Carol Schutte

Dear Members of NH House Science, Technology & Energy Committee, I am writing to express strong support for HB 755. The Energy Forward Act enables retail electricity market reforms to level the playing field between utilities and competitive suppliers, including Community Power Aggregations, in developing local energy projects and programs that create local economic benefits and cost savings for customers. The many benefits for NH include: * Lowers Costs: Enabling competitors to have access to the same price signals and tools as the utilities will allow more NH homes, businesses, and communities to benefit from lowered energy costs by leveraging local distributed energy. This in turn will drive down costs for everyone regardless of whether they participate in such programs. *Support Local Needs: Thanks to NH lawmakers who enabled competition in NH’s electricity market nearly 30 years ago, many consumers for the first time are now reaping the benefits of market competition, choice, and cost savings through Community Power. The reforms proposed in the Energy Freedom Act are aligned with the purpose of the Community Power Act —to “encourage voluntary, cost effective and innovative solutions to local needs with careful consideration of local conditions and opportunities.” * Bolsters Customer Choice: Consumers know best how to spend their own money. By unlocking price signals, consumers will be able to make informed choices that meet their energy and budgetary needs. * Preserve the NH Advantage: Investing in local distributed energy will keep more money in the pockets of NH consumers while growing the economy and preserving the NH Advantage. *Expand Market Competition: The reforms prescribed in HB 755 will level the playing field between utilities and the competitive market. This will provide competitors such as Community Power Aggregations with the incentives they need to be able to compete and provide the most innovative and cost-effective energy solutions to customers on a voluntary basis. HB 755 can enable market competition from energy developers, competitive suppliers, and community power providers can reduce costs for customers Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, Carol Schutte Hampton Falls