Energy Aggregation Committee — January 15, 2026

📋 Sunapee Energy Aggregation Committee – Meeting Recap: January 15, 2026

Three items discussed at this meeting have direct financial consequences for Sunapee and New London residents. No members of the public attended. Here's what you need to know before the February 3rd deliberative session.

💡 COMMUNITY POWER RATES ARE UP — AND HERE'S WHY
Community Power Coalition rates are currently 14–14.9¢/kWh. According to committee member Doug Cogan, the coalition made a deliberate decision to raise rates to rebuild its fund balance after losses caused by prior under-billing. In plain terms: current enrollees are paying to cover a financial shortfall they didn't create. To make matters more complicated, Eversource comparison rates are delayed due to a PUC-mandated 6-month reconciliation cycle, so residents don't yet have the full picture needed to decide whether Community Power still saves them money. The committee is waiting on updated Eversource numbers before refreshing public-facing materials.

🏗️ $1.3 MILLION SOLAR BOND — KNOW THE DETAILS BEFORE YOU VOTE
The Water and Sewer Commission is asking voters to approve a $1.3 million bond for a solar array at the wastewater treatment plant. The project comes with $250,000 in pre-approved loan forgiveness from the NH DES Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and repayment is projected to come from energy savings and sewer user fees — not property taxes. Sixteen other NH towns have done similar projects. That's the case for it. But here's what deserves more public discussion: over 60% of sewer fees are paid by New London customers, meaning the majority of the financial burden falls on residents of a neighboring town who have no vote on this bond. The committee acknowledged this fact and discussed whether to include it in public materials — which tells you they know it's politically sensitive.

⚠️ ADVISORY COMMITTEE OR ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN?
The committee voted to hold public 'information sessions' before town meeting to build support for the bond. One member specifically asked how to identify venues that would reach voters who are 'most resistant.' A municipal advisory committee has every right to educate the public — but when the stated goal is overcoming resistance to a specific ballot outcome, the line between education and advocacy gets blurry. Residents deserve to know that distinction going in.

📅 WHAT'S NEXT: The deliberative session is February 3rd. The committee also changed its regular meeting schedule to the LAST Wednesday of each month at 5:30 PM. Mark your calendars and show up — these decisions affect your energy bills and your tax district whether you're in the room or not.