Four Communities, One Milestone

Over the past several months, I've had the privilege of helping launch four Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) programs across New Hampshire: Londonderry, Merrimack, Laconia, and Windham. Each community launched with rates starting around 10% below the current utility rates. They all brought their own goals and perspectives to the process. Together these launches represent an important step forward for local energy choice and stability in the state. 

Community Highlights Across New Hampshire

Londonderry's launch stood out immediately for its level of public engagement. The town hosted the largest public information session of the four communities, with roughly 120 residents in attendance. Questions were thoughtful and wide‑ranging, covering everything from rate stability and opt‑out flexibility to long‑term energy planning. The turnout reflected an interest in the program, and in the end, a trust in the process. It was encouraging to see residents take the time to learn how CCA works and how it benefits their community. 

Merrimack's launch demonstrated how effectively a CCA program can scale while remaining locally driven. Merrimack required extensive coordination and clear communication as one of the larger municipalities to adopt aggregation. Residents and officials were engaged and well‑informed, leading to productive conversations about supply options and customer choice. The launch showed that CCAs can meet the needs of larger, more complex communities without sacrificing transparency or control. 

Laconia highlighted the flexibility of the CCA model. With a diverse mix of residential customers, small businesses, and seasonal load.  The city needed a program that was practical, predictable, and easy to understand. Officials and Freedom made sure customers understood their options and felt confident in how the program would work for them. Laconia's rollout reinforced that CCAs aren't one‑size‑fits‑all; they can be shaped to reflect the realities of each community. 

Windham's launch brought a unique distinction. It was the only community of the four to introduce four renewable energy options for residents at launch. This offers a range of choices for customers who want to go beyond the default supply. While all four communities provided a rate that included the 25.2% renewable energy credits (RECs) required by New Hampshire's Renewable Portfolio Standard, Windham selected a default rate that includes an additional 5% RECs above the standard. The decision reflected a strong commitment to sustainability while still prioritizing choice and affordability. 

Why Communities Chose Freedom

Across all four launches, two themes consistently emerged. First, every community was gracious and genuinely appreciative of the work involved in getting these programs off the ground. It was humbling and motivating to receive that feedback from the energy committees, officials, and residents of all four communities. 

Second, town officials from all four communities said they chose Freedom over other consultants because it allowed them to design a program and strategy that was best for their town, without outside influence from other communities. It showed that independence matters when managing and controlling their program as they know what is best for their residents. 

These launches reflect a broader shift toward local empowerment in energy decision‑making. I was honored to be part of a shift to help these communities turn their goals into working programs. It is and has been incredibly rewarding.