Electricity rates to increase significantly in August; some assistance programs available now or in the works

posted on 7/1/2022

Eversource Energy’s electricity rates will increase significantly for at least six months, beginning Aug. 1, 2022, after the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted the increase due to rising electricity production costs.

The rate increase, approved by the PUC on June 23, affects residential and business customers.

Beginning Aug. 1, 2022, the electricity for residential customers will increase 111.5%, from 10.669 cents per kilowatt-hour to 22.556 cents per kWh. Eversource seeks bids every six months from electricity generators and adjusts electricity rates accordingly after receiving PUC approval.

“For a residential customer using 650 kWh per month, when transmission and distribution costs are included, the result will be an increase in the monthly bill from $145.11 to $222.44, or about $77.33 more (an increase of 53.3%), compared to current rates,” the PUC stated in its June 23 order approving the rate increase. “The residential energy service rate is 13.74 cents per kWh higher than the same six-month period (August to January) a year ago.”

According to Eversource, which only transmits but does not generate electricity, the increase is due to record-high natural gas prices and the global economy.

“Natural gas is the primary fuel for generating electricity in the region,” an Eversource email about the rates increase states. “Given world events, we could see continued volatility in energy supply prices for the foreseeable future.”

Eversource encourages customers to manage their energy use this summer carefully and offers suggestions on how to do so at https://www.eversource.com/content/nh/residential/save-money-energy.

Eversource also encourages customers to shop and compare energy supply prices with energy suppliers. Registered energy suppliers can be found on the New Hampshire Department of Energy website. For more information, visit https://www.energy.nh.gov/consumers/choosing-energy-supplier.

Payment assistance programs

Eversource also offers payment programs, including:

• Extended payment plans to help customers pay off a balance over a period of time and prevent service interruption;
• Budget billing, to help avoid seasonal bill spikes with a fixed payment amount each month based on average annual usage;
• Discount rate for customers with a household income that meets eligibility requirements;
• New start program, which may eliminate portions of an overdue balance in as little as 12 months with on-time payments.

For more information, visit https://www.eversource.com/content/ct-c/residential/account-billing/payment-assistance.

Electricity assistance program

Community Action Partnership of Strafford County also offers electrical assistance, giving eligible customers a discount on their monthly electric bill, from 8% to 76%, depending on gross household income and household size. For more information, visit https://straffordcap.org/electrical-assistance/, or call 603-435-2500.

Potential legislative relief

Gov. Chris Sununu and legislative leaders proposed energy relief programs on June 22. The proposals include a $100 credit for most residential electric bills in the state, $7 million from state surplus funds to shore up the Electric Assistance Program, and an allocation of $7.5 million to provide low-income families financial assistance to keep cool during the summer.

The proposed energy relief programs still need to go through the legislative process before becoming a reality.