The Town Council held a public hearing regarding the proposed Community Choice Aggregation Project on June 3.
It was explained by Utilities Committee Chair, Lynn Wiles, that in order to adopt the program, they need to have two public hearings, noting that this was the first step of the process.
Stuart Ormsby of Colonial Power Group accompanied Wiles, and explained that the Utilities Committee worked with them to make a plan, something required under the statute, in order to move forward.
He said the Community Aggregate project is something the “town is at least considering and we have a plan for it.”
Ormsby explained that the idea is to have the community aggregate together to get their power source who normally get it from utility companies. In Londonderry, the main company is Eversource, with some people using the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.
Ormsby explained that it wouldn’t interfere with people making decisions on their own, or using their current utility company or going with other options.
One of the concepts is to be able to have more sustainable rates, if not cheaper rates, than the utility companies. Ormsby added that the utility companies go out and buy power on a set schedule whether it’s a good time to buy or not.
“They follow a schedule that’s dictated to them by the Utilities Commission,” he said
Community aggregation would be “much more strategic,” with Ormsby, saying they look at opportunities to lock in prices as an example.
He said while the program will be an “opt out” program meaning customers would automatically be enrolled into the program, unless they opt out of it, they would be allowed to enter or leave at any point without a fee.
“They can come and go into the program as they wish,” Ormsby said.
The one exception would be for net metering customers who would have to opt in versus automatically being enrolled.
It was also noted that there are some other options offered as part of the community aggregation program that utility companies may not offer like being able to get 100% renewable energy.
Wiles said the Utilities Committee supported moving forward with the program with Colonial Power noting that they vetted the competitors.
No one from the public spoke during the public hearing.
The next step in the process is for a second public hearing to be held later this month.
From there the Town Council would need to make a decision if they want to move forward with getting approval from the State.
If the program moves forward Ormsby noted that there would be a number of outreach opportunities to discuss what it entails and opportunities for people to opt out.
The next public hearing is set to take place on Saturday, June 29, 10 a.m. at Town Hall.