(The
full story...)New Hampshire's electric industry is opening to consumer choice, giving you the power to choose your electric energy supplier. Consumer choice is being introduced throughout the state at different times and will offer benefits for both residential and business customers. It will give you greater control over your energy supplier and should lower the price of your electricity over time.
Until now, you have not been able to choose which company provides you with electric energy service. You have bought your electric service from the local electric utility that serves your area of the state. Your local electric utility either generates or purchases electricity for you. It then delivers the electricity to your home or business over the poles and wires it owns.
The Commission regulates these electric utilities, setting the rates and monitoring the safety and reliability of service.
Now You Have the Power!
Once consumer choice begins in your area, you will be able to choose your energy supplier. This is the company that will sell you electricity. You can choose your energy supplier based on the service options offered, environmental considerations, price or other issues that may be important to you. Today, about 20-30% of the average customer's bill is for generation. The actual percentage, of course, varies from customer to customer. This is the only portion of your bill that will be affected by your choice of energy supplier.
Delivery Stays the Same.
Traditionally, your local electric utility has served two roles - to generate or purchase your electricity and to deliver it to your home or business. Your current electric utility will now become your electric distribution company. The distribution, or the actual delivery of energy to your home or business, will not change. It will still be provided by your electric distribution company over the same poles and wires used today.
If the lights go out, you should call your distribution company, the same company you have always called. However, the energy you use, which in the past has been generated or purchased for you by your local electric utility, will now be provided by the energy supplier you choose.
