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Bedford council adopts CPCNH paperwork, names manager authorized to launch program
Summary
Bedford’s Town Council approved paperwork that lets the town complete onboarding with the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) and appointed the town manager as the authorized officer to launch or delay procurement if CPCNH rates later are lower than Eversource’s; the motion passed 7–0.
The Bedford Town Council on Oct. 8 approved a set of documents that will allow the town to join the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) if and when CPCNH’s electricity rates become lower than the default supplier, Eversource. The council unanimously adopted the CPCNH cost‑sharing agreement, energy portfolio risk‑management and retail‑rates policies, financial reserves policy, and a data‑security and privacy policy, and it appointed the town manager as the authorized officer to decide whether to launch procurement.
Chris Bandazian, representing the town’s Energy Commission, told the council the documents do not commit Bedford to launching the program now but are necessary to allow CPCNH to collect customer usage data, prepare load forecasts and customer notifications, and be ready if future rate periods make enrollment advantageous. Bandazian noted rate settings occur twice a year (effective Feb. 1–July 31 and Aug. 1–Jan. 31) and that the March 2025 voter approval of Bedford’s Community Power Aggregation Plan specifically made launch contingent on CPCNH offering a lower rate than Eversource.
Councilors debated whether the council should receive a second sign‑off before any launch; several members said they expected to be notified and preferred to have the option of reviewing a launch before final authorization. Bandazian and other speakers said the authorized officer’s role would be strictly to assess whether the published CPCNH rate is lower than the default supplier and to instruct CPCNH to proceed or delay; the Energy Commission recommended naming the town manager as that officer. Bandazian said the Energy Commission voted Sept. 25 to recommend adoption and to appoint the town manager to act on Bedford’s behalf.
Town staff said legal counsel had not yet reviewed the cost‑sharing agreement and several councilors asked that the agreement be sent to legal counsel before implementation steps proceed. The town manager and staff also told the council there is currently no direct cost to the town to approve these preparatory administrative steps; any administrative costs later included in procurement would be allocated consistent with CPCNH’s uniform cost‑sharing framework.
Councilor Tsao moved to adopt the documents and appoint the town manager as the authorized officer; Councilor Michael Strand seconded. The council voted by roll call and the motion passed 7–0.
The council did not change the program’s voter‑approved condition that CPCNH rates must be lower than the default supplier for a launch to proceed. If rates become favorable, CPCNH will issue notifications and provide at least 30 days for customers to review their options and, if desired, opt out. The Energy Commission and town staff said they will continue community outreach and publish rate information on a CPCNH Bedford webpage when CPCNH posts its next rate setting.
