Exeter Community Power

Exeter Community Power Update:  Rates Increases Announced for February 1

The Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire (CPCNH),  from whom Exeter receives it default electric supply, recently announced new rates or its next 6 month rate period covering February 1 through July 31.  On February 1st CPCNH’s default supply rate for Unitil customers will rise 1.2 cents from 13.7 to 14.9 per kWh, or about 8.8%.  This increase means that for a typical residential customer using 650 kWh per month, their monthly bill will go up by $7.80. Unitil’s equivalent default rates for the same period are also increasing, but only by 0.26 cents, from 11.77 to 12.03 cents per kWh. 

Electricity rates are rising nationwide, largely driven by seasonal increases in natural gas prices (which have risen by 10% over the past year) and growing electricity demand.  CPCNH’s rates have been about 15% higher than Unitil’s for past year because of their need to build up operating reserves in order to guard against market fluctuations.  This is likely to continue for the following rate period as well. 

As a reminder to customers, while CPCNH is Exeter’s default supplier, customers can opt-out of CPCNH supply and switch to Unitil or a third party supplier instead.  This can be done anytime at no cost or penalty. Depending on billing cycles this may take up to 30 days to take effect.  CPCNH’s makes opting-out very easy using their self service portal or by contacting their customer service team.  In both cases have your account number handy (on your Unitil bill).  If you opt-out, Unitil will become your default energy supplier unless you enroll with a third part supplier. 

Click here to go to the CPCNH customer portal to make the change:  Customer portal

            —OR—

            call CPCNH customer service at 1-866-603-7697 (POWR)

What’s Next for Exeter Community Power

The Exeter Energy Committee plans to meet with representatives from CPCNH in the near future to better understand the cause of the current differences between CPCNH’s and Unitil’s energy supply costs, and the prospects for CPCNH rates to equal or better the utility default rates in the future.  We will afterwards advise the Select Board whether or not changes should be made in the Exeter Community Power program going forward, including changing to another energy supplier.