331:1. 1994, 367:10, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:8-a - Capital Reserve Fund.

53-B:8-a Capital Reserve Fund. –
I. A district may establish a capital reserve fund for the orderly replacement and closure of any existing facility, including associated buildings and equipment, which has been approved under RSA 53-B:7, VI. The district committee shall invest all monies in said fund in the same manner as capital reserve funds of towns are invested pursuant to the requirements of RSA 35:9. The members of said committee shall serve as the trustees of the capital reserve fund. The trustees of the fund shall post bond in such amount and in such form as the New Hampshire commissioner of revenue administration shall prescribe.
II. The proposed annual contributions to the capital reserve fund shall be set forth in the budget of the district, and the trustees shall annually within 3 months of the close of the fiscal year of the district file an account with the selectmen of the towns and the city council of the cities comprising the district setting forth the amounts held by the trustees, the manner in which they are invested, and the purposes for which they are held. The trustees may, from time to time, vote to expend any funds held by them for the replacement or closure of any existing facility, including associated buildings and equipment, required by the district without further vote of the municipalities comprising the district.
Source.
1977, 302:1. 1994, 367:11, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:9 - Adoption of Budget; Apportionment of Expenses.

53-B:9 Adoption of Budget;  Apportionment of Expenses. –
Annually, the district committee shall determine the amounts necessary to be raised to maintain and operate the district during the next calendar year, and the amounts required for payment of debt and interest incurred by the district that will be due in the next year. The committee shall adopt a budget for the upcoming year no later than December 31. The committee shall prepare a budget and make a preliminary apportionment of the amount so determined among the member municipalities in accordance with the terms of the district agreement. Prior to December 31 of each year the district committee shall hold at least one public hearing at some convenient place in the district on the amounts required in the budget and the preliminary apportionment of the amounts listed in the budget. At least 7 days' notice of the meeting shall be given by publication of the budget and apportionment in a newspaper of general circulation within the district, and by posting a copy of the budget and apportionment in a public place in each municipality in the district. After the hearing the committee shall adopt a budget and make a final determination of the apportionment among the member municipalities. After the committee has adopted the budget and determined the apportionment of the expenses, the district treasurer shall certify to the governing body of each member municipality the amount of money assessed each member municipality. The governing body of each member municipality shall seasonably assess the taxes to be raised to pay the apportionments. The municipal treasurer shall pay to the district the amount so apportioned at the times specified in the district agreement.
Source.
1967, 331:1. 1994, 367:12, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:10 - Audits.

53-B:10 Audits. –
The district committee shall hire a certified public accountant or a public accountant licensed by the state under RSA 309-A:8 to conduct a financial audit, in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing standards as adopted by the U.S. General Accounting Office and applicable state statutes, to be completed within 6 months after the close of each fiscal year. Upon completion of an audit, the district committee shall review and vote on acceptance of the audit and send a copy of the audited financial statements, the auditor's opinion on those statements, a report on internal control, a report on compliance, and any other auditor reports to the governing body of each of the member municipalities and to the department of revenue administration. At least every 2 years, the district committee shall vote on whether to contract for a performance audit of the district in accordance with the generally accepted governmental auditing standards. Upon completion of a performance audit, the committee shall review and vote on acceptance of the audit and send a copy of the resulting materials to the governing body of each of the member municipalities and to the department of revenue administration.
Source.
1967, 331:1. 1973, 544:10. 1975, 439:23. 1989, 50:3. 1994, 367:13, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:11 - Repealed by 1994, 367:17, V, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.

53-B:11 Repealed by 1994, 367:17, V, eff. Aug. 8, 1994. –
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:12 - Tax Exemption.

53-B:12 Tax Exemption. –
All bonds and notes, and the interest thereon, heretofor or hereafter issued by a district formed under the provisions of RSA 53-B or of any general or special act, heretofor and hereafter enacted, shall be exempt from taxation in the state of New Hampshire.
Source.
1994, 367:14, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:13 - Severability.

53-B:13 Severability. –
If any portion of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.
Source.
1994, 367:14, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-B - Solid Waste Management Districts › Section 53-B:14 - Existing Districts.

53-B:14 Existing Districts. –
Districts formed by municipalities under prior law shall continue to operate under the prior law and existing district agreements. A district may utilize any additional provisions of this chapter by amending its district agreement in accordance with the amendment process contained in its district agreement.
Source.
1994, 367:14, eff. Aug. 8, 1994.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:1 - Definitions.

53-C:1 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Cable television system" means facilities by which television signals are received at a central location and for consideration are transmitted to customers or subscribers by means of cables or wires.
II. "Company" means any person, partnership, association, or corporation, including a municipality, owning or operating a cable television system, except for any nonprofit system serving fewer than 100 subscribers.
III. "Franchise" means an initial or renewed authorization issued by a franchising authority to construct or operate a cable system.
IV. "Franchising authority" means any governmental entity empowered by federal, state, or local law to grant a franchise.
V. "Master antenna television system" means a cable television system which serves only the residents of one or more apartment dwellings under common ownership, control or management, and any commercial establishment located on the premises of such apartment house and which transmits only signals broadcast over the air by stations which may be viewed normally or heard locally without objectionable interference, and which does not provide any additional service over its facilities.
VI. "Municipality" means a city or town.
VII. "Privately owned utility pole" means a utility pole which is owned by a person or entity other than a public utility or municipal corporation providing electric or telecommunications services.
Source.
1974, 23:1. 1989, 338:1. 2007, 197:1, eff. July 1, 2007.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:2 - Franchise Required.

53-C:2 Franchise Required. –
I. No company shall construct, commence construction, or operate a cable television system in any municipality without first obtaining a written franchise from the franchising authority of each municipality in which such system is installed or to be installed.
II. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent municipalities from cooperating to jointly exercise franchising authority in accordance with RSA 53-A.
Source.
1974, 23:1. 1989, 338:2. 1996, 72:1, eff. July 12, 1996.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3 - Authority to Grant Franchises.

53-C:3 Authority to Grant Franchises. –
Municipalities are hereby authorized to grant, renew, amend or rescind for cause franchises for the installation and operation of cable television systems in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within the geographical limits of its respective town or city.
Source.
1974, 23:1. 1996, 72:2, eff. July 12, 1996.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-a - Franchise Applicant Considerations.

53-C:3-a Franchise Applicant Considerations. –
No municipality shall grant a franchise for cable service to a cable system within its jurisdiction without first, at a duly noticed public hearing, having considered:
I. The financial ability of the franchise applicant to perform.
II. The ability of the applicant to provide adequate and technically sound facilities, equipment and signal quality.
III. Adequate channel capacity and appropriate facilities for public, educational, or governmental use, taking into account available technology, subscriber interest, and cost.
IV. The prohibition of discrimination among customers of basic service.
V. Reasonable service quality in terms of available technology, subscriber interest, and cost.
VI. Construction and installation which conforms to all applicable state and federal laws and regulations and the National Electric Safety Code.
VII. A competent staff able to provide prompt, adequate service and to respond comprehensively to customer complaints or problems.
VIII. Reasonable rules and policies for line extensions and disconnects, customer deposits, and billing practices.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-b - Franchises; Administration by Municipality.

53-C:3-b Franchises;  Administration by Municipality. –
I. All franchises shall be nonexclusive. No municipality shall grant any additional franchises to cable service within its jurisdiction on terms or conditions more favorable or less burdensome than those in any existing franchise within such municipality.
II. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any municipality considering the approval of an additional cable service franchise in all or any part of the area of such municipality from imposing additional terms and conditions upon the granting of such franchises as such municipality shall in its sole discretion deem necessary or appropriate.
III. All cable service franchises in existence as of May 1, 1989, shall remain in full force and effect according to their existing terms.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-c - Credits and Refunds for Interruption of Service.

53-C:3-c Credits and Refunds for Interruption of Service. –
Every franchisee shall agree to the following:
I. In the event its service to any subscriber is interrupted for 24 or more consecutive hours, it will, upon request, grant such subscriber a pro rata credit or rebate.
II. It will maintain an office which shall be open during usual business hours, have a listed toll-free telephone number, and be capable of receiving complaints, requests for adjustments, and service calls.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-d - Notice to Subscribers Regarding Quality of Service.

53-C:3-d Notice to Subscribers Regarding Quality of Service. –
I. Annually, every cable television system operator shall mail to each of its subscribers a notice which:
(a) Informs subscribers how to communicate their views to the cable company and to the office of the attorney general, consumer protection and antitrust bureau;
(b) States the responsibility of the office of the attorney general, consumer protection and antitrust bureau to receive and act on consumer complaints.
II. Such notice shall be in nontechnical language, understandable by the general public, and in a convenient format. On or before January 30 of each year, the operator shall certify to the franchising authority and to the office of the attorney general, consumer protection and antitrust bureau that it has distributed the notice as provided in this section during the previous calendar year as required by this section.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-e - Recording of Subscriber Complaints.

53-C:3-e Recording of Subscriber Complaints. –
I. Every cable television system operator shall keep a record or log of all written complaints received regarding quality of service, equipment malfunctions, billing procedure, employee relations with customers and similar matters. Such records shall be maintained for a period of 2 years.
II. Such record shall contain the following information for each complaint received:
(a) Date, time, nature of complaint;
(b) Name, address, telephone number of complainant;
(c) Investigation of complaint;
(d) Manner and time of resolution of complaint; and
(e) If the complaint regards equipment malfunction or the quality of reception, a report indicating corrective steps taken, with the nature of the problem stated. Every cable television system operator shall make the logs or records, or both, of such complaints available to any authorized agent of the franchising authority upon request during normal business hours for on-sight review.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-f - Franchise Document Clearing House.

53-C:3-f Franchise Document Clearing House. –
Within 60 days of the granting of an initial franchise and any renewal of such franchise, the franchisee shall file a copy of the franchise and any Federal Communications Commission rulings or other rulings affecting such franchisee with the secretary of state. Within 60 days of June 2, 1989 cable system operators shall file a copy of their existing franchise with the secretary of state. The secretary of state shall maintain a file of all franchise documents so recorded and make copies available upon request for the cost of reproduction and mailing, plus a reasonable administrative fee. The filing fee for initial and renewal franchise documents shall be $50 per franchise or renewal of such franchise. In years in which the filing of initial or renewal franchise documents is not required, the franchisee shall pay to the secretary of state a fee of $50 for each locality served by the franchise.
Source.
1989, 338:3, eff. Aug. 1, 1989.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:3-g - Rights of Individuals.

53-C:3-g Rights of Individuals. –
No cable television system operator shall deny service, deny access, or otherwise discriminate against subscribers, channel users, or any other citizens on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical disability, or country of natural origin.
Source.
1989, 338:3. 1990, 140:2, XI, eff. June 18, 1990. 2019, 332:10, eff. Oct. 15, 2019.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:4 - Authority to Establish Fees and Impose Conditions.

53-C:4 Authority to Establish Fees and Impose Conditions. –
In conjunction with the rights granted in said franchises, any franchising authority may require reasonable fees payable to the municipality and may impose conditions not inconsistent with applicable Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, as amended from time to time.
Source.
1974, 23:1, eff. April 2, 1974.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-C - Franchising and Regulation of Cable Television Systems by Cities and Towns › Section 53-C:5 - Existing Operations.

53-C:5 Existing Operations. –
Any existing contract, license, permit, resolution or other accepted authorization for a cable television system which is in operation as of April 2, 1974, or for a cable television system which has substantially completed the installation of equipment and facilities as of such date, shall be deemed to be a franchise under the provisions of this chapter until the earlier of the expiration of its stated term, if any, or the date of any renewal or amendment required under applicable Rules and Regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, as amended from time to time.
Source.
1974, 23:1, eff. April 2, 1974.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:1 - Statement of Purpose.

53-E:1 Statement of Purpose. –
The general court finds it to be in the public interest to allow municipalities and counties to aggregate retail electric customers, as necessary, to provide such customers access to competitive markets for supplies of electricity and related energy services. The general court finds that aggregation may provide small customers with similar opportunities to those available to larger customers in obtaining lower electric costs, reliable service, and secure energy supplies. The purpose of aggregation shall be to encourage voluntary, cost effective and innovative solutions to local needs with careful consideration of local conditions and opportunities.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:2 - Definitions.

53-E:2 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Aggregation" means the grouping of retail electric customers to provide, broker, or contract for energy services for such customers.
II. "Aggregator" means, unless the context indicates otherwise, a municipality or county that engages in aggregation of electric customers within its boundaries.
III. "Commission" means the public utilities commission.
IV. "Committee" means the electric aggregation committee established under RSA 53-E:6.
V. "County" means any county within the state.
V-a. "Department" means the department of energy.
V-b. "Energy services" means the provision of electric power supply solely or in combination with any or all of the services specified in RSA 53-E:3.
VI. "Municipality" means any city, town, unincorporated place, or village district within the state.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2019, 316:1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:1, 2, eff. Oct. 25, 2021. 2023, 85:1, eff. June 20, 2023.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:3 - Municipal and County Authorities.

53-E:3 Municipal and County Authorities. –
Any municipality or county may:
I. Aggregate the retail electric customers within its boundaries who do not opt out of or who consent to being included in an aggregation program.
II. (a) Enter into agreements and provide for energy services, specifically:
(1) The supply of electric power and capacity.
(2) Demand side management.
(3) Conservation.
(4) Meter reading, with commission approval for meters owned or controlled by the electric distribution utilities or used for load settlement.
(5) Customer service for aggregation provided services.
(6) Other related services.
(7) The operation of energy efficiency and clean energy districts adopted by a municipality pursuant to RSA 53-F and as approved by the municipality's governing body.
(b) Such agreements may be entered into and such services may be provided by a single municipality or county, or by a group of such entities operating jointly pursuant to RSA 53-A.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2019, 316:2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:3, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:3-a - Municipal Aggregators Authorized.

53-E:3-a Municipal Aggregators Authorized. –
Municipal aggregators of electricity load under this chapter, and municipalities operating municipal electric utilities under RSA 38, are expressly authorized to aggregate energy services as described in RSA 53-E:3. Municipalities may operate approved aggregation programs as self-supporting enterprise funds including the use of revenue bonds pursuant to RSA 33-B and RSA 374-D and loans from other municipal enterprise funds as may be approved by the governing body and the legislative body of the municipality. Any such loans from other municipal enterprise funds shall be used for purposes that have a clear nexus to the primary purposes of such other funds, such as generation, storage, or sale of power generated from sites, facilities, or resources that might otherwise be operated or produced by the other enterprise fund. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to limit the capacity of customers to select any service or combination of services offered by such municipal aggregators or to limit the municipality from combining billing for energy services with other municipal services.
Source.
1997, 298:20, eff. June 20, 1997. 2019, 316:2, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:4, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:3-b - Use of "Community Power" as a Name Reserved.

53-E:3-b Use of "Community Power" as a Name Reserved. –
The use of the term "Community Power" following the name of a municipality or county shall be reserved for the exclusive use by such entity as a name for proposed or approved municipal or county aggregations. Aggregations operated jointly by a group of such entities pursuant to RSA 53-A may adopt an appropriate identifying name in conjunction with the term "Community Power" as a name.
Source.
2019, 316:3, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:4 - Regulation.

53-E:4 Regulation. –
I. An aggregator operating under this chapter shall not be considered a public utility under RSA 362:2 and shall not be considered a municipal utility under RSA 38. A municipal or county aggregation may elect to participate in the ISO New England wholesale energy market as a load serving entity for the purpose of procuring or selling electrical energy or capacity on behalf of its participating retail electric customers, including itself.
II. The provision of aggregated electric power and energy services under this chapter shall be regulated by this chapter and any other applicable laws governing aggregated electric power and energy services in competitive electric markets.
III. Transmission and distribution services shall remain with the transmission and distribution utilities, who shall be paid for such services according to rate schedules approved by the applicable regulatory authority, which may include optional time varying rates for transmission and distribution services that may be offered by distribution utilities on a pilot or regular basis. An aggregator shall not be required to own any utility property or equipment to provide electric power and energy services to its customers.
IV. For the purpose of obtaining interval meter data for load settlement, the provision of energy services, and near real-time customer access to such data, a municipal and county aggregator may contribute to the cost of electric utility provided meter upgrades, jointly own revenue grade meters with an electric utility, or provide its own revenue grade electric meter, which would be in addition to a utility provided meter. Such metering shall only be implemented subject to the commission finding it is in the public good, assuring that meters used for distribution tariff implementation remain under the control and majority ownership of the electric distribution utility, and otherwise approving the terms and conditions for such arrangements, including sharing or transfer of meter data from and to the electric distribution utility.
V. Municipal or county aggregations that supply power shall be treated as competitive electricity suppliers for the purpose of access to the electric distribution utility's electronic data interface and for ceasing operations.
VI. Municipal or county aggregations shall be subject to RSA 363:38 as service providers and individual customer data shall be treated as confidential private information and shall not be subject to public disclosure under RSA 91-A. An approved aggregation may use individual customer data to comply with the provisions of RSA 53-E:7, II and for research and development of potential new energy services to offer to customer participants.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2019, 316:4, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:5, 6, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:5 - Financial Responsibility.

53-E:5 Financial Responsibility. –
Retail electric customers who choose not to participate in an aggregation program adopted under RSA 53-E:7 shall not be responsible for, and no entity shall require them to pay, any costs associated with such program, through taxes or otherwise except for electric power supply or energy services consumed directly by the municipality or county, or incidental costs, which may include costs necessary to comply with the provisions of this chapter up to the time that the aggregation starts to produce revenue from participating customers, but shall not include any capitalized or operating costs of an aggregation program.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2019, 316:4, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:7, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:6 - Electric Aggregation Plan.

53-E:6 Electric Aggregation Plan. –
I. The governing body of a municipality or county may form an electric aggregation committee to develop a plan for an aggregation program for its citizens. A municipality or county may join other municipalities or counties in developing such plans. A county plan may provide an aggregation program for all or a subset of municipalities within the county that request to participate by a majority vote of their respective governing bodies.
II. The plan shall provide universal access, reliability, and equitable treatment of all classes of customers subject to any differences arising from varying opportunities, tariffs, and arrangements between different electric distribution utilities in their respective franchise territories, and shall meet, at a minimum, the basic environmental and service standards established by the commission and other applicable agencies and laws concerning aggregated service.
III. The plan shall detail:
(a) The organizational structure of the program.
(b) Operation and funding.
(c) Rate setting and other costs to participants, including whether energy supply services are offered on an opt-in basis or on an opt-out basis as an alternative default service.
(d) The methods for entering and terminating agreements with other entities.
(e) The rights and responsibilities of program participants.
(f) How net metered electricity exported to the distribution grid by program participants, including for group net metering, will be compensated and accounted for.
(g) How the program will ensure participants who are enrolled in the Electric Assistance Program administered by the commission will receive their discount.
(h) Termination of the program.
IV. The committee shall approve a final plan which the committee determines is in the best, long-term interest of the municipality or county and the ratepayers.
V. The committee shall solicit public input in the planning process and shall hold public hearings.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2019, 316:4, eff. Oct. 1, 2019. 2021, 229:8, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:8 - Other Aggregators.

53-E:8 Other Aggregators. –
Nothing in this chapter shall preclude private aggregators from operating in service areas served by municipal or county aggregators.
Source.
1996, 192:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-E - Aggregation of Electric Customers by Municipalities and Counties › Section 53-E:9 - Billing Arrangements.

53-E:9 Billing Arrangements. –
I. For purposes of this section the term "supplier" shall mean an aggregator functioning as a load serving entity under this chapter or a competitive electricity supplier serving an aggregation under this chapter. The term shall also include competitive electricity suppliers generally to the extent and for such customer rate classes as the commission finds, after notice and hearing, that it is for the public good. Such a determination shall be on a utility-specific basis, if proposed and assented to by the utility.
II. Each electric distribution utility shall propose to the commission for review and approval a program for the purchase of receivables of the supplier in which the utility shall pay in a timely manner the amounts due such suppliers from customers for electricity supply and related services less a discount percentage rate equal to the utility's actual uncollectible rate, adjusted to recover capitalized and operating costs specific to the implementation and operation of the purchase of receivables program, including working capital. Additionally, such discount rate adjustments shall include a pro rata share of the cost of administering collection efforts such that the utility's participation in the purchase of receivables program shall not require the utility or non-participating consumers to assume any costs arising from its use. Such pro rata costs must include, but not be limited to, any increases in the utility's bad debt write-offs attributable to participants in the purchase of receivables program, as approved by the commission. However, the allocation of costs arising from different rate components and determination of the uncollectible rate shall be equitably allocated between such suppliers, utility provided default service, and other utility charges that are a part of consolidated billing by the utility as approved by the commission. The discount percentage rate shall be subject to periodic adjustment as approved by the commission.
Source.
2021, 229:10, eff. Oct. 25, 2021.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-F - Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts › Section 53-F:1 - Definitions.

53-F:1 Definitions. –
In this chapter:
I. "Clean energy improvement" means the installation of any system on the property for producing electricity for, or meeting heating, cooling, or water heating needs of the property, using either renewable energy sources, combined heat and power systems, or district energy systems using wood biomass (but not construction and demolition waste), waste heat, or natural gas. Such improvements include but are not limited to solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wood biomass, wind, and geothermal systems, provided that, to be covered by an agreement with a property owner and financed under this chapter, such improvements shall be qualifying improvements under RSA 53-F:6.
II. "District" means an energy efficiency and clean energy district established under this chapter.
II-a. "Eligible property" means real property located within the boundaries of the district, whether zoned or used for residential, commercial, industrial, or other uses, excluding residential property containing less than 5 dwelling units.
III. "Energy conservation and efficiency improvements" means measures to reduce consumption, through conservation or more efficient use, of electricity, fuel oil, natural gas, propane, or other forms of energy on or off the property, including but not limited to air sealing, installation of insulation, installation of heating, cooling, or ventilation systems meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards, building modifications to increase the use of daylighting, replacement of windows with units meeting or exceeding ENERGY STAR standards, installation of energy controls or energy recovery systems, and installation of efficient lighting equipment, provided that, to be covered by an agreement with a property owner and financed under this chapter, all such improvements must be permanently affixed to a building or facility that is part of the property and shall be qualifying improvements under RSA 53-F:6.
IV. "Municipality" means any city, town, or village district, or the designated representative of the city, town, or village district.
V. [Repealed.]
VI. "Special assessment" means a special assessment within the meaning and subject to the provisions of RSA 80:19, except as provided in RSA 53-F:8.
Source.
2010, 215:2. 2011, 68:4, eff. July 15, 2011. 2014, 294:1, eff. Sept. 30, 2014. 2015, 121:1, 8, eff. June 8, 2015.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-F - Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts › Section 53-F:2 - Adoption by Municipality.

53-F:2 Adoption by Municipality. –
A city, town, or village district may adopt the provisions of this chapter in the following manner:
I. In a town, other than a town that has adopted a charter pursuant to RSA 49-D, the question shall be placed on the warrant of an annual meeting only by the governing body, and not pursuant to RSA 39:3.
II. In a city or a town that has adopted a charter pursuant to RSA 49-C or RSA 49-D, the legislative body may consider and act upon the question in accordance with its normal procedures for passage of resolutions, ordinances, and other legislation. In the alternative, the legislative body of any such municipality may vote to place the question on the official ballot for any regular municipal election.
III. In a village district, the question may be considered and acted upon by any means authorized by RSA 52.
IV. The language of the question shall designate an energy efficiency and clean energy district, which may cover all or a portion of the area within the municipality, or may designate all or a portion of the area within the municipality as part of an energy efficiency and clean energy district that encompasses all or portions of multiple municipalities.
V. A municipality may vote to rescind its action in the same manner as it may vote to adopt, provided that all agreements entered into with property owners and related legal obligations created prior to its vote to rescind shall remain in effect.
Source.
2010, 215:2, eff. Aug. 27, 2010.
2023 New Hampshire Revised Statutes › Title III - Towns, Cities, Village Districts, and Unincorporated Places › Chapter 53-F - Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Districts › Section 53-F:5 - Eligibility of Property Owners.

53-F:5 Eligibility of Property Owners. –
I. A municipality may enter into an agreement under this chapter only with the legal owner of eligible property.
II. Prior to entering into an agreement with an owner of eligible property, the municipality shall determine that all property taxes and any other assessments levied with property taxes are current and have been current for 3 years or the owner's period of ownership, whichever is less; that there are no involuntary liens such as mechanic's liens on the property; and that no notices of default or other evidence of property-based debt delinquency have been recorded during the past 3 years or the property owner's period of ownership, whichever is less. The municipality shall adopt additional criteria, appropriate to property-assessed clean energy finance programs. The municipality shall determine whether any mortgages or liens of record exist in the registry of deeds on the property, whether they are current in the obligations, and whether the total debt to equity ratio specified by the private lender will be met. If any such mortgage or lien exists, the municipality shall notify each such mortgagee or lienholder in writing that a private lender is considering making a loan secured by a municipal lien pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and request the consent of each such mortgagee or lienholder to the making of such loan. Each mortgagee or lienholder shall have the right to determine in its sole discretion whether or not it will consent to such loan. If all of the mortgagees or lienholders of record elect to consent, the consents shall be in writing and recorded with the municipal lien in the registry of deeds. The legal effect of having all consents shall be that the municipal lien shall not be extinguished in the event of a foreclosure or sheriff's sale by the mortgagee or lienholder as provided in RSA 53-F:8. If all of the mortgagees or lienholders of record do not consent, but the private lender determines that it will proceed in making such loan, then in the event of a foreclosure or sheriff's sale by a mortgagee or lienholder, the municipal lien shall be extinguished.
Source.
2010, 215:2, eff. Aug. 27, 2010. 2014, 294:4, eff. Sept. 30, 2014. 2015, 121:4, eff. June 8, 2015.