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Rate Assistance
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- Electric Assistance Program (EAP)
- Eligibility: Customer of participating electric utility and income at or less than 60% NH SMI
- Provides monthly electric bill discount from 5 to 86% off first 750 kWh depending on income and household size
- Gas Assistance Program (GAP)
- Eligibility: Customer of Liberty Utilities or Unitil Gas and receipt of or eligibility for LIHEAP, EAP, SSI, TANF, SNAP, WIC or several other means-tested programs
- Provides discount of 45% off total bill during the winter, November 1 through April 30.
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Energy Efficiency
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- Home Energy Assistance (HEA)
- Eligibility: Up to 60% of NH SMI, customer of participating electric and gas utilities
- Provides up to $15,000 in energy efficiency improvements for electric and natural gas customers in coordination the state's WAP; includes insulation, weatherization, appliance and lighting upgrades, health and safety measures
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Participating Utilities
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- EAP and HEA: Eversource, Liberty Utilities, Unitil Energy Systems, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative
- GAP: Liberty Utilities or Unitil/ Northern
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Annual Funding (2022)
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- EAP: $15.9 million
- GAP: $3.3 million (estimate)
- HEA: $3.8 million electric utilities / $2.4 million gas utilities
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Households Served (2022)
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- EAP: 28,800
- GAP: 6,600 (estimate)
- HEA: 2,289 electric utilities / 419 gas utilities
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Funding Mechanism
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- EAP: System benefits charge (SBC) of 1.5 mills.
- GAP: Local Distribution Adjustment Charge
- HEA: Electric: System benefits charge (SBC), varies annually; Gas: Local Distribution Adjustment Charge
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Administration
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Utilities with oversight by NH PUC in coordination with Department of Energy (LIHEAP and WAP grantee) and community action agencies |
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Authorizing
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RSA 374-F, Electric Utility Restructuring |
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Other Important
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- Order No 23,980, 2002 Order Approving Tiered Discount Program, (outlines options for electric assistance)
- Order No 24,447 Order investigating LI natural gas assistance
- Order Approving Changes to EAP Discounts and Income Eligibility Level, Order No. 25643, March 28, 2014
- Order Addressing EAP Fund Surplus, Order No. 25,544, July 15, 2013
- Order Approving Modifications to Discount Tiers, Order No. 26.870, August 9, 2023
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Results and Effectiveness of the System Benefits Charge, Annual Report, NH Department of Energy, October 3, 2023 (prior reports available)
New Hampshire Electric Assistance Program: Review of Performance/Future Directions - September 2022
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