Freedom Energy Logistics energy advisory executives, from left, Bart Fromuth, chief executive officer, Nick Shostak, account executive, and Howard Plante, vice president of procurement, linger to thank Town Council members and attendees at a Merrimack Town Hall information session on Feb. 9 that well informed local electricity consumers about Community Choice Aggregation (CCA), a program wherein municipalities pool their electricity demands to secure competitive rates and encourage community buying power. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

MERRIMACK – Residents crowded the Merrimack Town Hall Conference Room for an information session on Feb. 9 that showcased details about a pending Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program for residents and small businesses that will debut on April 1 with a switch to changing the town’s electricity supplier from Eversource, based in Hartford, Conn., to First Point Power, LLC, a Cranston, Rhode Island enterprise.

“The launch of Merrimack’s CCA program allows our community of nearly 30,000 residents to collectively purchase electricity at more competitive rates as an alternative to Eversource utility service rates,” said Town Council Chairman Finlay Rothhaus at a previous gathering.

The meeting followed a consumer notification mailing of Feb. 20 that announced the launch of the CCA program, researched extensively with Freedom Energy being chosen two years ago to administer a CCA program for Merrimack.

The program is documented as approved by majority vote at a Town Hall meeting of April 9, 2024. The benefits are described in a meeting handout as enabling longer-term contracts and “transparent, municipality-authored agreements.”

Expressed in the literature was a flexible participation benefit with an anytime opt-out amenity.

Eversource is recognized in the brochure as the power company that will continue to deliver the electricity, maintain the electric grid, and handle outages. Eversource also will send the billing invoice, as usual, and address meter issues.

The CCA only changes the supply portion of a bill. A supply charge notation on the bill will reflect the new CCA rate.

Authorization of the CCA plan by Merrimack Town Council originated with public hearings and formal approval by the Town Council. The ultimate go-ahead came from the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NH PUC).

Merrimack is reportedly one of 12 New Hampshire towns receiving CCA advisory services from Freedom Energy, whose counsel is reputed to assist citizens in stabilizing their electricity costs.

Bart Fromuth, CEO of Freedom Energy, commented that Merrimack’s CCA rollout is expected to help reduce electricity costs and promote better chances for stable pricing over time.

“We’re proud to offer tangible benefits and some peace of mind in the form of more affordable and predictable energy costs,” Fromuth noted.

More information on Freedom Energy Logistics is available online at felpower.com.

Opting out by March 23 is a choice made by returning the Opt Out Reply Card mailed Feb. 20 to the community. No card? Opt outs may be assisted by calling First Point Power, LLC, at 888-875-1711.

Merrimack Town Hall, 6 Baboosic Lake Road, can be reached online at merrimacknh.gov or by calling 603-424-2331.