Merrimack County Community Power reports enrollment growth; Town of Bow signals exit

Merrimack County’s Community Power program is serving 7,229 customers as of March 1, 2026, county officials were told at the Board of Commissioners’ March 9 meeting. Andrew Hatch, presenting an update on Community Power and the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH), said 10 other Merrimack County communities that participate in CPCNH account for an additional 26,796 customers.

Hatch described differences in how CPCNH and traditional utilities set rates, saying CPCNH’s transparent, cost-covering approach has led to higher rates than some utility offerings during the past year but also builds reserves. He told the board that utilities have been using proxy pricing and spot-market purchases and may later recover losses through rate adjustments; CPCNH expects its rates to become competitive again if utilities raise rates to cover undercollections.

Hatch reported the Town of Bow has voted to exit the county program, though formal written notice had not been submitted to MCCP by the March 9 meeting. The county is analyzing when Bow could withdraw without penalty.

He also said the Poverty Plains solar project in Warner is expected to become operational in June and has the capacity to power more than 1,000 homes and provide municipal bill credits. Hatch framed a countywide program as offering customers flexibility, with opt-out and opt-in options that allow customers to remain on lower-cost supply or choose plans with higher renewable content.

The update was presented for information; no formal county action on Community Power was taken at the meeting.