New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission – Concord, NH

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC), located at 21 South Fruit Street in Concord, New Hampshire, operates as an independent adjudicative body with regulatory jurisdiction over the state’s public utilities. Its primary mission is to ensure that customers of regulated utilities—including electric, natural gas, water, and sewer companies—receive safe, adequate, and reliable service at just and reasonable rates. The Commission functions similarly to a court, hearing evidence and making decisions on matters such as rate adjustments, franchise boundaries, and utility financing.

Regulatory Jurisdiction

• Electric & Gas: Overseeing distribution rates, safety standards, and grid modernization efforts.
• Water & Sewer: Regulating public water systems and sewer utilities to ensure quality service and infrastructure maintenance.
• Adjudication: Conducting hearings on docketed matters, issuing orders, and resolving disputes between utilities and other parties.

Important Consumer Information

It is important to note that the Consumer Services Division is now part of the NH Department of Energy, not the PUC. While the PUC handles high-level regulatory and rate cases, individual consumer complaints regarding utility bills or service quality should generally be directed to the Department of Energy. The PUC focuses on the broader legal and economic regulation of the utility sector.

Public Participation

The public can participate in the regulatory process by filing comments in open dockets or attending public hearings held at the Commission’s offices. The PUC maintains a Virtual File Room where all filings, orders, and reports are accessible to the public.