Cold Cash: Energy Efficiency Pays Off for Patch’s Market

Cold Cash: Energy Efficiency Pays Off for Patch’s Market

Ron Patch knows all about the cost of doing business these days. As the owner of Patch’s Market & Deli in Glen, NH, he’s seen his costs go up on everything from the gas at the pumps to the meat in the subs. So when the cost of power went up too, he turned to NHEC and the NHSaves energy efficiency programs for help.

“We’re all stuck in it together, especially with the increases in the cost of energy,” Patch said. “So to have these programs really helps out.”

With advice and financial incentives from NHEC and NHSaves totaling 50% of the project cost, Patch was able to invest in the energy efficiency of his business. The result – nearly 30,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity savings per year!

Like the dozens of other small markets that are dotted across NHEC service territory, the biggest energy savings opportunities are in the coolers with the beer and soda. At Patch’s, that meant replacing fan motors that ran 24 hours a day with Electrically Commutating (EC) motors that operate only when needed. On a busy summer day, a steady stream of customers is in and out of the walk-in cooler, buying an estimated 300 cases of beverages a day.

“The main cooler is so much more efficient now,” Patch said. “I used to have trouble keeping it defrosted but had no problem whatsoever with it this summer, which was the hottest we’ve had in years.”

He also swapped out older fluorescent lights in the 40’ X ’16 cooler with highly efficient LEDs, a change that Patch said elicited hundreds of comments from customers.

“The product just sparkles now and they really notice it,” he said.

Other efficiency measures included the installation of anti-sweat heater controls in the cooler doors. All told, Patch’s Market can expect to save more than $6,000 a year in electric costs (based on current rates).

“It’s been a very successful conversion for me,” Patch said. “I came away thinking this was a win-win situation for everyone.”

Looking to save energy at your small business? Call or email our business energy experts:

Joe Lajewski                                                                                  Chelsea Smith
(603) 536-8663                                                                             (603) 536-8855
lajewskij@nhec.com                                                                    smithc@nhec.com

With Arrival of Broadband At Last, Sandwich Celebrates a Milestone

SANDWICH, NH – Throughout its modern history, the residents of Sandwich, NH could only hear the distant sound of the information superhighway as it passed them by. But with the start of NH Broadband fiber-optic internet service to town, they’ve got their own onramp and all the benefits it brings.

Internet speeds up to 2 gigabits per second are now available to New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) members in Sandwich, thanks in large part to the persistent advocacy of its townspeople.

The town played an important role in the drive to improve high-speed internet access in rural New Hampshire. Well before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sandwich Broadband Advisory Committee and town officials were lobbying for providers to do more to reach unserved and underserved residents. Richard Knox, a member of the Sandwich Broadband Advisory Committee and Chair of NH Broadband Advocates, called the start of fiber-optic broadband service to Sandwich “momentous.”

“When a small group of frustrated Sandwich residents nudged NHEC toward getting into broadband, we had no notion that a pandemic would magnify the need. Or that rural broadband would become a bipartisan issue in Congress and our state,” Knox said. “We’re proud to think that we began something that will benefit many other rural communities.”

For Joanne Haight, Chair of the Sandwich Select Board, the start of NH Broadband service in Sandwich is the realization of a community goal that was a long time in coming.

“The work began in early 2019 and those of us involved thought the pathway to securing a fiber-optic network in a small, rural community of over 90 square miles was nearly impossible, but today it is here,” Haight said. “Thanks to the pioneering spirit of NHEC, NH Broadband and a resident-driven initiative, the town of Sandwich has access to a fast, affordable fiber-optic network.”

NH Broadband, NHEC’s internet subsidiary, now serves NHEC members in six towns, and is currently expanding its fiber-optic networks to serve members in more than 30 towns in Grafton County, which has some of the highest concentrations of New Hampshire residents who lack access to high-speed internet. NHEC and its project partner, Conexon, continue to pursue federal and state grant funds to support the construction of fiber-optic networks in areas that lack high-speed options. Construction of the expansive fiber-optic network in Sandwich, which required the installation of 107 miles of fiber-optic lines, was supported in part by a $1.6 million grant secured by Congressman Chris Pappas.

“We’re proud to have worked with our members in Sandwich to achieve this important milestone,” remarked Alyssa Clemsen Roberts, the President/CEO of NHEC and CEO of NH Broadband. “Broadband internet is no longer a luxury, it’s an essential service that NHEC is committed to providing to all our members who need it. We see the difference that reliable, high-speed internet makes in the life of a small community, and we can’t wait to see it repeated across the state as we reach more members.”

To follow construction updates and service dates when they become available, please visit www.NHBroadband.com.

State of NH Emergency Energy Assistance: How to Apply

$35M in funding for emergency energy assistance for New Hampshire residents is now available to help with high energy prices this fall and winter.

New Hampshire residents are seeing higher energy bills due to the current high energy prices. Energy markets worldwide are volatile, and the higher prices we are seeing are the result of an energy supply crunch brought about by increased energy usage as the economy recovers from the COVID pandemic, uncertainties in supply stemming from the ongoing war in Ukraine, and growing inflation.

Although these factors are out of our control, the State of New Hampshire has recently adopted legislation to provide emergency energy assistance to qualifying households. The State of New Hampshire will provide this assistance through the local Community Action Agencies.

Who Is Eligible?

Households with incomes between 60% and 75% of the state median income may qualify for:

  • A one-time credit of $450 for heating assistance.
  • A one-time credit of $200 on electric bills.

Households with incomes below 60% of State Median Income may be eligible for assistance through:

How to Apply

To apply for assistance or to learn more about the application process, households should contact their local Community Action Agency to set up an appointment.

75% New Hampshire State Median Income Guidelines

Income eligibility based on family size and gross annual income.

  • For a family of 1, a maximum gross annual income of $48,711
  • For a family of 2, a maximum gross annual income of $63,699
  • For a family of 3, a maximum gross annual income of $78,688
  • For a family of 4, a maximum gross annual income of $93,676
  • For a family of 5, a maximum gross annual income of $108,664
  • For a family of 6, a maximum gross annual income of $123,653
  • For a family of 7, a maximum gross annual income of $126,463
  • For a family of 8, a maximum gross annual income of $129,274

NHEC, Conexon Announce Partnership for Broadband Expansion

PLYMOUTH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) is expanding its partnership with rural fiber-optic network design and construction management leader Conexon to bring fiber-to-the-home service across the cooperative’s territory.

NHEC and Conexon have already worked together to provide gigabit speed internet access to two communities, Acworth and Sandwich, and will soon expand to 32 communities throughout Grafton County. NH Broadband, the co-op’s fiber subsidiary, will ultimately offer high-speed fiber internet service that spans nine counties and nearly 120 communities. Service is available today for customers in Acworth, Sandwich, Clarksville, Colebrook, Lempster and Stewartstown, and the first customers in Grafton County are expected to be connected in the first quarter of 2023.

Conexon is providing a comprehensive range of fiber broadband services including network design, construction project management, engineering and operations support. Additionally, through its internet service provider subsidiary, Conexon Connect, the company is also providing services including customer sign-ups, installations, billing, technical support and access to multi-gigabit speed packages.

“Making high-speed, affordable internet available to all of our members who need it is a major undertaking, on par with the effort to bring light and power to these same locations more than 80 years ago. We’re thrilled to have Conexon’s resources and experience available as we work to bring this next essential service to our members,” said NHEC President/CEO Alyssa Clemsen Roberts.

“We’re excited to build on our current relationship with New Hampshire Electric Cooperative and make a difference in the lives of even more residents who are currently unserved or underserved with broadband,” Conexon Founding Partner Randy Klindt said. “We are pleased to have such a positive and productive partnership with Alyssa and her team, one that enables us to further our mission of closing the digital divide.”

The lightning-fast fiber-optic network offered by NH Broadband will give members access to symmetrical multi-gigabit internet capabilities – among the fastest and most robust in the nation. Additionally, it will enable enhancements and smart grid capabilities to the electrical infrastructure, including improved power outage response times, better load balancing and more efficient electricity delivery.

Conexon brings to the project unmatched experience and expertise in deploying rural FTTH networks. The company has designed more than 200,000 miles of fiber for cooperative projects and builds more than 50,000 fiber miles of fiber annually. In addition, Conexon has created a broad ecosystem of equipment and labor resources specializing in rural fiber builds. Since forming six years ago, Conexon has assisted nearly 275 electric cooperatives, 75 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 connected fiber-to-the-home subscribers across the U.S.

About NH Electric Cooperative

New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is a member-owned not-for-profit electric utility, headquartered in Plymouth, N.H.  NHEC connects its 85,000 members through 6,000 miles of energized lines, crossing 118 communities throughout New Hampshire.

 About Conexon

Conexon works with Rural Electric Cooperatives to bring fiber to the home in rural communities. The company is comprised of professionals who have worked in electric cooperatives and the telecommunications industry, and offer decades of individual experience in business planning, building networks, marketing and selling telecommunications. Conexon offers its electric cooperative clients end-to-end broadband deployment and operations support, from a project’s conception all the way through to its long-term sustainability. It works with clients to analyze economic feasibility, secure financing, design the network, manage construction, provide operational support, optimize business performance and determine optimal partnerships. To date, Conexon has assisted more than 275 electric cooperatives, 60 of which are deploying fiber networks, with more than 500,000 rural Americans connected to fiber to the home. The company has secured nearly $2 billion in federal, state and local grants and subsidies for its clients.

NHEC to Hold Informational Session on Selective Herbicide Treatments

MEREDITH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative will host a public information session about the selective use of herbicides in power line rights-of-way on September 21 at 6 p.m. at the Meredith Community Center.

The meeting, which was organized with help from the Waukewan Winona Watershed Protective Association, is free to attend and open to anyone with questions about herbicide treatments and their impact on local ecology.  A Q&A session will follow brief presentations by NHEC Arborists and representatives of Vegetation Control Service (VSC), NHEC’s licensed contractor that applies approved herbicides under the supervision of NHEC Arborists.

WHERE: Meredith Community Center; 1 Circle Drive, Meredith, NH 03253

WHEN: Wednesday, September 21 at 6 p.m.

NHEC Announces Hiring of  Alyssa Clemsen Roberts as President/CEO

NHEC Announces Hiring of Alyssa Clemsen Roberts as President/CEO

PLYMOUTH, NH – New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) Board Chair Jeffrey Morrill is pleased to announce the hiring of Alyssa Clemsen Roberts as NHEC’s new President/Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Clemsen Roberts comes to NHEC from Colorado, where she most recently served as CEO of the Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), and President of DMEA’s wholly-owned for-profit fiber internet subsidiary, Elevate. Prior to joining DMEA and Elevate, Clemsen Roberts served as the chief strategy officer at Platte River Power Authority in Fort Collins, CO, where she led Platte River’s government relations and community engagement activities, energy efficiency and distributed resource programs, internal and external communications, human resources and safety. She served four years in the United States Navy and graduated summa cum laude from Park University with a B.S. in business management. “We are excited and fortunate to be welcoming Alyssa to NHEC at this time,” said Morrill. “Her skills, experience and energy separated her from a strong, national field of candidates during the board’s search. She is deeply committed to the principles of member-owned cooperatives and the value they provide to members and their communities. She is also a nationally recognized expert on rural broadband issues, which will be a big boost to NHEC’s ongoing efforts to make high-speed internet access available to all members.” “I’m honored and excited to be joining the team at New Hampshire Electric Cooperative,” said Clemsen Roberts. “It’s clear that NHEC is a forward-thinking and member-focused organization, as they’ve demonstrated in their efforts to expand broadband access, which is a vital need in rural areas. There are challenges ahead for NHEC and its members, not least of which is the affordability of energy in New Hampshire, but I look forward to working together with the board, staff and members of NHEC to find solutions.” Clemsen Roberts will officially assume her duties on September 6, 2022.