Municipalities with community power plans awaiting state approval faced another delay this month when the NH Public Utilities Commission postponed voting on final rules.
“The PUC has had almost three years since the legislation passed to write the rules,” said Marge Shepardson, chair of Marlborough’s community power committee, of the New Hampshire law authorizing these programs. “I feel like they’re dragging their feet and holding up towns all over the state that are ready to start community power.”
Under a community power program, a municipal government, rather than a utility, sources electricity for local consumers. This gives the municipality more control over the power supply, allowing it to seek lower-cost or greener options, while a utility continues to maintain transmission lines and deliver the electricity.
Legislation allowing for these programs in New Hampshire took effect in 2019, and in 2021, Keene became the first municipality in the state to adopt one of them. Harrisville passed its own plan last year, and Swanzey, Marlborough, Peterborough and Walpole passed theirs earlier in 2022. But plans must be approved by the PUC to be implemented.
The PUC denied Keene’s and Harrisville’s plans because they did not meet rules that are yet to be established by the commission. The plans were denied without prejudice, meaning they can be resubmitted for approval.
Still, this month’s postponed rulemaking decision may not further delay community power plans’ implementation. If the PUC files its decision on the rules with the Office of Legislative Services on July 28 — the day after the commission is set to vote — the proposal could be heard by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules at its meeting scheduled for Aug. 18.
Plans cannot be approved by the PUC until the rules are approved by the legislative committee, but can enter a 60-day queue, according to Robert Hayden, president and chief technical officer of Standard Power of America, which worked with Keene and Swanzey on their plans.
According to Eversource, New Hampshire energy prices are at an all-time high this summer. Eversource customers who use 600 kilowatt hours of power each month will see a monthly bill increase of approximately $71.
— TOM BENOIT/KEENE SENTINEL
