Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Now that the warrant article has passed, will I have to get my electricity from Hudson Community Power?
Answer: No. If the BOS decides to stand up Hudson Community Power, it will simply be another option for you to choose from. If you wish to remain with Eversource or use a Competitive Electricity Supplier – that is your choice.
Question: How could Hudson Community Power have a lower rate than Eversource?
Answer: Hudson Community Power will more actively manage its portfolio of power contracts relative to Eversource. Eversource is required by regulation to follow a strict 6-month procurement schedule, and does not have the ability to respond to market changes in the interim. Hudson Community Power will have the flexibility to actively manage a portfolio of energy suppliers which should result in a lower rate than Eversource as well as more rate stability.
Question: Is Hudson Community Power an "opt-out" or "opt-in" program?
Answer: Prior to launch of Hudson Community Power, all eligible customers will be mailed notifications and provided the opportunity to “opt-in” or “opt-out” to the program, depending on whether they currently take service from a Competitive Electric Power Supplier or are on default service provided by Eversource:
- Customers already served by Competitive Electric Power Suppliers will be notified and may request to “opt-in” to the program; and
- Customers currently on default service provided by Eversource will be notified, provided the opportunity to decline participation, and thereafter transferred to Hudson Community Power if they do not “opt-out”.
Notifications to customers on utility-provided default service will include the initial fixed rate for the program’s default service compared with the Eversource rate, be mailed to customers at least 30 days in advance of program launch and provide instructions for customers to decline participation (for example, by return postcard, calling a phone number or using a web portal).
Question: What if I’m already using a competitive electricity supplier? What happens then?
Answer: If you are using a competitive electricity supplier, you will be notified that HCP is now an option for you. You will not be automatically switched over to HCP though. You may switch over to using HCP at any time you choose (presumably at the end of the contract you have with your current electricity supplier).
Question: If I use Hudson Community Power how will I be billed?
Answer: If you switch to using Hudson Community Power, the energy supply part of your monthly electricity bill from Eversource will change to reflect that HCP is now your electricity supplier.
Question: If I switch to using Hudson Community Power, who is responsible for delivering electricity to me?
Answer: Eversource will still be responsible for delivering your electricity – as is the case today. They will continue to maintain the poles & wires and deliver all the other services they deliver today – only the source of the electricity changes (which will be reflected in your bill).
Question: Suppose I change to using HCP and then decide I want to buy my electricity from somewhere else? Can I do that?
Answer: Yes. You can switch from using HCP back to Eversource or any of the competitive electricity suppliers at any time on a monthly billing boundary without penalty.
Question: What if I initially opt out and then hear about the great rate my neighbors are getting with HCP and want to join? Am I out of luck?
Answer: Absolutely not. You can always join HCP later on.
Question: If I sign up with a competitive electricity supplier, I have to sign a contract. Is there a contract involved if I want to use Hudson Community Power and, if so, for how long?
Answer: Just as is the case with Eversource, there is no contract involved if you are using Hudson Community Power. You can switch from HCP to using Eversource or any of the competitive electricity suppliers at any time on a monthly billing boundary. Hudson Community Power intends to offer additional optional products and services, for example, with higher renewable energy content or time-based rate options. These optional products will be accompanied by their respective terms and conditions.
Question: What is the tax impact of Hudson Community Power? I don’t want to see my taxes go up because of this.
Answer: There is no appreciable tax impact. The operations of HCP are, by law, not allowed to affect your tax rate. The costs associated with running HCP are included in the rate you pay for the electricity. The word ‘appreciable’ is used in the first sentence of this answer because there may be some incidental, one time, expenses incurred by the town in standing up HCP, such as the cost of a town attorney to review documents. But those expenses are expected to be very small.
Question: If I have a net metered solar array, can I still participate in Hudson Community Power?
Answer: Yes, Hudson Community Power Intends to offer a Net Energy Metering (NEM) generation credit and terms to customers with onsite renewable generation eligible for net metering. Note that any non-supply related components of the NEM tariff (e.g., credits for transmission and distribution) will continue to be provided to customer- generators directly by the incumbent utilities. Note that, as of March 2023, Eversource is unable to properly handle billing for some net-metered customers if they were to participate in a Community Power program. We expect this issue will be resolved prior to Hudson Community Power going live. More details on how Net Metering currently works and how it may work with Hudson Community Power are provided in the draft Electric Aggregation Plan (EAP).
Question: Can a local business participate in the Hudson Electric Aggregation program if and when it is up and running? Or is the program limited to just residential and small business customers?
Answer: Hudson Community Power will be available to all electric accounts in Hudson. At the time HCP goes live it would provide service on an initial opt-out basis to customers on Eversource default supply and would provide service on an opt-in basis to customers on competitive supply. After startup, customers can come or go from HCP as they please – usually on a monthly billing boundary.
