Winter Energy Charges Dropping

MILFORD, NH - Eversource customers in New Hampshire can look forward to paying less for energy service this winter compared to last, according to a company press release.

Eversource has asked state regulators to adjust its Energy Charge to 9.99 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh). That is 5 percent lower than last winter’s charge of 10.56 cents/kWh.

The N.H. Public Utilities Commission will soon consider Eversource’s request that the Energy Charge be adjusted to 9.99 cents, beginning Jan. 1, 2016. The current Energy Charge of 8.98 cents/kWh has been in place since July 1. The seasonal price swings are tied to the region’s supply and demand challenge, especially in regards to natural gas pipeline constraints. This fuel is used in the winter not only to produce electricity, but also to heat homes and businesses.

“Our lower winter energy charge is good news for customers, but the underlying challenge remains,” noted Bill Quinlan, President of Eversource’s New Hampshire Operations. “New Hampshire and New England pay much more for electricity, on average, than other parts of the country. At Eversource, we are focused on providing long term solutions that will lower energy costs and reduce the price volatility by broadening energy supply and relieving the natural gas constraints.”

Eversource companies are pursuing strategic projects to help solve the challenges posed by the region’s dependency on natural gas and the pipeline constraints. Eversource is collaborating with Spectra Energy and National Grid in proposing the Access Northeast project to expand gas capacity using existing pipeline routes. Eversource has also proposed the Northern Pass project to bring clean and low-cost energy from Hydro-Quebec’s world-class hydroelectric plants to New Hampshire and New England. The project is currently in the permitting stage at both the state and federal levels.

The 2016 Energy Charge adjustment includes costs associated with New Hampshire’s Renewable Portfolio Standards, and assumes the start of full recovery of costs related to the state-mandated emission reduction scrubber at Merrimack Station in Bow.

Customers in New Hampshire have the right to choose to purchase energy from an independent supplier instead of their regulated utility. Eversource provides energy to those customers who have not chosen a supplier or who have been denied service by a supplier.

A list of registered energy suppliers is available at puc.state.nh.us/consumer/energysuppliers.htm. TheEversource Energy Service Charge rate is calculated annually by the N.H. Public Utilities Commission and adjusted every six months, based on the company’s actual cost of producing or purchasing the energy it needs to serve its customers.