Electric Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS)

New Hampshire 's RPS statute, RSA 362-F, requires each electricity provider to meet customer load by purchasing or acquiring certificates representing generation from renewable energy based on total megawatt-hours supplied. New Hampshire ’s RPS statute divides renewable energy sources into four separate classes that include the following:

• Class I resources include generation facilities that began operation after January 1, 2006 and produce electricity from: wind energy; geothermal energy; hydrogen derived from biomass fuel or methane gas; ocean thermal, wave, current, or tidal energy; methane gas; or biomass. Displacement of electricity by end-use customers from solar hot water heating systems, incremental new production from Class III and IV sources, and existing hydropower and biomass facilities that began operation as a new facility through capital investment also qualify as class I sources.
• Class II sources include generation facilities that produce electricity from solar technologies and began operation after January 1, 2006 .
• Class III sources include generation facilities that began operation on or before January 1, 2006 and produce electricity from eligible biomass technologies having a gross nameplate capacity of 25 megawatts or less or methane gas facilities.
• Class IV sources include hydroelectric generation facilities that began operation on or before January 1, 2006 and have a gross nameplate capacity of 5 megawatts or less, has installed upstream and downstream diadromous fish passages approved by FERC and have obtained all necessary water quality certifications under section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

The RPS requirement increases to 7.5% for 2010, 13.8% for 2015 and 23.8% for 2025. The RPS obligations by class and year are:

Under the RPS statute, electricity providers are required to generate or purchase renewable energy certificates from suppliers through the New England Power Pool generation information system (NEPOOL-GIS). A renewable energy certificate represents 1 megawatt-hour of electricity produced from eligible renewable energy sources and may be sold separately from the associated electricity.

If the electricity providers are not able to meet the RPS requirements by purchasing or acquiring renewable energy certificates, they must pay alternative compliance payments (ACPs). The 2012 alternative compliance payment prices by class are:

Proceeds from the ACPs are then used to fund qualified renewable energy initiatives and projects.

On an annual basis, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission will review electricity providers’ compliance with the previous year’s RPS requirements. Electricity providers include New Hampshire ’s competitive electricity suppliers and electric distribution utilities (Public Service Company of New Hampshire, Granite State Electric Company, Unitil Energy Systems, Inc. and the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative).  In accordance with the Commission administration rules, Chapter Puc 2500 which implements the New Hampshire ’s RPS Program, electricity providers file annual compliance reports by July 1 st of each year.

• The FORM E-2500 Annual RPS Compliance Filing for the 2010 compliance year is due on July 1, 2011.  Click here for the FORM E-2500 FORM E-2500 (Excel)
• Information on how to apply for Renewable Energy Source Eligibility
• Status of completed or pending Renewable Energy Facility applications.
• Electric Renewable Portfolio Standard - Annual Compliance Payments Reports
  • 2008 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2009 Annual Compliance Report
  • 2010 Annual Compliance Report

If you have any questions about the RPS program, please check our Frequently Asked Questions for answers or contact Kate Epsen at (603)271-2431 or Kate.Epsen@puc.nh.gov