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Bedford Energy Commission says launch of local community power depends on CPCNH rate reset
Summary
The Bedford Energy Commission reviewed next steps toward launching the town’s community power program after voters approved Article 15, and agreed to wait for the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) to set new rates before recommending town-level approvals.
The Town of Bedford Energy Commission discussed next steps for the town’s community power program at its March 27 meeting, saying further action depends on when the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) resets rates.
“That brings us to item 4 on our agenda, which is community power. As we know, community power, we weren't article 15, passed overwhelmingly in town,” said Chris Bandazian, vice chair of the Bedford Energy Commission. Bandazian and other commission members said the program cannot launch until CPCNH sets rates and decides to initiate a launch window.
Jean Walker, assistant town manager, said the commission has completed an important regulatory step. “We went through several different steps. We've gotten our draft electric aggregation plan submitted, and that's the approval that we got from the PUC,” Walker said, referring to the Public Utilities Commission review the commission submitted as part of the electric aggregation process.
Commissioners described the next items they must review before recommending formal approval to the Town Council: the coalition cost‑sharing agreement, CPCNH’s risk‑management and financial reserves policy, and public‑outreach materials. Bandazian noted that CPCNH runs a common cost‑sharing agreement for all member communities and that members will review that document when CPCNH issues it.
Commission members discussed timing. Bandazian said CPCNH typically resets rates in August but that a full launch might be more likely in October to ensure public participation during the one‑month enrollment window CPCNH requires. “So the earliest it would be would be when they redo the rates starting August 1,” he said. “I just get the sense of more likely they would do it in October when people are around.”
The commission does not plan to finalize its recommendation until CPCNH issues the cost‑sharing and financial documents and sets a launch date. If and when those documents are available, the commission said it would review them and then decide whether to recommend the documents to the Town Council for approval.
Bandazian said he attends CPCNH board meetings when possible and noted the coalition’s meetings are lengthy. The commission also intends to continue public outreach ahead of any launch.
Votes at the March 27 meeting did not decide the community power program itself; the commission described the current phase as “watch and wait” while CPCNH completes its internal rate‑setting and launch scheduling.
