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Hardwick Electric to net at month end; Select Board approves $1.174 million operating line of credit
Summary
Hardwick Electric will change net‑metering to net at the end of the month per a PUC interpretation; customers will receive small favorable adjustments and historic corrections through September. The Select Board approved renewal of the HED operating line of credit for $1,174,000.
Hardwick Electric Department officials told the Select Board on June 4 that a 2025 Public Utility Commission rate‑case interpretation requires the utility to net customer consumption and on‑site generation at the end of the month rather than at time of use. Hardwick Electric (HED) implemented the change for May usage; customers will see the effect on June bills and the utility will perform a historical adjustment covering the previous two years, to be completed by September 2026.
Renee Degorio, speaking for the utility, said some group‑shared kilowatt hours must now be monetized before a credit is shared among group members and that staff are contacting customers to explain the change. “So you'll see that reflected on the June bills,” she said. Letters are being mailed and account adjustments are underway; the utility expects the change to be modestly favorable to most customers.
Renee also reported that HED has completed a system study showing significant capital investments are likely over the next decade and that the utility’s general manager is exploring battery‑storage options to help reduce peak consumption.
On the board agenda the Select Board considered and approved a consolidated HED operating line of credit with Union Bank that combines two short‑term notes into one line. A motion to approve the renewal for $1,174,000 was moved, seconded and passed by a voice vote (recorded as four ayes). Board members said the consolidation avoids duplication of fees and simplifies administration for the utility.
Board members thanked Renee and utility staff for the briefing and for outreach to customers. The board’s approval consolidates HED’s short‑term borrowing capacity as the utility adjusts to regulatory and capital‑planning changes.
