MANCHESTER, NH – On August 14, activists from various groups met at Arms Park in Manchester to discuss Eversource’s price increases over the past few years.
The group pointed to the increasing number of people applying for state support for heating cost subsidies in 2022 and 2023. With prices continuing to rise, activists fear that another record year for support applications could follow.
New Hampshire energy companies have announced rate changes effective August 1. Another rate increase is scheduled to occur in February 2025, typically one of two months of the year when rate changes take effect. Among New Hampshire energy providers, Eversource is proposing the largest increase, which could average about $23 more per customer next year. Liberty, another New Hampshire energy provider, is proposing a smaller increase. Unitil customers will see a reduction in their electricity rates.
In addition to the impact on the supply of housing, rate increases also create unexpected operating costs for businesses large and small. For a large business like a Wal-Mart Supercenter, the change can be significant. For a local coffee shop run by a local family, the change may not be very large. Subsidized housing and housing where landlords pay the utility bill will also see an increase. Landlords may be stuck with a higher bill if they cannot simply raise the rent to offset the increased costs.
The event, attended by several dozen people, was organized by 350 NH, a grassroots nonprofit with the slogan “People Power for Climate Justice.” Members of Rights and Democracy, 603 Forward and the Manchester Housing Alliance were also in attendance. The protest began with a series of speeches. Protesters marched down Commercial Street and stood on the sidewalk outside Eversource’s Manchester office. Marchers were asked to write their thoughts on a white banner with the words “Polluting Energy, We Don’t Buy It.”
The protest was the start of a planned, ongoing campaign against Eversource’s high costs and dependence on fossil fuels. Green energy is a way to create climate justice and lower costs for consumers, according to 350 NH members.
“We’ve been laying the groundwork for this campaign for some time,” said Rebecca Beaulieu, communications director for 350 NH, referring to the 2022 rate increases. “Back then, we saw firsthand how many people in New Hampshire were struggling. We started to find out what the root causes were and knocked on many doors in communities across New Hampshire to talk to people who have Eversource and tell them what their interactions with the company have been like. Now we’re launching the next phase of this public campaign to raise more public awareness of how unfair our utility system is.”
Eric Morgan, campaign coordinator for Rights and Democracy, said the group is working to empower the community.
“That’s something the utilities don’t want from us. They want us to sit back and take what they give us. They want us to accept the price increases and everything else. They throw in a little help when we can’t pay our bills. That’s not how we move forward as a society,” Morgan said. “And not only that, that’s not how we enrich each other as members of our community.”
Beaulieu said at a time when utilities are making maximum profits, it is time for consumers to be seen and heard.
“We would like to see Eversource and other utilities in our state be accountable to those of us who pay our bills to them,” Beaulieu said. “Now they are accountable to their shareholders. Profits are their priority. People are not their first priority. We want to change that.”
“For them, it’s all about money,” Morgan said. “Power is definitely not about people. It’s all about money.”
Click here for information about the government fuel subsidy program.
