Dive Summaries:
- Public Service Company of New Hampshire, the state's largest electric utility, is phasing out its EarthSmart Green program due to low customer interest.
- The program allows customers to pay higher rates to support renewable energy, and while the utility says that only 1% of its total customer base would have to sign up to keep the program going, only 0.4% (148 people) are signed up after two years.
- The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative saw better results with its own program, which allowed customers to buy $3-a-month renewable electricity "blocks" representing around 100 kilowatts, but the state's most successful program at 1.2% participation belongs to North American Power.
From the article:
... Utilities are required by law to offer customers the opportunity to support renewable energy by paying a higher rate – usually about 30 percent. But if not enough customers sign up, a utility can get permission from the state Public Utilities Commission to pull the plug. ...