Proposed electric bill credit spurs debate before Executive Council

This story was initially produced by the Keene Sentinel. NHPR is republishing it in partnership with the Granite State Information Collaborative.

Gov. Chris Sununu bought some pushback at Tuesday’s Govt Council assembly about his plan to offer residential ratepayers throughout New Hampshire a $100 one-time credit score on their electrical payments.

Legislative approval could be wanted to faucet $60 million from surplus state cash to pay for the credit to 600,000 energy prospects. State lawmakers, who are actually on their summer season break, will seemingly take up the difficulty in September, one month after New Hampshire’s two greatest energy corporations are set to double electrical energy charges.

On the assembly within the Hooksett Public Library, Republican Councilor Theodore Gatsas questioned how useful the $100 could be and whether or not it might go to the individuals who actually need it. There was no agenda merchandise in entrance of the council about this program, however councilors often weigh in with ideas and ideas about points in a roundabout way earlier than them.

Gatsas used himself for example of somebody who should not get the credit score.

He receives one electrical invoice for his home in Manchester, and one other for his place within the state’s Seacoast Area, and, so, would obtain $200 in credit.

“I don’t want the credit score,” he stated. “Is there any approach we might do it via the cities and allow them to handle the cash in order that they might help folks, the aged, veterans, the individuals who actually need the $100, somewhat than any individual who’s in a trip dwelling at Rye Seaside?”

He additionally identified that Massachusetts residents with second houses in New Hampshire would obtain the credit score.

Sununu, additionally a Republican, informed Gatsas that pace is of the essence in delivering aid and there could be no approach for municipalities to rapidly arrange a system to look at and means-test lots of of hundreds of functions for assist with utility payments.

However Gatsas countered that typically the standard of a program is extra essential than pace.

“All I’m saying, governor, is that they’re going to be sending you a verify, they’re going to be sending me two … and I don’t suppose that’s proper.”

On the suggestion of Republican Councilor Joseph Kenney, of Union, Jared Chicoine, the Power Division commissioner, stated he would verify with utilities to see if a system could possibly be arrange that may allow folks to refuse the credit score so others in want might get extra assist.

Chicoine additionally stated there are different packages that assist folks of low revenue pay gas and electrical bills. They embody the federal Low Revenue Residence Power Help Program and the Electrical Help Program, which is supported by utilities.

He additionally stated one benefit of the broad, $100-credit program is that it might embody individuals who want the help however are reluctant to use for it.

Client Advocate Donald Kreis stated Wednesday many individuals may even see an extra $50 on their electrical payments underneath the brand new charges, so the credit score might cowl two months of the hike.

“I’m not going to criticize the governor for making an attempt to do one thing within the brief time period as a result of it’s a short-term disaster,” Kreis stated.

However he additionally stated the credit score is not any panacea.

Price will increase final for six months, so the credit score would not start to cowl most of a shopper’s elevated prices.

Kreis stated the state must take extra long-term actions to cut back energy charges, similar to supporting vitality effectivity, diversifying energy sources and adopting charge buildings that enable prices to lower throughout non-peak-demand hours.

Hikes in natural-gas costs have contributed to elevated utility prices in New Hampshire and elsewhere, he stated.

In line with the U.S. Power Info Administration, in 2020, New Hampshire had the fifth-highest common electrical energy retail costs among the many Decrease 48 states.

Three-fifths of New Hampshire’s internet electrical era comes from the Seabrook Nuclear Energy Plant. Two natural-gas-fired vegetation that got here on-line in 2002 and 2003 are the state’s subsequent largest energy vegetation by capability, the EIA stated.

These articles are being shared by companions in The Granite State Information Collaborative. For extra data go to collaborativenh.org.