Carroll County approves month-to-month net metering agreement with Freedom Energy Logistics

Carroll County commissioners voted to approve a month-to-month net metering agreement with Freedom Energy Logistics at their Sept. 29 meeting and authorized staff to sign the contract.

The agreement will begin on a month-to-month basis, commissioners said, allowing the county to exit without penalty if the arrangement does not meet expectations. County staff and a public commenter said payments to the county from the arrangement would be annual, at the end of the year, and commissioners described the deal as having little downside to county finances.

The commission discussed whether the arrangement should be procured through competitive bids. A commissioner asked whether the arrangement should be classified as equipment or a service; the county—s Director Siemens responded, "Service," and confirmed a public statement that the law does not require competitive bids for a service contract: "Yes. That's correct." The commission then moved to approve the month-to-month agreement and carried the motion by voice vote, with commissioners responding "Aye." The motion and second were recorded in the meeting transcript but the transcript did not name the mover and seconder.

Commissioners and a public commenter discussed contract terms during the meeting. A public commenter, Greg Caine, said the contract carried "no downside for us except for we get some money back," and asked how often payments would be made; the transcript records an exchange indicating payments would be made once a year at the end of the year. Commissioners noted a larger, longer contract option existed but that a longer deal could include a one-year penalty if the county left early; the month-to-month arrangement avoids that penalty.

County staff said the commission will need to sign the finalized contract, and one commissioner said the signature could be completed the following week. Commissioners also noted the month-to-month start leaves the county free to pursue other vendors or a different arrangement if a better option emerges.

No ordinance, budget adoption, or formal procurement waiver number was provided in the meeting transcript, and the contract number or final contract language was not specified during the recorded discussion.

The commission briefly referenced going into a nonpublic session under RSA 91-A (mentioned earlier in the meeting) and later returned to take the action on net metering; the net metering vote occurred in open session.

Looking ahead, staff will finalize and sign the month-to-month service contract with Freedom Energy Logistics and report back if the county pursues a larger, longer-term arrangement.