Patricia Martin | Support HB580

I’m writing today to urge you to continue the independence and integrity of the Office of Consumer Advocate by maintaining it as a separate body from the Department of Energy or the Public Utilities Commission. The Office of Consumer Advocate has a unique structure that supports a perspective focused on serving the many and diverse needs of residential ratepayers. For many years I attended the Residential Ratepayers Advisory Board (RRAB) meetings in person (and online during Covid). Although I’m less able to attend meetings due to family obligations, I still appreciate reading through the documents the OCA’s office produces related to legislation and dockets at the Public Utilities Commission. As a clean energy advocate, retired engineer, and activist, I have always been proud of the way New Hampshire’s PUC treated us and permitted our participation in dockets for which we had standing as customers. The OCA was a kind of champion for we lowly consumers. While he never would side with us on the basis of climate considerations, he was quick to point out that we had a right to be heard and to hear (this came up when we had to leave the room when utilities were discussing “sensitive business of a competitive nature.”) and see as much unredacted information as possible. The Office of the Consumer Advocate answers to the Governor, Legislative Body and the RRAB. The RRAB consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, Speaker of the House and Senate President to advocate for the interests of residential ratepayers, small business owners, low income, elderly and disabled consumers and the environment. The OCA should be able to launch a challenge or hire consultants to render a second opinion on dockets and projects supported by the PUC or the DOE that will have a lasting impact on consumers. It reminds me of the stranded costs associated with the scrubber on the Bow coal plant that we continue to pay. The OCA resisted saddling ratepayers with the cost overruns of the Burgess wood plant. Who will fight for us in the future if it means going up against their bosses? The OCA is a bulwark against regulatory capture. The OCA is constantly reminding all the lawyers for the utilities and energy companies that it is the consumer who ultimately foots the bill. I respectfully request that you deny any attempt to dismantle the OCA and RRAB. It is giving the residential and small business consumers of New Hampshire a voice.