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Jul 29, 2008 - Co-op Launches $100,000 Food Bank Challenge
MANCHESTER, NH - New Hampshire Electric Co-op (NHEC) is challenging its members to fill the shelves of the New Hampshire Food Bank in time for the holidays.
From now until October 31, every donation made to the NHEC Food Bank Challenge will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000 by the
New Hampshire Electric Co-op Foundation, a non-profit, charitable organization founded by NH Electric Co-op. Once that goal is reached, NH Electric Co-op has also committed to match the next $25,000 in contributions. All of the money raised by the co-op Food Bank Challenge will purchase food to be distributed to pantries and facilities within Co-op service territory. The goal of the entire campaign is $100,000.
The combination of record low inventories and record high gas prices has Food Bank officials scrambling to meet the needs of the over 90,000 men, women and children it feeds each year. The Food Bank is the only center of food collection and distribution in the state, distributing over four million pounds of donated and purchased food to 352 member agencies around the state each year.
“Imagine having to choose between a tank of gas or food for dinner,” said NHEC President/CEO Fred Anderson. “That’s the choice facing a growing number of
New Hampshire residents, as well as the Food Bank itself. In these times, it’s up to the community to support the organizations that support us.”
In order to track and match donations, NHEC is asking members and the public to make their tax-deductible donation payable to the NHEC Foundation, which is acting as a conduit to the Food Bank.
Checks should be made payable to: NHEC Foundation
and sent to: NHEC headquarters, 579 Tenney Mountain Highway, Plymouth, NH
03264. Be sure to write “Food Bank Challenge” on the check memo line.
Co-op members should also look for the convenient donation coupon in the newsletter that arrives with their August bills. All of the money raised by the Co-op Food Bank Challenge will purchase food to be distributed to pantries and facilities within Co-op service territory.
As Food Bank Executive Director Melanie Gosselin points out, she and her staff can stretch the value of every donation. Forty dollars will cover the cost of transporting 500 pounds of fresh produce to member agencies, she said. Ninety dollars would transport 714 pounds to a distant part of the state, while $100 would cover the transportation costs of receiving 1,428 pounds of donated food from local donors.
“The cost of bringing food to the warehouse and delivering food to statewide agencies is putting us at risk and forcing us to think out-of-the-box,” Gosselin said. “We are struggling to get food for all those that can’t afford it, so we are working on creative solutions to the root causes of hunger.”
Jun 24, 2008 - Annual Meeting 2008: Renewable Energy Contracts Announced
LINCOLN, NH – At its 69th Annual Meeting of Members held June 21 at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) announced three new contracts to purchase nearly 12 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to be generated at wind farms and biomass plants across New England.
When each project is online and producing electricity, NHEC will be deriving about seven percent of its members' energy requirements from renewable resources. NHEC has endorsed the goal of the 25 x ’25 Coalition, which seeks to derive 25% of America’s power needs from renewables by the year 2025.
NHEC President/CEO Fred Anderson told a gathering of 100 members and guests that NHEC will be the exclusive purchaser of all energy and renewable energy certificates that will be produced at the Beaver Ridge Wind Project located in Freedom, Maine. Beaver Ridge Wind is now under construction and its three 1.5 MW generators are expected to go on-line before the end of the year.
In addition to Beaver Ridge, Anderson noted that in the past year NHEC has contracted to purchase 10% of the energy and renewable energy certificates produced for at least six years by a 50 MW wood-fired generating plant planned for western Massachusetts, and is finalizing arrangements to purchase 10% of the electricity and renewable energy certificates from the 24 MW Lempster Wind Power Project, scheduled to go on-line this year in Lempster, NH. Anderson said NHEC is also considering energy purchases and possible partial ownership of several other prospective generation projects.
“The Cooperative will continue to need electricity purchased on the wholesale market and from traditional fossil-fueled power plants to serve our members’ homes and businesses. But we are diversifying our resource mix with electricity purchased directly from renewable sources” Anderson said. “This approach allows us to reduce the risk of over-dependence on any one resource or fuel type or supplier. This will help us manage Co-op Power prices with an eye toward keeping them lower, more stable, and less dependent on fossil fuels than other options available to our members.”
The planned purchases of renewable energy will also position the company well to comply with the standards of New Hampshire’s new Renewable Portfolio Standard, Anderson added.
Financially, “the Co-op’s in good financial shape and getting better,” Anderson said, noting that the company’s current equity-to-assets ratio of 23% is the strongest it’s ever been. Anderson said he expected to achieve 40% – 50% equity by the company’s 75th anniversary in 2014, at which time members would begin to receive annual capital credit returns.
New Hampshire State Senator Deb Reynolds (D-Plymouth) was in attendance and presented company officials with a Senate Resolution that “extends its congratulations to New Hampshire Electric Cooperative in recognition of receiving the 2008 Community Service Award for Energy Efficiency from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for energy efficiency efforts at Cranmore Mountain in North Conway and be it further known that the New Hampshire Senate extends its best wishes for continued success.”
NHEC worked with Cranmore Mountain and other New Hampshire ski areas to provide rebates on the purchase of energy-efficient snow guns and other services that have saved the state’s ski industry tens of thousands of dollars.
Jun 24, 2008 - Reals, Incumbents Elected to NHEC Board
PLYMOUTH, NH – Members of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) elected two incumbents and a newcomer to the company’s Board of Directors.
After running unsuccessfully as a petition candidate for several years, Plymouth resident Bob Reals broke through in 2008, winning election to the Board as the top vote getter. Finishing second in the voting was incumbent Board member Gail Paine of Intervale. The third open seat was won by fellow incumbent Chip Kimball of Sandwich.
The three candidates beat out two petition candidates – Daniel Barraford of Barnstead and Carol Friedrich of Wentworth – and a third candidate, Samuel Brickley of Holderness, who was nominated by the NHEC Nominating Committee. The results of the election were announced Saturday, June 21 at the NHEC Annual Meeting of Members at Loon Mountain in Lincoln.
A total of 12,842 ballots were cast in this year’s election. The candidates elected will serve three-year terms on the 11-member Board of Directors. The results of the election were as follows:
Bob Reals 7,247
Gail Paine 6,406
Chip Kimball 5,781
Daniel Barraford, III 5,443
Carol Friedrich 5,232
Samuel Brickley, II 5,038
Also announced at the Annual Meeting was the winner of a pick-up truck that was awarded to one member who returned his or her ballot to the Co-op. Arthur Morrill of Meredith was selected in a drawing to receive the Dodge Dakota pick-up truck that is being retired from the Co-op fleet.
Jun 9, 2008 - Annual Meeting Is June 21 at Loon Mountain
PLYMOUTH, NH – For the first time in its modern history, New Hampshire Electric Co-op (NHEC) will hold its Annual Meeting of Members on a Saturday.
The Mountain Club on Loon will be the location of the 69th Annual Meeting. Hoping to attract members who have not been able to attend previous weekday meetings, NHEC is holding the event on Saturday, June 21. The Mountain Club on Loon is located at the base of Loon Mountain on Route 112 in Lincoln.
Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The business meeting gets underway at 10:30 a.m. Members are encouraged to come early to take part in four pre-meeting workshops that will cover topics from energy efficiency to the latest in affordable renewable energy alternatives. Free health screenings will also be provided by Speare Hospital. Every member attending will receive a free gift and will be eligible to win valuable prizes in the post-meeting raffle. Members can also enjoy discounts on summer activities following the meeting, including $8 gondola rides to the summit of Loon Mountain and a chance to take on the largest climbing wall in the area.
NHEC Board Chair Earl Hansen and NHEC President/CEO Fred Anderson will deliver their “State of the Co-op” report, detailing the accomplishments of the past year and a look at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The floor will then be open to members for questions and discussion of topics related to the Co-op’s operations.
The winners of the annual Board of Directors election will be announced at the Annual Meeting, as will the winner of a pick-up truck, which is being given away in a drawing to one member who returns his or her ballot by the June 15 deadline. Refreshments will be served before the meeting.
The opportunity to take part in the business of the company is unique to member-owned cooperatives. All members are welcome to attend.
May 30, 2008 - NHEC Hosts June 3 Town Energy Forum
MEREDITH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) and the Lakes Region Planning Commission (LRPC) are hosting a June 3 forum with the aim of identifying common goals and best practices for the state’s growing number of municipal energy committees.
As the imperative for energy efficiency and conservation grows amid skyrocketing energy prices, 164 New Hampshire towns have passed resolutions calling for action and the creation of local energy committees. In order to maximize the effectiveness of these diverse groups, NHEC and LRPC hope to provide a level of regional coordination that avoids duplication of efforts and promotes a common agenda across the state.
The forum, which takes place June 3 from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. at Church Landing in Meredith, will feature speakers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Carbon Coalition, a group of New Hampshire citizens, scientists, businesses, students, communities and organizations who've come together to advocate for a national energy policy that protects communities and the environment from the effects of global warming caused by carbon pollution.
Among the issues to be discussed at the forum, attendees will learn how to benchmark municipal building energy use; tap into utility energy efficiency programs for rebates and education; and learn best practices on how to start an energy committee in your town. The event will also provide an opportunity for energy committee members to network with colleagues from neighboring towns.
For more information about the June 3 forum, or to RSVP, please contact Bill Johnstone (NHEC) at 603-536-8651, or johnstoneb@nhe.com.
May 7, 2008 - Seasonal Rate Adjustment Effective May 1, 2008
A seasonal rate adjustment caused by increases in the cost of electricity and transmission services took effect on May 1, 2008.
The effect on a typical residential member using 500 kilowatt-hours per month is a total bill increase of approximately 7.6%.
The increases are reflected in the Co-op Power and Regional Access Charge line items on your monthly bill. Effective May 1, the Co-op Power rate increased from 8.9 cents per kWh to 10.2 cents per kWh; the Regional Access Charge increased from $0.00849 per kWh to $0.00983 per kWh.
NHEC typically adjusts its rates in late spring to reflect the seasonal increase in the cost of electricity. Driving that increase is the rising cost of natural gas, which is the fuel most commonly used in New England to generate electricity.
Increases in the Regional Access Charge reflects NHEC’s share of costs associated with expanding and improving the New England power transmission grid.
Apr 23, 2008 - Online Outage Map Goes Live
PLYMOUTH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative has made real-time information on power outages available on its website.
The online map of New Hampshire displays the same information used by the company’s outage management system to track power outages at the county and town level. Color-coded circles indicate the approximate location and time of outages, number of Co-op members affected, the status of line crews in the field and the expected time of restoration. To protect member privacy and security, the outage map tool does not display outage locations to a specific street address.
When outages are occurring, an alert box will appear on the NHEC website home page indicating the number of outages and members affected. The alert box links to the real-time outage map for more detailed information. The alert box does not appear when there are no active outages.
The online outage map was designed with many audiences in mind, said NHEC Vice President of Public and Member Relations/CFO Dena DeLucca.
“During periods of heavy outages, real-time information is valuable for state and local emergency officials as well as the media,” DeLucca said. “It’s also helpful for seasonal members – nearly 30% of our total membership – who may be planning to visit the area.”
Mar 31, 2008 - Co-op Aims to Reduce Carbon Footprint
PLYMOUTH – In a landmark initiative for a utility, the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) has announced a partnership with Portsmouth-based Clean Air - Cool Planet (CA-CP) to quantify and reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Clean Air - Cool Planet will provide its expertise in the area of greenhouse gas (GHG) calculation, and then assist NHEC in preparing a plan to reduce or eliminate emissions from its use of electricity and other fuels in the direct operations of the company.
“We have worked in various capacities with utilities in the past, but this is the first time we’ve helped a power company tackle emissions from its operations,” said Adam Markham, CEO of Clean Air - Cool Planet, the leading nonprofit finding and promoting solutions to global warming.
“NHEC is to be congratulated on taking pioneering steps in this area.” Markham said.
He noted that the Coop, which is a member-owned and -controlled electric distribution company serving 116 cities and towns, intends to use what it learns in the process with CA-CP to help other utilities.
“We see this partnership with Clean Air – Cool Planet as a reflection of our social and environmental responsibilities,” said NHEC President/CEO Fred Anderson. “This program, which focuses on our business operations, is part of our strategic actions to reduce our carbon footprint across the three major segments of our organization: energy procurement, business operations and members’ energy usage.”
The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative serves approximately 80,000 members and maintains more than 5,400 miles of energized line that traverse nine of the 10 counties in New Hampshire.
The first step in the process will be to collect data on the company’s use of electricity, fuels for space and water heating, fuel used in its fleet of line trucks and other vehicles, and employee travel.
Ultimately, the process will give NHEC tools to examine and reduce its energy use, according to CA-CP COO Bob Sheppard.
“More and more corporations are realizing that in order to control costs and stay competitive, managing energy costs is a key,” Sheppard said. “The truth is, you can’t manage what you don’t measure, so this is a critical step.”
The inventory, planning, and implementation process will take the company through the summer.
Mar 25, 2008 - NHEC Foundation Passes Half-Million Dollar Mark
From local health care clinics to statewide food banks, more than 80 organizations have benefited from the generosity of NHEC members, who fund the Foundation through monthly contributions. NHEC serves approximately 78,000 members, two-thirds of which agree to have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next dollar with the proceeds benefiting the Foundation.
The average Foundation grant has been approximately $5,000. Charitable and educational organizations in every region of the state served by NHEC have received funding. The largest single donation made by the Foundation was a $24,000 grant awarded to the Plymouth Main Street program to finish the façade renovation of the Pemi Youth Center.
The NHEC Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 entity, is overseen by a board of directors, which last year received more than 80 requests for funding. According to Foundation Executive Director Judy Gove, meeting the needs of local non-profit organizations has been a truly cooperative effort.
“We are very pleased and fortunate that we can support so many organizations and programs,” said Gove. “It’s the support of NHEC members who contribute to Round Up that makes such a difference. The grants will help strengthen our communities, provide educational opportunities and improve the lives of individuals and families across New Hampshire.”
Mar 6, 2008 - Ski Partnership Wins National Energy Efficiency Award
ANAHEIM, CA - The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) presented a National Community Service Award to New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) for the co-op’s multi-faceted program to help Cranmore Mountain Resort in North Conway reduce its energy consumption by applying new, efficient technologies and participating in a demand response program.
Implementing this comprehensive program boosted the bottom line of a major commercial member that is a vital part of the state’s economy.
After a thorough review of the member’s energy usage, NHEC provided Cranmore Mountain Resort a rebate of $15,000 toward the purchase of 20 low-energy tower snow guns estimated to be sixty percent more efficient than conventional snowmakers. On top of this rebate, the co-op provided $56,300 for new fan guns through its SmartSTART program (Savings Through Affordable Retrofit Technologies), which allows the co-op to be repaid over time on the member’s electric bill using energy savings.
The cooperative also enabled the resort’s participation in ISO-New England’s demand response program. When the cooperative started the program, it was the only New Hampshire utility participating in the ISO’s demand-response program.
Under the terms of the demand response program, during high-price/high-demand periods the co-op notifies the resort, which is then able to curtail usage and get paid for energy not consumed. ISO NE pays the cooperative for the energy saved; the cooperative in turn gives that money to the member. NHEC is the only utility in New England to pass 100% of the money on to the consumer. Says NHEC Account Executive Bill Johnstone: “It took a lot of time to educate the ski areas about the demand response program, but once they understood the benefits of the program they were excited to participate.”
Said NRECA President Jack Wolfe, “NHEC is helping reframe the energy equation: this program shows that everybody profits when we reduce the amount of energy consumed.”
According to Johnstone, reducing Cranmore’s energy usage required not just one strategy. “We spent a lot of time getting to understand the member’s business and identified several different strategies for helping the ski area to reduce energy costs.”
The efficiency efforts will save the resort over $1 million over their lifetime.
NHEC provides electricity to 116 towns in the state. The cooperative believes in finding unique ways to succeed and thrive by controlling peak demand, which benefits all members. These programs also help maintain the integrity of the grid and prevent a situation in which the utility can’t meet demand. NHEC worked with other ski resorts to find similar opportunities to reduce consumption.
NHEC received the award at NRECA’s annual meeting last month in Anaheim, California, which was attended by nearly 9,000 representatives from cooperative electric utilities across the nation. NRECA is the national service organization that represents the nation’s more than 900 private, not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 40 million people in 47 states.
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01/29/2008
Committee Sets Feb. 15 Deadline for BOD Nominations
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01/16/2008
A New Home for Squam's Ospreys
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12/13/2007
NHEC Wins National Energy Efficiency Award
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11/27/2007
Lighting Project Brings Out the Stars in Waterville Valley
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09/03/2007
Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Nets $6,000 for Pemi Youth Center
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08/22/2007
NHEC Foundation Awards $46,000 in Grants
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08/22/2007
Co-op Lineman Named 'Huskie Tools Hero'
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08/06/2007
2nd Annual Pemi Youth Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Set for September 1
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07/30/2007
Co-op's Revolving Loan Fund Is Open for Business
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06/18/2007
Annual Meeting 2007 Focuses on Changing Energy Landscape
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06/18/2007
Four Incumbents Re-Elected to NHEC Board
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05/25/2007
NHEC Joins 25x'25 Renewable Energy Coalition
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05/08/2007
68th Annual Meeting to be held June 12 at Plymouth State University
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04/22/2007
Power Fully Restored Following April Nor'Easter
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04/21/2007
APRIL STORM PICS
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04/16/2007
Four Candidates Nominated for Board of Directors
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03/30/2007
NHEC Honored for Board Development
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02/13/2007
Energy Efficiency Puts NHEC in National Spotlight
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01/18/2007
Wanted: Exceptional High School Juniors for 2007 Youth Tour
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01/15/2007
Now Accepting Applications for 2007 Scholarships
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01/03/2007
NHEC Seeks Board Candidates for Nomination
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01/03/2007
NHEC Foundation Grant Brings History Alive
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11/01/2006
Hard Work, Teamwork, Key to Storm Restoration
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10/25/2006
NHEC Foundation Donates $10,700 to NH Food Bank
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10/04/2006
State Announces New Eligibility Requirements for Electric Assistance Program
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09/07/2006
Miller, Westerling Blaze to Victory at Pemi Youth Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K
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07/20/2006
NHEC Receives Grant for Economic Development Loan Program
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06/28/2006
NHEC and Pemi Youth Center Hosted Cooperative Covered Bridge 5K Road Race
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06/08/2006
Annual Meeting 2006: Another Good Year, but Challenges Lie Ahead
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05/25/2006
Mount Cranmore and NHEC Team Up for Energy Efficiency
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05/18/2006
Former Board Member Wins Aiken Award
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04/27/2006
NHEC Honored for Board Development
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04/27/2006
NHEC Board Member Achieves National Certification
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04/27/2006
Renewable Energy Group Gets Boost From NHEC Foundation
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04/03/2006
NHEC Foundation Completes First Round of Grants
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03/14/2006
NHEC to Launch WildBlue™ Satellite Internet Service
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03/06/2006
NHEC Foundation Makes Wish Come True
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02/28/2006
Candidates Nominated for BOD
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02/21/2006
Storm Recovery Complete
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12/16/2005
Winter Heating Assistance
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12/16/2005
Your Space Heating Solution
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