Why is there such a rush to get this implemented and why won’t citizens have more time to provide input?

The Town desires to be pro-active in investigating any program that may benefit the residents.  The Town has followed every procedural step required by State law to develop an aggregation plan, as described in Attachment 1 of the Plan. This public hearing, in advance of submitting the plan to the PUC for further review, is the next step in that procedure. The PUC held its required public hearing on Aug 11, 2021 on the plan and is in the process of determining whether to approve the plan. After that the Town may begin the process of developing and issuing a bid for suppliers. The public will be fully informed on a continuing basis at every step of the process. The Town may choose to withdraw from the process without penalty or cost. But, in order to determine the potential cost savings available to our residents and small businesses, we need to have a plan approved by the PUC.

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1. Who is eligible for this program?
2. Why are we proposing a program that automatically enrolls me and then allows me to “Opt-Out.” Why not use an “Opt-In” program?
3. Can’t I negotiate with suppliers on my own?
4. What is a "Standard Product"?
5. What are the Optional Products?
6. How long would the Town be committed to the program?
7. What if I have a current agreement for an energy supplier?
8. Would this impact any payments or incentives I get for solar panels on my house?
9. When would this CCA happen? What are the steps along the process?
10. I like National Grid. Does this program change my electric company to someone other that National Grid.
11. Was any firm other than Good Energy considered for the Service Agreement?
12. If Good Energy is paid $0.001/kWh, households cost about $1.45 peak months, $.50 low-use months. If 85% of town users stay with the CCA what is the est. payment to Good Energy? Will their rate change?
13. Why is there such a rush to get this implemented and why won’t citizens have more time to provide input?
14. Can the Town Council modify the plan by increasing the renewable energy minimum in the basic plan (or any plan) without Public Utilities Commission approval?
15. Will this program cause additional staff to be added to the town government?
16. Has a study been done of additional potential costs to taxpayers this program may incur & was it done by someone other than Good Energy, which has vested interest in this project going forward?
17. Why is there no mention of risks to consumers/taxpayers in the program descriptions?
18. Have there been studies of any failed CCAs to assess whether it might happen here? (Reportedly, some in other states have been abandoned.)
19. If Portsmouth’s CCA enters an agreement with Providence to achieve economy of scale, how much clout will Portsmouth have and what assurances are there that there will be an equitable agreement?
20. What will the auditing arrangement be? Will Portsmouth have to pay yet another external entity to audit the CCA and Good Energy? At what cost?
21. Has Good Energy contributed to any local politicians’ election campaigns?
22. Who would administer this program? To my knowledge the town has no experts on staff.
23. What is the cost to the town for the consultant per the current resolution passed by the Town Council?
24. How much will the proposed standard product for using additional renewable energy increase the cost to residents?
25. What does the term "EXTRA" Renewable Energy mean? More than what? Please expand on this metric.
26. I believe the statement “provide some savings” is way too vague for my liking. A defined goal for savings would provide a benchmark to judge the bids provided if the next phase is pursued. (? cont.)
27. Once bids are returned, is there an option for citizens to review them BEFORE a decision is made? I suggest the best deal may not be worth executing the plan but I remain open to have it investigated.