N.H. Admin. Code Puc, ch. Puc 400 - RULES FOR TELEPHONE UTILITIES

REVISION NOTE #1:

Document #8348, effective 5-10-05, readopted with amendments Puc 400 and repealed Puc 1300 on local telecommunications competition. The readoption with amendments of Puc 400 did not include the Uniform System of Accounts for Telecommunication Companies, which remained unchanged and was exempt from RSA 541-A pursuant to RSA 374:8, II and RSA 541-A:21, I(q). See the Revision Note at Puc 411.

Document # 8348 made extensive changes to the wording, format, and numbering in Puc 400, including incorporation of provisions from the former Puc 1300. Document # 8348 superseded all prior filings for Puc 400 and Puc 1300. The filings of the Public Utilities Commission affecting the former Puc 400 included the following documents:

The filings of the Public Utilities Commission affecting the former Puc 1300 included the following documents:

#2534, eff 11-23-83

#6392, eff 12-4-96

#7283, eff 5-23-00

#7692, eff 5-25-02

#8213-A, INTERIM, eff 11-23-04

REVISION NOTE #2:

Document # 10542, effective 3-12-14, readopted with amendments Puc 400 and supersedes all prior filings for Puc 400. Document #10542 made extensive changes to the wording, format, and numbering in Puc 400 formerly under Document #8348. The rules in Document #8348, effective 5-10-05, did not expire on 5-10-13 but were extended pursuant to RSA 541-A:14-a until superseded by the rules in Document #10542, effective 3-12-14.

Document #10542 replaced Puc 414.01 titled "Uniform System of Accounts" in Document #8348 with Puc 411.04 also titled "Uniform System of Accounts". Pursuant to RSA 374:8, II and RSA 541-A:21, I(q), as amended effective 7-23-94 by 1994, 193: 3 and 194:4, the uniform system of accounts (USOA) for regulated utilities became exempt from the rulemaking requirements of RSA 541-A. The text of the USOA was not included either in Puc 414.01 in Document #8348 or in Puc 411.04 in Document #10542 because the USOA is exempt from the publication requirement for rules in RSA 541-A:15, I. Puc 411.04 was subsequently deleted by Document #14029, effective 7-25-24, as indicated in Revision Note #3 below.

The Commission must still file in the Office of Legislative Services a copy of all USOA rules adopted, amended, or repealed under RSA 374:8. The text of the USOA for telecommunication companies subject to Order No. 23,310 was last filed in Document #6622, effective 8-8-94.

A copy of the USOA as had been referenced in Puc 411.04 by Document #10542 may be obtained from the Commission at the following address:

New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission

21 South Fruit Street, Suite 10

Concord, NH 03301-2429

REVISION NOTE #3:

Document #14029, effective 7-25-24, readopted with amendments Chapter Puc 400 titled "Rules for Telephone Utilities," with extensive changes to the wording and format of rules in the chapter.

Pursuant to 2021, 91: 187, effective 7-1-21, the Department of Energy was established by the adoption of RSA 12-P. Pursuant to RSA 12-P:11, "All of the functions, powers, duties, records, personnel, and property of the public utilities commission incorporated in the statutes establishing the department of energy and which replace the authority of the commission with the authority of the department of energy, are hereby transferred, as of July 1, 2021, to the department of energy."

Pursuant to RSA 12-P:14, "Existing rules, orders, and approvals of the public utilities commission which are associated with any functions, powers, and duties, transferred to the department of energy pursuant to RSA 12-P:11 or any other statutory provision, shall continue in effect and be enforced by the commissioner of the department of energy until they expire or are repealed or amended in accordance with applicable law."

The extensive changes to the former Chapter Puc 400 in Document #14029 were made by the Public Utilities Commission (Commission) pursuant to RSA 365:8, I(b), (e), and (l), after RSA 365:8 was amended by 2021, 91: 249 and 250, effective 7-1-21. Chapter Puc 400 in Document #14029 included standard procedures, general business rules, and requirements for telephone utilities in order to enable them to comply with relevant laws.

The new rules inserted in Chapter Puc 400 utilize the new term "voice service provider" or "VSP" to refer to all telephone public utilities and consolidated the requirements that were applicable to all telephone utilities. The amendments in Document #14029 from the former Chapter Puc 400 included, but were not limited to, the deletion of Puc 411.04 on the Uniform System of Accounts and the deletion of other existing rules governing registration, accident notification, payphone service, other reporting, and enforcement procedures which the Department of Energy adopted in Document #14015, effective 7-1-24, containing Chapter En 400 titled "Rules for Telephone Utilities."

Document #14029 replaced all prior filings affecting the former Chapter Puc 400. The prior filings affecting the rules in the former Chapter Puc 400 included the following documents:

(See Revision Note #1 at chapter heading for Puc 400)

#8248, eff 5-10-05

(See Revision Note #2 at chapter heading for Puc 400)

#10542, eff 3-12-14

The rules in Document #10542 did not expire on 3-12-24 but were extended pursuant to RSA 541-A:14-a until replaced by the rules in Document #14029, effective 7-25-24.