December 13, 2023

Proposed timeline:  UPDATED

EC Approves Plan - Wednesday, December 13th  or 6:00 pm - Town Hall

Plan Approval - Board of Selectmen - December 21st 

Warrant Article - TBD 

NEXT Meeting : January 24th, 6 pm, Town Hall

WARRANT ARTCLE DRAFT - To see if the Town will vote to adopt the Litchfield Community Power Plan, which authorizes the Selectboard to develop and implement Litchfield Community Power as described therein (pursuant to RSA 53-E:7). The program would provide a new default electric supply and new renewable energy supply options for customers in Litchfield. There is no cost to the Town budget, and no obligation to participate. Customers can opt out at any time and return to utility default service. The Selectboard recommends this article. Majority vote required.

Optional description for web page, warrant article description and/or newsletter: 

The Town of Litchfield is considering implementing a new Town program called Community Power, or in other states, called Municipal Aggregation. If adopted by a majority of Town voters, The Litchfield Community Power Plan would empower the Town to enter into Electric Services Agreements with Competitive Electric Power Suppliers to serve the electric supply needs of residents and small businesses in Litchfield. The intent is to pool our electricity demand and use the power of the competitive market for cost savings and more local renewable energy supply choices. The Town of Litchfield currently uses a similar contract for savings on municipal power. Program savings over the contract period is the goal of the program along with more renewable energy choices, but savings cannot be guaranteed. This program would affect only the supply line on customer electric bills. Transmission and distribution, emergency services, and billing all stay with the distribution utility. Eligible customers are automatically enrolled in the new program default following notification of program rates and an opt out period. They can also elect to choose an optional product. There are no fees to opt out, join, or change options within the program. Customers that opt out and then rejoin the program may be charged a market rate. Customers currently on competitive supply are not automatically enrolled, but they can opt in. There is no cost to the Town Budget. The full text of the draft Plan is available on the Town website.