Bedford energy panel discusses March 11 Article 15 community power vote, advises education not advocacy

The Town of Bedford Energy Commission on Feb. 27 discussed Article 15, a March 11 ballot item that would join Bedford to a community power program administered by the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH).

The conversation centered on how the commission and individual residents should discuss the measure ahead of the vote and on practical questions about opting out, timing and the program’s value proposition.

Jean Walker, assistant town manager, told the commission that as town officials and paid employees they must not advocate for or against the ballot question but may provide factual information and education about the proposal. Walker said that the article gives the Town Council authority to launch community power only when rates are favorable and that implementation would not begin until at least August if council and voters approve the article.

John Russell, chairman of the Bedford Energy Commission, opened discussion of outreach ideas and commission member Matt McLaughlin described plans to place informational signs and to staff informal Q&A at a local coffee shop. Becky Soule, town council liaison, urged members to “just put the information out” and not to tell people how to vote, reminding members they may speak as private citizens but not under the commission’s title.

Resident Mark Delafano, who identified himself as a longtime Bedford resident with energy-industry experience, urged caution. “I’m vehemently opposed to the CPCNH proposal,” Delafano said, and cited what he described as limited price and governance transparency compared with regulated utilities. He told the commission that the opt-out design could “force” residents onto CPCNH as a default and said he had not seen a compelling “value proposition” for Bedford in the program.

Em Friedrichs, a Durham town councilor and member of Durham’s energy committee who took part in Durham’s CPCNH rollout, described a different view: Durham’s rollout included mailings and online information, she said, and town leaders there have seen opt-up participation and, over time, savings for many residents. Friedrichs said Durham’s experience was mostly positive and noted residents can opt out at any time without penalty.

Commissioners and staff discussed practical details residents frequently ask about. Commissioners and guests said residents will receive advance notice by mail before they are enrolled, that residents may opt out online or by phone, and several participants described the opt-out process as taking only a few minutes if account information is ready. Commissioners also noted that people who move into town are typically reached via assessor records and new-customer mailings so they will receive enrollment information.

Speakers stressed differences between distribution and supply: Eversource will remain the distribution utility in Bedford regardless of a supplier change. Several participants noted CPCNH posts meeting minutes and that CPCNH materials are posted under the Energy Commission’s “Bedford Community Power” related documents on the town website.

No formal commission advocacy motion was made. The commission approved its Jan. 23 minutes earlier in the meeting; the minutes approval was recorded as passed but the transcript did not supply an exact roll-call tally.

Commissioners closed the discussion by reiterating the boundary between education and advocacy and by encouraging colleagues to share factual materials and the informational postcard available on the Energy Commission web page.

The commission left the ballot decision to voters on March 11 and continued its agenda after the community power discussion.