August 1, 2022, electricity rate hike

The situation

Harrisville adopted Community Power to take more control over electricity costs by combining household, business, and municipal accounts for greater purchase power to find the best rates (and add more renewables to the supply). That was May 2021. Today, we are still waiting for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to settle administrative rules for Community Power. This is required before towns can launch their Community Power plans.

Once the PUC settles their rules, possibly end-July 2022, we will resubmit an amended Community Power plan as needed. From then, we estimate it will take six to eight months before the town can secure supply rates and launch our program. Optimistically, Spring 2023.

In the meantime, and as you may already know, the Eversource default rate will rise dramatically August 1. The PUC approved a six-month energy supply rate of 22.566 cents per kilowatt hour for residential customers (effective August – January).  The total kilowatt-hour cost will add up to about 32 cents – up from 19 cents: 23 cents for electricity supply plus about 9 cents to deliver it. On top of a $14 customer charge.

This will be the highest electricity rate behind Hawaii. Wow. It’s going to be a very difficult winter.

There is much to know about what led up to this situation, which in large measure is driven by the region’s dependency on methane (natural gas) and lack of diversification in energy supply. (Here’s a brief article by Bob Audette, writing for the Brattleboro Reformer, Granite State electricity rates set to skyrocket.)

Be that as it may, you have options to cope with this increase until we can launch Community Power.

You have options

Reduce electricity consumption. This approach will serve you well no matter what contract is in place for energy supply, including Community Power. Low-to-more-expensive on the checklist include:

• Switch to LED light bulbs
• Find and manage household energy drips (start in the home office or entertainment center)
• As you replace old appliances look for Energy-Star rated appliances (and NH Saves rebates)
• Insulate … the attic, the basement, the hot water pipes
• Consider an energy audit to identify energy that you may be paying for but not using

Generate your own electricity. There are a lot of possibilities and configurations worth scoping and planning to install now or to add to the list of household projects for the future.

Check out competitive suppliers. You can select another provider for electricity supply. (Eversource maintains electricity delivery.) They offer different supply rates and percentage of renewable mix They also offer different contract terms. Evaluating these offers requires being careful not to fall into a scam or fall for deceptive marking — especially now with so mych financial stress and uncertainty about the future.

As you look over providers, bear in mind that while we know what Eversource will charge for electricity supply August 1 to end-January 2023, we don’t know what that rate will be in the next six-month cycle (February – July 2023). We do know future rates could be the same, higher, or lower. Look out for fees. A plan that does not charge a cancellation fee would be ideal. Here’s more —

• How to shop for cheaper electricity in the Granite State
• A way to shop for cheaper electricity
• List of suppliers authorized to sell to Eversource customers
• PUC on what to look for in contract terms

Review income based assistance. If you are concerned about what this rate increase will do to your monthly bill, participate as fully as possible in the Home Energy Assistance (HEA) program that is part of NHSaves. Southwestern Community Services is a local point of contact for these energy assistance programs (click here to review income criteria used to determine program eligibility):

• Electric Assistance
• Fuel Assistance

Know about Eversource bill payment plans.  Finally, another option is to scope the bill payment plans that Eversource offers, one of which will smooth monthly pay amounts into equal amounts throughout the year. Again, be sure to know the payment-plan rules. Click here to view payment plans.

Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan: PUC Review Updates

February 3, 2022. The Select Board responded to the PUC to confirm receipt of the Memorandum, and indicate we will be prepared to re-submit the plan when the PUC’s rulemaking process is concluded.

January 26, 2022. The PUC issued a “Memorandum of Decision” that determined the Town’s Electric Aggregation Plan failed to meet certain statutory requirements applicable to EAPs. The decision was a result of the fact that rulemaking related to municipal and county aggregation commenced on January 5, 2022, in Docket No. DRM-21-142, and that the rulemaking “may result in additional requirements that could have substantive impacts on the Commission’s evaluation of the Harrisville Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan.” The Commission suggested that the Town re-submit the plan “when the rulemaking process is closer to completion or has concluded.” The Town of Hanover exchanged similar correspondence.

December 21, 2021. The Town  received confirmation from the PUC that it received our Community Power Plan, one of three sent to the PUC for review.

November 30, 2021, we re-transmitted the Plan.

June 4, 2021. We submitted the Town’s Electric Aggregation Plan to the PUC following our Town Meeting in May 2021 in accord with the requirements of RSA 53-E:7. Because new legislation introduced by Eversource was being considered at the time, we did not receive any response.

The PUC docket as of end-2021: Save

• Hanover: DE 21-136
• Harrisville: DE 21-141
• Lebanon: DE 21-143

Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire Incorporates, 1 Oct

CPCNH incorporators met on October 1, 2021, to adopt the corporation by-laws and conduct the inaugural regular meeting of Board of Directors of CPCNH. Harrisville will be represented on the CPCNH Board by Andrea Hodson (Director) and Andrew Maneval (Alternate). The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire is a non-profit corporation established on 10/1/21 to operate as a governmental instrumentality pursuant to a Joint Powers Agreement in accordance with NH RSA 53-A and RSA 53-E entered into by a number of NH towns, cities, and a county — 13 towns and 1 county at the time of incorporation, effective October 1, 2021. Learn more about CPCNH here.

Select Board votes to join CPCNH, May 28, 2021

Town Votes to Authorize Community Power at Town Meeting, May 22, 2021

Town Meeting Minutes

Warrant Article 08: Community Power: To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Harrisville Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan, TM-05-22-2021, which authorizes the Select Board to develop and implement Harrisville Community Power as described therein (pursuant to RSA 53-E:7). [Recommended by the Select Board. Majority vote required.]

The article was moved and seconded. Jay Jacobs spoke to the passion and dedication of Andrea Hodson and the effort and dedication of all members of the Electric Aggregation Committee to bring this plan forward. Ned Hulbert described the legislative history of the initiative and opportunity for municipalities to aggregate supply of electricity through purchase on the open market. He explained the short and longer term benefits, including cheaper rates and more options for renewable energy options, as well as the opportunity to establish a local energy reserve fund to keep rates stable and enable local investment in renewables. The Select Board would be involved throughout the process and will contract with a supplier in a way that makes the most sense for the town.

Mr. Hulbert, Andrew Maneval and technical expert Henry Herndon answered residents’ questions, including that the costs to the Town would be nothing more than the price of electricity. Participation in the plan is voluntary, with the ability for anyone to opt out at any time, and the ability of the town to terminate at any time. The committee also noted other NH towns’ efforts to embark on Community Power plans. Jay Jacobs emphasized that this is not a guarantee of lower rates but an opportunity for more choice, but the committee noted the SB will solicit bids from several vendors and won’t enter a contract unless the rates are less. While agreeing there is no guarantee, they added that, statistically, this is the case.

Several residents spoke in favor of the plan, emphasizing interest in more control, more competitive rates, more options for renewable energy sources and its fit with the Town’s Master Plan. The committee also confirmed that the infrastructure would continue to be maintained and repaired by Eversource.

Upon a call for a vote from the Moderator, Article 08 passed by voice vote.

Click here to download a copy of the Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan (TM 05-22-2021). The Plan is included in the 2020 Annual Town Report. Copies are also available at Town Hall.

Town Meeting, May 22, 2021

Warrant Article #8: Harrisville Community Power: To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Harrisville Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan, TM-05-22-2021, which authorizes the Select Board to develop and implement Harrisville Community Power as described therein (pursuant to RSA 53-E:7).

Click here to download a copy of the Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan. Copies are also available at Town Hall

Feedback survey #3 aimed to find out residents’ and businesses’ needs and priorities relative to rating community power benefits

During the period leading up to Town Meeting, the Committee offered to schedule small-group information sharing meetings by request rather than scheduling a second Community Conversation. Having submitted the Warrant Article, the team took a break and did not meet after February 8 and ahead of Town Meeting

Topic 3: Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan (v2.0)

Plan v2.0 has since been updated by the Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan (TM 05.22.2021) brought forward to Town Meeting in May 2021

In v2.0, the Electric Aggregation Committee expanded on the benefits of Community Power, how it would be governed by the Select Board, how it would be operated and maintained by a third-party vendor(s)., and elaborated on Net Metering including an Eversource net energy metering overview

Public Hearing #2 was held Feb 4, 2021, @ 7 pm to present and discuss the Community Power Electric Aggregation plan relative to a Warrant Article for discussion and a vote at Town Meeting, Saturday, May 22, 2021

Topic 2: Community Power Electric Aggregation Plan (v1.0)

Public Hearing #1 about Community Power electric aggregation plans and the Plan drafted for discussion was held Dec 10 @ 7pm to explain and discuss it

Feedback Survey #2 aimed to collect input about the Plan

The Committee then updated Plan v1.0 with Plan v2.0 based on community support and further research

Topic 1: Community Power Plans (Sept – Oct 2020)

Information about Community Power Plans is now posted under the “Resources & Documents” section

Q&A with the EAC about Community Power was held Sept 21 @ 6:30 to share what the team was learning about this topic

Feedback Survey #1 aimed to know whether participants thought Community Power was a good idea and why

The Committee received enough support to continue its research and to draft an Electric Aggregation Plan