relative to the residential ratepayers advisory board.

HB 610 repeals the Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA) in New Hampshire, dissolving this office 120 days after the bill's passage and transferring all its duties, assets, and staff to the New Hampshire Department of Energy (DoE). The OCA, which represented residential utility consumers in regulatory proceedings, will no longer exist as a separate entity, with its responsibilities for consumer advocacy and ratepayer representation now handled by the DoE. This change removes all references to the OCA from state law, including its role in consumer education and participation in utility proceedings. The repeal is expected to reduce state expenditures by approximately $1.1 million annually, as the OCA's budget was funded through utility assessments. This policy change directly affects residential utility consumers who previously had a dedicated advocate in the OCA, though the DoE will now assume these responsibilities.