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Portsmouth council orders report and a work session on Community Power after residents face higher default rates
Summary
After councilors raised concerns that a delayed 'refresh' left roughly 2,450 residents on a higher default Eversource rate and that Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH) faces operational and reserve pressures, the council voted to request a city-manager report and to hold a work session with the energy advisory committee and CPCNH representatives.
Councilors debated Community Power participation on March 2 after Councilor Bagley moved to request a city-manager report outlining the process, timeline, financial implications and contractual considerations tied to withdrawing from the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH).
Bagley said staff analysis shows that Community Power did not 'refresh' new accounts for roughly 16 months, which meant an estimated 2,450 newer Portsmouth residents remained on the default Eversource supply rate rather than being enrolled with CPCNH. Bagley said Community Power’s recent operational problems — including an estimated roughly $8 million hit linked to a bankrupt power supplier — and a temporary two-cent adder to rebuild reserves made the pause and review appropriate.
"We have roughly 2,450 residents who are currently getting the cheaper Eversource rate that Community Power has now decided at this point to refresh on a rolling basis over the month of March," Bagley said, urging a report and careful review rather than immediate withdrawal.
Other councilors urged caution about hasty withdrawal. Councilor Taber suggested an amended approach: conduct a work session with CPCNH and the city’s energy advisory committee and gather detailed financials and opt-in/opt-out statistics. Councilor Cook, citing years when Portsmouth saved money under CPCNH, and other members noted CPCNH’s purpose in providing aggregated buying power and green options; several urged making the opt-out process easier for residents.
The council amended Bagley’s request to add a work session with the energy advisory committee and representatives from CPCNH and voted unanimously to request the report and schedule the work session. The city manager was asked to return a report on process, timeline, fiscal implications and contractual considerations concurrent with the work session.
Next steps: the city manager will prepare the requested report and staff will schedule a work session that includes the permanent energy advisory committee and CPCNH representatives.
