Community Power Update
Hanover Community Power (HCP) customers saved more than $300,000 by switching their electricity purchases last year from regulated utilities. Brian Callnan, CEO of the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH), speaking to the Sustainable Hanover Energy group in February, said the total saving was $306,000 for power purchased by CPCNH for HCP from April through November, 2023. HCP customers also added $139,000 to reserves that can be used in the future to stabilize rates or invest in producing renewable power or using power more efficiently.
In addition to Hanover, CPCNH currently buys power for 31 other municipalities and one county in New Hampshire, covering a total 30% of the state’s population. Another 30-40 jurisdictions are discussing the possibility of joining, Callnan said. Savings for all CPCNH customers for the seven months ending last November 30 totaled $7,349,000, Callnan said, with another $5,290,000 added to reserves.
For the reporting period ending November 30, HCP customers led the coalition in supporting power options with a higher renewable content than the 2023 minimum 23.4 percent provided by the utilities. Ninety percent are enrolled in the HCP default Granite Plus at 33% renewable content, 1.9% are in CLEAN 50 at 50% renewable content, and 3.9% in CLEAN 100 at 100% renewable content. The price of CLEAN 100 is now 55% lower than the 22¢ per kilowatt hour that Liberty charged for its “brown power” just one year ago. A change to CLEAN 100 by “opting up” is a simple way for households and businesses to lower their carbon footprint substantially.
CPCNH sets rates on a six month cycle. Current rates and power option information for residential and business account customers are available at https://www.communitypowernh.gov/hanover. According to Brian Callnan, small businesses can save by switching to CPCNH for power purchases. Medium to large businesses (G2 & G1 liberty accounts) currently pay rates that fluctuate monthly, he noted, but for those seeking longer-term stability, this summer CPCNH plans to offer flat rates that can be set for 12 to 18 months.
Wrangling continues before the Public Utilities Commission over how to handle electric customers who get “net-metering” credit for putting power into the grid from their solar panels. Currently, since utilities say they are unable to give CPCNH the customer data needed to service net-metered accounts, most net-metered customers are advised to remain utility customers. Until the issue is resolved, this unfortunately keeps some of the most enthusiastic supporters of renewable power from joining HCP. Callnan said CPCNH is trying to fix that in a complaint pending before the PUC and in legislation. “We’re working hard on that,” he said.
