Eversource Electricity Prices May Head Down for NH Customers

The price of electricity will go down for Eversource customers in February but New Hampshire's hear of the office of the consumer advocate says it's nothing to celebrate.

Eversource was the first utility to go before the Public Utilities Commission Thursday and requested a decrease from 22.6 cents per kilowatt to 20.2 cents starting February 1. New Hampshire state consumer advocate Donald Kreis said it's still more than double what consumers were paying in February 2022.

"The New Hampshire Office of Consumer Affairs will recommend Public Utilities Commission approval of the new Eversource default energy service rate because any plausible alternative would be worse," Kreis wrote in a series of tweets. "But we also recommend that every residential electric customer consider her other options, NOW!"

He said ratepayers should take advantage of the energy efficiency programs offered by NH Saves site to reduce energy use and reduce their bills.

"There are things that people can do, depending on your situation, to get more bang for your energy buck by becoming more efficient," Kreis told Seacoast Current in September . "Everything from buying really energy efficient refrigerators if your refrigerator is ready to be replaced, to winterizing your house so it leaks less heat."

Kreis also recommended the state look at ways to improve the current system being used by the utilities to buy default energy supply at wholesale.

"The new default rate for the widely-reviled Central Maine Power in Maine, effective 1/1, is 17.6 cents per kwh. What are they doing right that we are doing wrong," Kreis asked.

Eversource Executive Vice President, Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner said in a statement that while the decrease is encouraging there is still much volatility in the market.

"We’re here to work with our customers one-on-one on ways to reduce their energy usage and connect them with assistance programs, flexible payment plans or other resources to help them manage their monthly bill," Conner said.

The Public Utilities Commission votes on Eversource's proposal next week.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH