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Waterville Valley to launch community power program; public info meeting set for May 6
Summary
The Select Board scheduled a public information meeting for May 6 to accompany a letter to ratepayers about a community power aggregation program that auto-enrolls customers with a modest default savings and gives an option to buy up to 100% renewable energy; consultants urged solar customers to review net‑metering implications before joining.
Waterville Valley officials set a public information meeting for May 6 after hearing a presentation on a town-run community power aggregation program that will automatically enroll local electric customers but allow easy opt-out.
Amber (a community-power representative) told the board the program has two central goals: lower customer bills for most ratepayers and allow those who choose it to buy a higher fraction of renewable energy. “If you just stay with us, if you do nothing, you will save a half a cent off of the coop rates,” Amber said, summarizing the default offering. A second “basic” option would provide slightly larger savings for customers focused primarily on price, and a third tier would let customers pay about two cents more per kilowatt‑hour to receive 100% renewable energy.
Emily Manns of ECM Power, the consultant for the town’s aggregation, outlined the statutory and operational steps required by state law. Manns said the town signed a supplier agreement in mid‑March and that required customer letters will go out in the coming weeks; the letter must include meeting details and opt‑out instructions. "There will not be a cost to the municipality for this program," Manns said, and she emphasized that participation is voluntary and customers can opt out at any time.
Consultants and staff warned that some solar customers should not enroll without checking their net‑metering arrangement because participation could affect bill credits for certain solar tariffs.
The board agreed to schedule the required public information meeting for 5 p.m. on May 6 (to be included in the mailing to ratepayers) and asked town staff and the consultants to coordinate an outreach plan that includes mailers, social media, in‑person informational sessions and recorded material for those who cannot attend.
The board’s role will be limited to hosting the required meeting and reviewing materials; the aggregation will be run by the supplier and the town’s consultant team under the community power plan approved by voters in 2023.
