What is Cornish Community Power?
The Cornish Select Board and the Cornish Energy Committee are proposing that the Town of Cornish become the default electricity purchaser for its residents. By joining a larger pool of participating customers to expand buying power, Cornish Community Power could offer residents greater stability in electricity prices, local control over sources of electricity, and innovative energy services.
Community Power is voluntary: customers can opt-out or opt-in any time before the end of each monthly billing period. The 3 major electric distribution utilities (Eversource, Liberty & NHEC) will continue to own and operate the grid, deliver electricity to all customers, respond to outages, and bill customers.
THIS IS A MATTER THAT WILL BE VOTED ON AT TOWN MEETING IN MARCH 2025.
1. Two Public Hearings will be held to explain Community Power, answer your questions, and seek your input on the Community Power Plan, which is the basic governing document that will underlie the vote at Town Meeting 2025
NOVEMBER 14 2024 from 6:30-8pm & DECEMBER 3, 2024 from 6:30-8pm at the Cornish Town Offices.
2. Cornish Community Power Plan
3. Sample text of Warrant Article: Note: this may not be the final text of the warrant article:
To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Cornish Community Power Plan, which authorizes the Select Board to develop and implement Cornish Community Power as described therein (pursuant to RSA 53-E:7).
4. Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH): Currently, there is a successful model for Community Power here in NH: the Community Power Coalition of NH (CPCNH), which is a community-governed non-profit power agency. Over 60 NH communities are now members of CPCNH. With more than 170,000 customers, CPCNH is now the second-largest electricity supplier in NH. The Select Board will need to decide if it wants to partner with CPCNH or a commercial broker.
The Cornish Energy Committee recommends that the Selectboard choose to partner with CPCNH because of its openly transparent governance structure, its non-profit status, its presence as a NH-based entity, its commitment to green energy goals, its innovative energy solutions products, its financial reserve fund that will keep prices steady in spite of volatile energy prices; and its expert risk management staff.
https://www.cpcnh.org/benefits
5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: https://www.communitypowernh.gov/faqs
Additional FAQs: (Detailed answers will be provided soon)
Will CP lower my electric power costs?
Will I be able to switch out of the program easily if I want to? YES!
Will CP place a significant administrative burden on the Town? NO!
Will residents have to pay extra taxes to implement the program? NO!
Will I be able to choose to have a greater portion of my power sources from renewables?
Will I still receive my power bill from my utility?
Who will be automatically enrolled, and who won’t?
What happens after CCP is approved at Town Meeting? The Selectboard will need to decide if it will partner with CPCNH or a commercial broker. If CPCNH (which the Energy Committee recommends), the Selectboard will need to sign several agreements on cost sharing and risk management policies, and will need to appoint 2 positions. The launch date will probably be in June 2025. 30 days prior to launch, all residents will receive detailed information by mail as to their options. Also, a public information meeting will be held within 15 days of the notification to answer program questions or provide clarification.