City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon Energy Advisory Committee, 28 Sep 2022

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From YouTube: 9.28.2022 Energy Advisory Committee Work Session

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9.28.2022 Energy Advisory Committee Work Session

A

Of the willing and.

A

I think if we could come out of tonight with uh some of our.

A

Points main main talking points that we want to communicate out to the city.

B

Of the benefits of community power, that would be good um as well as talking about.

A

The the work in stephanie's excellent plan that she gave us and maybe how we task out some of this.

A

So I think, if we do those things uh that would fill up the time that we have, I know peter samsich.

A

And I both need to go to the ward 3 neighborhood forum at 6 30 over in the senior center. So.

A

The stephanie thank you for this. This is terrific, it's uh well thought out and it's a great plan.

C

I think I'll just also note that, as kevin sent us a lot of material.

A

um The first flight of towns of putting their applications into the puc.

A

The community power coalition has secured it is in the process of securing their key vendors.

A

To manage the energy portfolio, build it and manage it to handle all the service to customers and.

A

You are about to start the proposal process for a search firm for a ceo.

A

The ceo is due to be hired early in january, probably between january and march, okay, yeah.

A

And and of course, the big news which was on most of the newspapers is that the puc.

A

Did approve all of the community power rules, so it's real it's getting real, very fast and.

A

The capacity that the coalition is building is exciting to watch um so.

A

We've got a timeline to.

A

Go out into the community in late in the year with some surveys to gauge interest in the green power.

A

Parts of the menu of options and get community feedback on the services to provide, and then.

A

um Finish our energy aggregation plan in the first quarter uh with a goal to.

A

Have it approved by the council um next year in the spring and be going out to the community.

A

Over the summer to roll the program out, if I got that right on your timeline kevin, we.

D

Would um before you would submit it to the puc and the other state groups for.

D

Approval in april right, they then have 60 days chances. Are they turn it around quicker? Because.

D

There's earlier communities that have already submitted their eap and we will mirror that.

D

um And then, at that point time, once they approve it, we are then able to get the.

D

Detailed data from the utilities around our all the data sets around all of our customers.

D

um But then the real timing is 45 days before launch right, there's a milestone. So if and it's.

D

Up in the air, whether when phase two would be- or it would be a rolling but say it was october, 1.

D

um 45 days would be then the middle of august right and then during the month of september,.

D

Would be the 30-day notification opt out opt-out window right? So you know things would get serious.

D

In terms of those backing up those milestones, so you know all of our communication will lead.

D

Lead to that um that's when we really have a lot of communication back and forth with.

A

Residents in that rollout, but that's all I mean that's a a path that many communities.

A

Have walked it's it's a familiar path. There's a series of steps to go through. I think I got.

D

Those dates right, henry didn't I that sounded right to me: yeah it all gears off. When is the.

D

The window, if it's october, 1st it's 45 days before, if it's november, 1st it's 45 days before.

D

Those those are the regulatory requirements right and that's the so it's a 45-day notice.

E

To the utility to say, we are commencing service and that will be soon after their price to beat.

E

Rates are known so then you can procure in that window and or finalize your procurement.

E

In that window and then notify the customers 30 days before right, commencing service right.

E

Right so at our last meeting we we took some time to craft our goals for the program and.

A

I think now our task is to prepare the residents of portsmouth for what is this? What's it? What's.

A

In it for me, and how will it affect my energy choices um and how does this all work.

A

um So we had the information event in june that I think was pretty successful.

A

um And uh and then stephanie went to work on this sort of comprehensive communication plan.

A

um So off the top before we get into some of our message and crafting our message just.

A

Input and thoughts you had after reading this from any of you.

A

I thought it was yeah. Well yeah. I I thought it was very comprehensive, very detailed and seems to.

F

Be identifying all the ways we can communicate, so I thought it was very well done.

F

um And it's amazing how many different options we might have to to communicate yeah. So I think.

F

Stephanie did a good job with that and it's a good I think. Maybe we need to kind of look into.

F

um Some more the details of whether or not um in some cases it might be redundant or or an.

F

Over overloading people with it, the timing is probably important. We don't want to hit.

F

Them all with everything all at once, but if we have different different times of the oh.

F

We're different months where we can identify different communications media that would be good.

F

So I think I think it's really good yeah stephanie any uh guidance for us on repetition kind. Words.

G

um Taping in the spotlight, it might be helpful as we talk through the specific messaging to kind of.

G

Pull out the action plan at the back, so that we can see what happens yeah, I think that's the heart.

A

Of it yep john allison, um I just I thought it was excellent. um I just was wondering if there are.

C

Any more um in the outreach that we could do with regard to other events that are happening in the.

C

City, like the 400 celebration, there's something that we could do there or um you know. Josh evans,.

C

Having that october, 2nd ten to one at the friction plot, you know I was wondering if we could just put.

C

Up a little qr code want to know about community power. You know something like that: okay,.

A

Those are yeah anytime, we can be in an event, that's good. It does require manpower in many cases.

B

Okay, um uh we could partner with the sustainability committee.

B

Because they're very interested in having some having an event next year to draw.

B

Attention to their their concerns around the capital uh capital improvement plan.

B

Around the climate action plan that they're working on and you could kind of set up a.

B

Joint event, so that you don't you know it's much easier to staff if you've got two full.

B

Committees of people to draw from yeah that'd be great any idea when you know first quarter.

A

Second quarter, I think they were still discussing that um peter was in that meeting as well good.

C

Action plan would be starting up in the winter, so it would probably be in the late winter.

C

I would think, okay february time frame. Okay, that's good! That's a great time for awareness.

D

So a um I think we have a lot of the messaging. You know. We've we've articulated the benefits of.

D

Of community power in different forums and our faqs and everything, so I think.

D

We have a reservoir of the messaging in pretty decent shape. It's just kind of reiterating it.

D

In different in different ways, and from my uh long ago, corporate life, they always said.

D

Well, you had to like deliver something seven times or 13 times. Repetition is.

D

Good, but so uh you know, I do think, the more more the merrier and if people feel they're.

D

Educated on this they'll maybe stop listening a little bit if they're not they'll, continue.

D

um And you know we're fortunate in a city like this, with all the resources available and the.

D

Tools to you know, leverage leverage, those um now one thing from, uh maybe maybe from a content.

D

Standpoint between now and first wave launch, we might want to like temper right uh the you.

D

Know this is a potential that we're actively investigating and- and you know, excited about.

D

um And then, once there's a successful go live, I think we can kind of flip the switch into a.

D

More concrete, you know messaging that this is, you know, very viable, it's proven and we're getting on.

D

Board we're going to be a fast follower here to the communities that went first, but we might want.

D

To be a little careful in you know, over promising between now and next uh april may, because that's.

D

One of the reasons you know we're kind of going second right is to you know, make sure this is.

D

A proven um a proven commodity, so just I think, there's probably a subtle like a little flavor to.

D

The first phase of communications between now and spring and then from go, live to when we go live.

D

Kind of pedal to the metal type of thing you know and well that's why I liked your elevator speech.

C

I thought you were just providing information about it without too many promises.

C

Yeah yeah and the the thing that that henry pointed out in the plan is that there are the.

G

Basic informational resources with the community power coalition. So if I think, if we start sharing.

G

Those as a what is this as we started to do with the january with the june event.

G

Then there's a more educated base to build on what does this mean for portsmouth, and I I think.

G

We have this conversation the last time, but I it's worth saying again: we do have a survey, a community.

G

Survey in december- and I have always found it more effective to survey a a community that.

G

Has a little bit of education than a blank slate, because once people take a position on something.

G

That they don't know about which they're nervous that they don't know about it. Then they become.

G

They embrace that position and it's much harder to move them than if you start with a little bit.

G

Of information and then do a survey about the information you've given them and then move to.

G

The next step that that helps. I also think, right now, there's such a focus on price that we might.

D

Put a little more emphasis on price and- and I don't mean to be a naysayer but a little less.

D

On the green and the climate side of it, because I think folks are are very, very attuned to price.

D

Right now and would be excited about the city exploring opportunities to help manage price.

D

So I mean if I, if I was doing like a 60 40 right now, I'd be 60 price, 40 percent green. Just I think.

D

That's I think, it'll resonate more with more people between now and the end of the winter.

D

When people are going to be getting hammered about price, you know they'll think if we're.

D

You know the the green side of it, even though it's becoming much more financially viable.

D

That that'll only tack on more costs to what they're already paying you know.

G

I, like your balance of 60 40, because I was really surprised very happily surprised with the results.

G

Of ours are on the spot surveying in june that so much of the audience was already on board with.

G

The yeah I'll spend more money to get green. That was june. That was before the august rates still.

G

um But I I do think the news hook is related to pricing, particularly since the the.

G

The idea that the governor floated about giving everybody a break break on our electric bills.

G

Did not happen and it's that the people who are eligible to qualify for energy.

G

Assistance programs will get that benefit for heat and electricity, but not across the board.

G

So that's the news focus price. I agree with you 60 40. yeah. I would just like to add something.

F

That you just said a little bit a nuanced a bit, because um while it is true that people.

F

Might be focused very much on price because we hear these price increases. It's also true that.

F

We see how volatile few prices are and that this is a world problem. You know with the ukrainian war.

F

And other worldwide issues, uh fuel prices are very volatile and if we can get some kind of stability.

F

And reduce the volatility of those prices for portsmouth residents, for example, that would that.

F

Would dampen that danger because you can go with low? I mean natural gas two years ago was cheap.

F

So if you just went for the cheap and you wanted to stick with that and you think that's going to.

F

Help you it's not because if worldwide prices go up, so will your pricing so grouping together to.

F

A group to uh um ladder or or or strategically buy, the your fuel in a way that provides you.

F

Less volatility for your more stability and predictability, I think people actually, I think.

F

They really benefit or think more of reliability and dependability that they can count on is maybe.

F

More important than just the raw price, because if I know I can budget for that, I know this is.

F

How much it is it's much easier to get by there and, at the same time, the the green.

F

Power actually has the potential for becoming cheaper as fossil fuels become more volatile.

F

And a good example of that is, if you go on to the puc website right now, wow you can get.

F

You can get all hundred percent green power for two years at only 20 cents, instead of 22 cents and.

F

It's all green for two years now people might say: oh, maybe in two years it'd be cheaper. Maybe maybe.

F

Not maybe even more expensive, we don't know, that's it. That's a bit we have to take, but if we do it.

F

Collectively, as a group that risk is mitigated because we can take other measures as well right.

D

The one thing I just um is that I have a little bit of arjuna over is this from a coalition.

D

Perspective is this investigation that the puc has has launched as a result of the high prices.

D

um That I mean they're hamstringing the utility now in terms of only having to pure power within.

D

A six-month well for six months, but they have to go out to bid just in a very narrow window. In.

E

This year they had to go out to bid in a window that, where the rights the rates were crazy, so.

D

um So then, the residents of new hampshire suffer for the next six months because of.

D

That regulation and the puc investigation that was just launched on september 6th is saying they want.

D

To investigate how the utilities are are not that they want to investigate it. They're directing the.

D

Utilities, but they want to revisit that because they know it's archaic. I think- and it's it's.

D

Hamstringing the utilities the utilities certainly can do portfolio management around energy. It's.

D

What they do I mean the coalition hasn't found some cure for uh right. You know something fancy.

D

That doesn't exist that utilities can't do it now, so there I'd be shocked if the puc doesn't come.

D

Back and ask the utilities to procure default service in a different manner, because they're.

D

Really sticking it to the residents of new hampshire right now, based upon the way that.

D

They do it, and- and the other thing they're asking, is that the utilities that they want.

D

To investigate regional procurement, so you have these large utilities that go across multiple.

D

States they only procure today by state so ever source. You know they'll they'll send out. They have.

D

A procurement for new hampshire for massachusetts or connecticut, I mean the the benefit of these.

D

Large utilities is, is scale, and you know I'd again be surprised that there wouldn't there's not some.

D

Effort for regional procurement of energy by these utilities that operate across state lines, maybe.

D

That's a little more far-fetched because they'd have to get connecticut massachusetts on board.

D

But the notion of the puc saying we want the utilities to do more of a portfolio management.

D

Approach to energy procurement to benefit new hampshire residents. I if I was a betting person.

D

I'm not that's going to be a change yeah and that will have a profound impact on the business model.

D

Of the coalition, because that's what the coalition is hanging, their hat on in terms of their.

D

Competitive advantage and how they can deliver stable rates is they're going to have a portfolio.

D

Approach to carrying power and they're saying we can beat the utilities, because they're they're.

D

Doing it in a dumb way, but then they point to the co-op which doesn't have to follow that rule and.

C

The co-op has much more stable rates, so I'm just I, as a group here, just be cognizant of this right.

D

Now it's just an investigation, so there's not going to be any decision coming out of it, but.

D

And it you know, things move slow, but I wouldn't be surprised over the next year or so that we.

D

See some substantive changes in terms of how the utilities are asked to procure default service to.

F

Be honest, I would be surprised if they do make a change, because this is a political movement right.

F

Now they have to show that they're doing something, but, like you said why, wouldn't they do it, though,.

D

Why why do they well, there's always interests who, like the status quo and uh it you know the utility.

F

Is going to start saying? Oh my gosh. If we change all this, you know how much more that's going to.

F

Cost us and it's going to go on there. Oh we're going to ask you guys to reimburse us for all.

F

The changes we have to make- and you know if you get rid of that- that procurement window, because.

F

That is all by puc decree um there there's going to be other opportunities for changes that some.

F

People might want some people might not want so so I think that if we, if you think we're going.

F

To get any change within a year, I think you're very optimistic, maybe two years uh and uh but.

F

I can see it's a good idea. However, I just don't think that it's a serious attempt. You know when.

F

They say they're investigating, they know what they were going. It was going on all the time. Everyone.

F

Was happy with it because it was tbd during 20 years of sleepiness in terms of the markets and.

D

They can't justify it now they just can't no, but but you know everybody liked it and let me just.

F

Say one other thing: I spoke to stephen kaminsky, who is the new hampshire co-op? Was he president.

F

Director or something like that at the offshore wind conference yesterday uh and I was talking.

F

To him about how they're doing with their pricing and everything- and he was saying you know um the.

F

Aggregation part having a lot of customers and a lot of demand that you could go out to bid for.

F

Doesn't work as well as one thinks you don't really get. They don't get as good a price just.

F

Because they have a lot of customers, their main key is this laddering portfolio thing that they.

F

Can procure over time just like you would like, if you ladder cds, for example, to get the best return.

F

In a stable situation, they ladder their purchases of energy this way, so that, instead of every six.

F

Months, you know, like the utilities have to go out, they don't have to do that. They can continuously.

F

Procure as they see good opportunities coming along and you know if they lock in something.

F

Like I locked in for myself for two years for six and a half cents last summer, which was just.

F

A coincidence, but if you can lock in a couple of these things saying when you average it out.

F

It's going to be a better rate than what the utilities have because of their restrictions, so.

F

um But that restriction is artificial. Oh yeah! It's well! You know political too. I think because you.

F

Know the the utilities have, and you probably know us very well- they have embedded a couple other.

F

Ish, smaller expenses, uh low incomes, low income subsidies, the reggie program, all this stuff, when.

F

You start changing that. That's all going to come unwrapped and everyone's going to say. Well, let's.

F

Change this as well: let's change that as well, and that's why I think, if anything is going to.

F

Happen: it's going to be a long process and who knows? By that time natural gas prices go down.

F

And they say hey, you know the problem went away well, the minute I'm getting the minute.

D

Yeah I just wanted to this is yeah. I know you're right, it's a real, it is regulatory. You know open.

D

Docket and they were very clear in terms of the scope they want to review and- and I you know just.

D

From my background and perspective, the utilities could turn a switch in a second and do portfolio.

D

Management right so yeah when kevin sent me that I was concerned, because it could mean a.

A

Big change, henry any insights in the weather. I I did read the initial comments of the parties.

E

The other day- and I think I sort of I guess it's maybe between where the discussion has been but.

E

uh Eversource end units will both suggested that a multi-state procurement would not be feasible.

E

Because of the complexities of trying to meet for the potential necessity to change laws in states.

E

To achieve that, I think there was sort of some. I learned a little bit about how there's a nuanced.

E

Difference in massachusetts and connecticut, that is gotten slightly more favorable pricing, so I.

E

Think there could be some modest change over time. I don't think that it would be quickly implemented.

E

But my sort of my initial readathon of the end of the initial comments was uh caution in I.

E

Guess a lack of clarity on what exactly the pc was trying to achieve and caution in doing any kind of.

E

Changes without having real, serious clarity on what exactly they were, they were going for so.

E

I think it could happen, but I think it would take time right, yeah and I don't think it would be wild.

E

West portfolio management do sort of have at it as you see fit. I think it would they're still going.

E

To remain some form of regulated procurement, just as there is in connecticut and massachusetts that.

E

Might be slightly more cost effective, but not the same. Free market, competitive supplier type.

E

Portfolio management yeah, so at the end of the day I do feel I felt safe looking at this, that.

A

The coalition would be the first datewide portfolio procurement, they'd, be first to market.

A

With that, you know, and and these utilities might come along in a year or two- um I also looked at it.

A

And said this is competition, you know, just as the coalition is is becoming real. The utilities are.

A

Realizing they're, they are hamstrung. No, this wasn't the utilities. This is the regulators.

D

Utilities could care less because they're just if they paid attention they pass it on for 10 cents.

B

It's just a matter of, I think they do want. They would like to make it lower cost if they could.

E

They don't have a strong motivation, but well there they take a hit from a customer sat standpoint.

D

Because people view, even though it's the default services regulate it and they're just passing it.

D

Through when rates go from 11 to 22 cents, it hits their jd power ratings, et cetera, et cetera, but.

D

um And so it's not a competitive issue. I just think they. You know, there's no rationale for why.

D

Rates have to go from 11 cents on july, 30th to 22 cents. On august 1st right, it's all dictated.

D

By an archaic procurement process in the state of new hampshire right, there's actually already.

E

Been one small modification, so unitil just uh was approved for eight months of power. Instead.

E

Of the typical six months and it's a 26 cent rate, so it's the highest of any, but they wanted to add.

E

On a couple summer months, because apparently it would have been higher if they didn't do.

E

That so there already has been a modification in some small way. Races are crazy, yeah with all.

A

That as background and no doubt three months from now, there'll be new developments, but.

A

Let's just walk through our schedule here. First up in october, can I make? Can I make an overarching.

E

Comment, I just I feel like I had a thought before we um earlier, but just always in one.

E

I think there's I. I appreciate that there's some sort of rye newcastle, some neighboring.

E

Communities listed throughout this that I think we'll get to, but I do just want to note that for.

E

Example, I guess there's exeter rye and durham in the seacoast that are potentially wave one then.

E

There's portsmouth dover and new market that are potentially wave two. uh Those other communities.

E

Are doing a similar process to what you're doing right now in terms of public engagement planning.

E

Specifically, I'm joining exeter early mid-october to have a similar type of conversation and there.

E

Has been some early discussion of what if we had some sort of regional gathering, I don't think the.

E

Details of the format have been worked out, but each community may sort of individually plan.

E

Public engagement, maybe there's an opportunity to get some of the communities together. It could be.

E

You know formal program or agenda meeting. It could be some social component to it. I'm not sure just.

E

Yet, but trying to from that have a have a clear understanding of public engagement plans in each.

E

Community, but also where are the regional benefits, where we can sort of have alignment and and share.

E

Resources, so that's something the coalition is thinking about. Yeah I mean you mean a regional.

A

Invite the public type of event or a regional, just we gather to share, I think, potentially.

E

Well, I was thinking the former, but I think there's room for both. I think there's like a.

E

Strategy, internal get to know one another and and swap lessons and right, and then I think.

E

um I think the idea of a multi-community regional public event, that's an interesting.

E

Idea, yeah that could have some like: oh, isn't that what we were proposing with rye in october.

C

Although that isn't specifically the coalition, it's just an opportunity.

G

There, where we're, sharing with newcastle and rye, but to that end, I do think it would be.

G

Helpful, just as we've been putting out flyers about that event at things like.

G

Farmers market, if we can quickly put together the basics of what the coalition is all about.

G

That is a generic piece, and that may well exist that we have in time for that november event. But.

G

That we also start getting out at farmers markets between now and november 3rd yeah. I.

G

Think I mean that's flyer that went in the water bill is a really nice. It kind of hits hits most.

D

Of the bases, I think pretty well, so, if we just do, it was less on the coalition in that it was.

D

More around community power, but I think that's a good place, yeah yeah, so going into the timeline.

A

The idea of getting out into the public settings like this or is really important. You can even be.

B

Things where we're not sharing as much information as we're doing raising awareness like the holiday.

B

Parade in portsmouth what, if community, portsmouth community power had a float or something right.

B

And then people are like what is that? You know, because there were just a lot of people there.

B

And then they're asking questions. What is this so sometimes it's just about seeing.

B

It once thinking about it, yeah halloween, for it there you go. No, that's not well.

A

As everyone need an idea, anybody remember ready kilowatt, oh yeah, that was a classic.

D

Yeah but all the utilities had that, for you know across the country, it's fun to.

A

Resurrect a portsmouth community power ready, okay, yeah, I don't remember it yeah, I think that's the circuit riders, maybe yeah.

C

It's got to be green power in there yeah. That's true, yeah um they're, a cpc logo that has been.

G

Adapted by different communities so that we can customize it that it's a consistent visual. But we.

G

Customize it with portsmouth. Thank you for asking that question. There is uh budget for development.

E

Of community specific logos- and um I think, we're sort of hoping to to go down that road, this fall.

E

So yes, the answer is yes, there are lebanon, harrisville and exeter sort of piloted this.

E

Adaptation of the community power logo- there's one logo developer. That's done this they're all.

E

Aligned in certain ways, but they can be customized with a specific icon or image or whatever the.

E

Graphic you want to adapt and the colors you want to adapt for portsmouth. So I think it'd be great.

E

To have a little, maybe mini workshop or pick a couple members of the committee to say we're gonna.

E

Brainstorm some ideas to say: here's what we'd like our icon to be, and I can work with you on that and.

E

Then we can bring that through the coalitions um in the meantime. There's us you know we have.

D

Portsmouth has its logo and the coalition has its right, so we can at least which I think is what.

G

We did on those side by side. You know yeah yeah until there's one um so looking at the timeline.

A

Let's just walk through it a little bit and think about the messaging.

A

September is all but con, but october stephanie you'd slated.

A

Let's get some newspaper and media coverage, um I think I might be the logical person to.

A

Approach, my former colleagues, but I do think, there's a there's a great hook since so many.

A

Well, there's two big hooks: first everybody's seeing huge increases in their power, so I think.

A

Any editor with assault would say what what does community power bring to the table for this and.

A

Then it's a regional story, so to me it would make sense for for the local paper to look at sunday.

A

When their coverage is regional because you've got rise, part of that coverage, exeter is part of that.

A

Coverage and you could do a takeout story on where is community power now and you know, I'd be happy.

A

To go talk with howard yeah and, as we were just talking about the the price as winter comes on.

G

um As people start actually looking at the bills that they started getting as of september 1st,.

G

um That is the news hook timeliness. We also have this collaborative event in november, so an op-ed.

G

From you in the middle of october, that you know it's, I just thought about daylight savings time.

G

But no, I don't want to wait till november 4th. I want to do it in october. No I'm happy to do.

A

That so yeah, I think that timing is perfect again just the base line of what is this right and why.

G

Is why should you read this op-ed at this moment that electric prices are going up and it's getting.

G

Dark out early yeah, I think, um before we're going to write something, how does this land with you.

A

Do you think it would land um electricity prices are skyrocketing, but local communities.

A

Can empower themselves to have a voice and a choice to see if they can get more stable rates.

A

Something like that, it seems like recently the herald has been running something on climate or.

G

It's a u.s site every week. Today's series and I like the letter that you wrote oh yeah,.

A

um And then, if, if they move ahead of jeff, mcmenemy or ian starts writing something.

A

I'm going to give them all of your names, as could many members sure, uh so we ought to think about.

A

um What our main talking points would be uh to me: it's the local empowerment, it's cheaper.

A

You know this is a way to have cheaper, more stable rates, uh greener and less volatile.

A

I think that some of the back end stuff about what is portfolio management and what is.

A

um You know aggregation plans and puc and all that we we know all that, but.

A

In terms of benefits to the the little guy at the end of the street, uh he gets a voice.

A

uh He gets an easy way to be part of a a large buying block. He gets to choose green power if.

A

If he wants it, she he gets lower rates and less volatility. I think he always shouldn't emphasize.

F

Also that it's voluntary right, no one's going to be forced to do this if they don't want to.

A

Yep that it's it's their choice, you can always opt out and I can send out again and allison mentioned.

D

At the the notes- because it was kind of that very high level when I met with the city of manchester.

D

The gang um kind of going over the the benefits of community power yeah, you.

A

Had it down to about four paragraphs yeah, so it's just I'll send that again, just in case I.

G

Think that's what I lifted directly for the key messages: okay page whatever. That is too.

F

It's a the portsmouth high school ecology club. I think you mentioned that in your in your.

F

Manuscript here too, I think it's really important to get young people involved because they're.

F

Probably the most enthusiastic and and uh and they have influence over their parents- okay, because.

F

You know if they're gung-ho for something their parents are going to have a hard time backing them.

F

Off uh so I think, uh and they are interested in these issues- climate change and energy efficiency.

F

And they give a little energy and they they go to work and they yeah yeah. So I know they.

F

Were at the at the farmers market a couple of weekends ago? Oh so yeah! We should brief them.

G

G

Places you want me to see if I can meet with them, get a meeting with.

A

Them in october yeah I mean maybe share the communications plan with them and and say.

G

You can yeah, would you like to be involved, and how would you like to do that and then.

G

We can kind of channel the energies with the climate action plan as well right, yeah and.

C

They have a new leader there, chemicals, you left, but they have a new person. Tom.

A

That's something you want to say: oh no, no. I agree. I think it's a great idea, yeah well, they're.

A

They're very energetic and when they, when they get behind something, um we've seen them, and I think we.

D

Have the opportunity to discussing community power, but as the communications unfold over the months.

D

Maybe talk a little bit more about the coalition. You know kind of a very high level about what the.

D

The community coalition, it is and then a little more detail, a little more detail to start to make.

D

That transition from generic community power to a very tangible entity in the in the coalition right.

D

You know that's going to have a ceo and a you know, funding and filters and stuff. Well, here's another.

F

Idea that I ran into another organization where we had our monthly meeting- and I just mentioned this.

F

The power community idea and so forth and it was kind of mirrorless silence until after the meeting.

F

Somebody came up to me and said: what is this all about now? This is a local organization here.

F

In portsmouth right, so what I'm thinking is, we all might belong to various civic groups in town.

F

And it would be an opportunity to say to whoever runs the organization you.

F

Know would you give me five minutes at one of your next meetings to talk to people about this.

F

If you're a member any way of the organization, it's no big deal and and it's something new that.

F

They might be willing to accommodate and that's another way of person-to-person communications.

F

From somebody who's one of your members in your group, you know so it's worth looking considering.

F

How many organizations you might belong in that that might be willing to? You know lions club, the.

F

Kiwanis, whatever rotary rover rotary yeah, so all those groups yeah one of the reasons.

G

I was asking about the logo is that I can easily start a little block in the city newsletter twice.

G

A week that has the logo so that people are seeing that with a slightly different message.

G

And then, by the time we do all of this, this grassroots, literally building through october.

G

Or november, then, when we do a community survey, they, hopefully these these basic four messages.

G

Have been percolating enough that people can feel informed enough to participate in a survey.

G

Then you have a baseline for when we do the next phase of the specific coalition stuff.

C

Right and it builds on itself, I'd love it if we, if we did that in the newsletter regularly and.

A

If that were pushed out um that logo and that little update were pushed out on social as well.

A

um Hand in hand if it's in the newsletter, it goes on social, exactly exactly.

A

Looking into november, we have our event with rye on new hampshire saves.

A

um I think we just take some air time at that and have those those watermel flyers, yeah and.

A

Have those wires which will benefit them as well, because they're the same messages.

A

D

It's been a bit with those, so there might be even some refreshing to those into the water bill. Flyer.

D

Yeah, you know, I said, look at it, but so when you have to take the all that information about 3s art.

C

Space off the right date of that yeah yeah, maybe I think there's another meeting of the scope on the.

G

13Th of october yep, we, if we can update, make any edits then by then or finalize them on that date.

G

Then I can get them printed in time for do you need the file from becca? No, I haven't okay, because.

G

We ended up sharing it. Yes, I remember that. Did you send that back around to be at it great thanks.

D

Is there a small business community organization in the city that might.

D

Be on default service and not be with competitive supply that.

D

Has a monthly luncheon or is there? Is there any sort of organization in the city there's not? I.

A

Mean there's the chamber yeah, the chamber is 80 small businesses, important variety.

G

Of business, networking kinds of events seems like an organization.

D

That would be helpful to get in front of mm-hmm.

A

Yes, what do you think the best way into the chamber is stephanie talk to ben directly, yeah.

G

A briefing kind of like the echo club, but give whoever he thinks should be, should be there to.

G

Hear the message in a small meeting at their conference room and explain what it is that.

G

This is all about and ask him what would be the best venues. Okay, we have like, like boilerplate.

D

Presentations right that could be used, that we could doctor yes and make it portsmouth.

D

Feel to it, but has all the key messages: yeah, there's sort of like a coalition two-pager.

E

There's uh a short two-pager customizable template for in any community there's slide.

E

Deck visual materials, so I can maybe try to put a little package together to email up because.

E

It's it is a little disparate um yeah yeah, so anybody have a good connection with ben venkamp.

B

Great you can tag team, I'm happy to help you, okay or you're perfectly capable of doing it.

B

I know I'm I'm happy to and I want to bring um councilor bagley into the loop because he's the.

B

Council rep for the chamber, so I just want to make sure he's aware of it. That'd be good yeah, yeah.

A

And you know, let's ask ben uh we'll brief you, but how do we get it out to the membership? Okay.

A

um And because one thing to just keep on the you know side poster board, the chamber does.

G

Specialized e-blasts on a the basic rule is any non-profit can get an exclusive email messaging.

G

Once a year but they're flexible and I think ben would be recommending that as some one of.

G

The first things he could do just do a simple e-blast that explains what this is all about.

G

What community power is well until probably mid next year, the coalitions and non-profits.

G

Yeah so and it's I don't know, but the city is too yeah.

C

Very much so, no, I think the city is the operative entity. Yeah.

A

That'd be great if we could target november for that.

A

There's a lot of chamber gatherings in november and they have their big event.

A

uh At the sharon and every which I think my art message would be deluded unless we.

A

Have a string of holidays people are drinking wine and celebrating yeah.

E

Quick question so when some of these notices go out, is it accompanied by a contact x for questions.

E

Or comments, and where does that go wherever you want it to so you can you essentially give and.

G

We will design any of our messages to have a call to action wherever the committee wants it to go.

E

Okay, it doesn't have to go back to the chamber. It comes directly to whomever.

A

Well, certainly, we want to direct them to the web page right, but they can contact me if they want.

A

I love to talk about community power, so I could um work something up for.

G

That october meeting as well just so, we can get it in the rotation because I'm not sure.

G

Who else is in the queue for chamber messaging, but I will find that out. Okay, that'd be great, john.

F

I've got to excuse myself because I got to help set up for the city-wide neighborhood committee at.

F

The senior center, which I believe you're attending as well. Yes, it's only 15 minutes away. I know, but.

F

I promised I would help set it down for you I'll see you there take care of you yep. Thank you, peter.

A

um That's great if we can bring the chamber in in november.

A

That builds some awareness. We've got some awareness at the button-up event.

A

December we're thinking, survey, public hearing.

A

Public hearing right isn't that our sequence public hearing in january, the um the note here.

G

In december is to start planning it so that we're ready to send it out. But I think by the time of.

G

The november meeting of this committee we'll have enough feedback from the other things we've done.

G

To figure out what you want for the community survey and have that.

G

Domain seems like we want to if we're doing something in the newspaper in october,.

D

It would be helpful to kind of you know, continue to try to repeat that.

D

um Maybe not monthly, but at least in december, in advance of the public hearing in january. Yes,.

G

So another splash, while the surveys yeah before the survey, is getting up. Yes, yeah. That could be.

A

Another op-ed for sure yeah, just uh maybe if we tried to do two of them during the fourth quarter,.

D

And have that second one, you know reasonably close to whenever we're going to do the public hearing.

D

Which you know maybe it's mid-january yeah and I I we talked last time about.

G

um Anything we do in december should be early december because otherwise it gets lost.

G

Is probably the first week of december has to be yeah yeah um right after we have the float.

G

And holiday park, yes, absolutely with ready a green ready kilowatt. Well, he's red and green.

A

A

So we can pencil in an op-ed uh about the survey.

A

Allison, you have great survey questions you developed for us.

A

Last time would you like to take this one off sure, um and uh I think we can look at.

A

What we did on slido in the june event, and also what keen did remember way back when.

A

We did our discovery process and learned about keen survey. I thought that was an effective one.

A

um I did talk to the city manager and say you know: it'd be really nice to get.

A

Broad coverage for the energy survey in december would you consider mailing and and.

A

Even though that costs some money and she's willing to consider that so.

A

She said: there's money we could find money. So I take a reader word on that.

A

But peter rice base, peter rice, is he's tighter than he's really tight.

G

Because everything's on the dpw budget right so.

G

um We've had really good results with qr codes. Lately I think we talked about that before so.

G

I think there are always people in the community who don't have internet access, so there's always a.

G

Paper component, but I think you probably want most of your survey being done through surveymonkey or.

G

Or mailchimp, or you know online, so that we aren't sitting there with piles of paper tabulating.

A

Right, no, I I think the appropriate method would be postcard with a qr code and a.

A

Description of the survey- um and yes, there are the herald white houses of the world.

A

Who don't have email? We have to think about them and have some plan.

A

But I think where I come from on the survey is the more people who get a postcard and engage with.

A

It the more people who are then really on the edge of their seats, saying what happens next. With this.

G

Because I want to get the results right.

B

We could always include a phone number for someone to call that, if they're uncomfortable, completing.

B

A survey online and you'd like a paper copy, you can call this number or we could leave them at.

G

The library I mean exactly those who are online are in city hall or at the library or at the.

G

Senior center frequently so if we have copies of it there, those three places that's helpful with.

G

A poster version of the postcards of people right nowhere to look for it. Yes, you know, or.

A

The phone number- the phone number- is work, you know and then the mcintyre survey those went to.

A

um City managers, assistance- and that was a busy couple of days.

A

But I like the library option on the senior center.

D

And just the fact of doing the survey I mean you're only going to get so many people completing.

D

Them and you're going to get some information out of that, but just the marketing around the.

D

Fact that you're doing a survey itself is a gets. The word out right and the concept of community.

D

Power just gets in folks heads even if they don't participate in completing the survey right. You.

C

Know very true right and you get a you know before taking the survey you get a couple of paragraphs.

A

Of context, which you know you got a really engaged person at that moment who may have ignored all.

A

The buzz around them and and then said, but now I want to read this because I want to do the survey.

A

um So that gets us into december.

A

um And then january we start having a public hearings, so I I take it stephanie youth.

A

Saying, let's have a community forum prior to the public hearing concept.

G

S, I think so yeah we were saying and inform and then give people a chance to to pine to.

A

You're right because the more we the more we take care of the back and forth and tug and pull at.

A

That forum right, the smoother the council meeting hearing would be now. I like that. That's good.

D

And there's probably some form of communication after that first hearing.

D

Based upon what comes out of it, that we would do something in february.

D

In advance of the second public hearing, yes, there's any learnings that came out of the.

D

First one sure, and whatever is the latest news from the coalition, that it becomes.

G

That's the dual message and I put press release and calendar listings and things.

G

Like that in the tools column, but it really is in the messaging column as well, so I think a.

G

Press release every month just to keep people updated about the results of our most recent.

G

Effort and what's coming and what's going on with the coalition, all three of those are news.

G

um They're we're not just saying the same thing yeah, and I was also going to uh do. Council updates.

A

Under my name on the agenda, I was going to do when the 23rd is our second meeting of october.

D

Then once they know the price for the communities they're going, live.

D

In phase one assuming they're all using the same option, rate options.

D

I mean it would be a great piece of news to send out that here's, what the the rate is for lebanon.

C

Compared to what they're, paying in liberty default service right now in the city of lebanon, I mean.

D

It starts to become real that these folks are going live in april and going to be paying right.

D

18 cents, instead of 22 cents right from a coalition sort of message, calendar point of.

E

View right in line with this october is hopefully announcing the successful approval of contracts.

E

With a number of the vendors december eversource price price to be will be known, so here's whatever.

E

Sources rates are community, power is coming and maybe we can beat it february. Maybe the.

E

Coalition's price it starts to get known so february is look. We actually have the concrete.

E

Numbers and then the commencement of service is march for that first wave of community. So that's.

E

Kind of the message calendar there that may fit in with some of what portsmouth is communicating.

A

Do we have any visibility into when we would know menu options.

A

Or will those that would be non-standing as soon as february, maybe march, okay,.

E

um And that it may not be perfectly standard across the members, but I think it will be.

E

Pretty consistent for this first wave yeah, we don't know yet and the one firm that they.

D

Hired send analytics they're one of within the scope of their contract is rate setting.

D

So they'll be working with the coalition to help set rates with the various communities.

D

And they've talked about keeping it consistent or simple across communities, at least for go, live.

D

As opposed to the eight communities having you know, all these different permutations of rates.

A

Yeah I mean if we could take the survey, results and say this is what you said. You were interested.

A

In buying and then 30 days later say, these are the menu options we envision in response to that yeah.

A

Here's an actual example of the eight towns that are going live and he right in april, in terms of.

D

What their offerings are right and we envision something similar yeah yeah, so that timing is.

A

Would appear to work well, but things can change as we know. um Well that takes us up through january.

A

um I'm willing to plan february march and april a little later than september,.

A

How about you guys, but yeah I mean that time frame is all going to be about the hearings.

D

And finalizing our eap and getting an eap in front of the approved by the.

D

um Council right and I would assume we'd- be able, whatever we file with.

D

The puc at that point we could make available to the public.

D

In this city to if you're, having trouble sleeping at night here- and you want to read our eap.

G

I think we have everything to date on the web page and we've got as as.

G

The counselors now we have an exhaustive encyclopedia of information on the website.

G

Which prompts our residents to always say they can never find what they're looking.

C

Yeah um we do try to make it easier.

A

So eap, submitted to city council in march is our current timeline yeah and then that's what I put.

D

Into the latest, I rev this thing. Thank you, um yeah, that's what I have here and try to kind of.

D

Line it up with where we are right and yeah, so it was eap, approved by the council in march and then.

D

To the puc you know, maybe in march, but I put april right- you are a keeper of our.

A

Timeline and the only one who knows how to put these checks in the little boxes.

A

um And also as part of the technical review, I think too, henry of our eap right by the coalition.

D

Thank you and um generally, if there's not much deviation from the template, that's pretty quick.

E

And easy so, but yes, okay right, so we put it, it gets two approvals in march. Well, it's you and.

A

Right, the council: it's sort of an informal check, you're good, to go from the coalition right yeah.

E

And then I guess technically it's an adoption by the council and then an approval by the.

E

Public utility, commission yeah so I'll just recap: some of the things we've been hearing tonight.

A

Next up in october, I'm going to uh see if we can get an article in smg.

A

And also I'm on tap for an op-ed.

A

Then I thought that was in december no, the op-ed's in the second one in december, some kind.

A

Of uh well, I think stephanie's got an interview on the importance of pcp and we talked about.

A

um The key messaging in that local empowerment, lower cost, greener energy.

A

Less volatility.

A

And uh then we have.

A

November, oh I'm sorry we were going to reach out to the ego club in october. I can do that.

A

Start putting it in with a logo yeah, I think some some of our action items are get going.

E

On that logo, so we'll follow up with sort of process on getting input into what that.

E

Would be and then the other thing is sort of message packet, documentation.

E

Here's what the existing messages and right materials the coalition has to send that out.

A

um November we've got the button up event we'll take some air time there.

A

We'll have the flyers from the water bill as our messaging.

A

And kate, you were going to talk to the chamber and ben around something in november. Yes,.

A

Henry, if there's any kind of regional gathering, if it's brewing.

A

Keep you posted as we come down the stretch into q4.

E

And maybe just on that is there a general sense from this group.

E

Of what would be useful in terms of like do you want to network with the.

E

Other towns, or do you want to sit down and have a you know, discussion about.

E

Regional public engagement coordination a little more structured, the mix. This might not.

E

Be the perfect time to really flesh that out, but I guess I'm curious what first thoughts would be.

E

um We can maybe come back with a more important lessons learned.

C

Lessons learned, I think, I think that's.

G

Yeah and just hearing what each other are doing for outreach, I mean henry you.

G

Were talking about sharing some of this with other communities, but for us to let our our.

G

Colleagues know what we have planned and hear what they have planned. It becomes collaborative.

G

Instead of operating on silos, yeah, it's more brainstorming, I was going to see aligning our.

D

Messaging because none of this communication stops at the city border, but I think the messaging is.

D

Is pretty generic, but it would be good to make sure that we're our messaging is reasonably in.

D

Sync right because you know whatever you're putting into the newspaper, is going to be red.

D

And rye right, yeah, well, yeah and in the sense exeter is going to be first, it's.

B

The same exit, random paper, yeah I mean exeter- is going to be kind of the big customer nope.

A

um Yes, so consistency would you ever want to do a joint op-ed with other community leaders.

C

In other towns to show that this is not just a local thing, but it's a that there's a lot of.

C

Communities that are behind it just to be more explicit.

A

Sure um who, if we can get one of our partners in another town, to draft it good topic for.

E

That regional meeting yeah yeah, I'm happy. I have a friend on the slack board in exeter, so I'm willing.

B

To ask um julie gilman if she knows who she'd be great she's on the coalition board exactly so, and.

B

She was one of my neighbors so yeah, maybe her kids babysit, my kids, so we know each other pretty well.

D

Just as a channel two might be nice like, if we were to someone were to interview you, john.

D

You know with some series of eight can questions or whatever videotaped.

D

And and then we have the capability to do a videotaped like uh q, a with someone.

C

That doesn't figure that out, I think yeah. We definitely link it to the website or whatever we.

C

Have a couple: people here are good at videos, community, radio, I'm sure, larry and oh sure,.

G

Peter's wife would be happy to interview yes, um they're, not fashionable. I.

G

Ron position on city council: none of us can do this and be shrinking violence.

A

um No december uh allison you're gonna be our survey, drafter, yep and I'll I'll get those.

C

Out as soon as I get it, okay, no rush um and we talked about shortage publicizing. The survey.

A

With an op-ed and I'm happy to do that, this survey is coming to you in your mailbox. If that's how we.

A

End up doing it and if we can do a a postcard with a qr code, I think that gives us massive response.

A

It, let's put it this way: everybody gets a chance to participate, as opposed to people.

A

Saying nobody told me about it: they'll still says tell them all the ways we've added up there right.

A

Hard copy at the library- um and that takes us into our first well, we have a community power forum.

A

In january, prior to the public hearing and then we're into the creation of the final eap with the.

A

Public hearing be right here: is that typically the way it would be part of a council meeting.

A

So that's great, thank you all and just before the I sent out the rfp that we're going out to.

D

A search firm for ceo, but if any of you in your networks are familiar with anybody who's, you.

D

Think would be a wonderful candidate. um Ultimately, they'll have to get funneled through the search.

D

Firm that we hire but um there's we're as the coalition is going to start to get the the job.

D

Description out into various networks that people have a few notes to try to stir up some interest.

D

And you know we'll have to again funnel them through the search firm to you know, pay the.

D

Ultimately, the search fee and everything, but just want to mention that if you're.

D

Looking at it and you're in your networks, if you know people that are, you think would be.

D

Good at this is it's too bad april salas lives. Half the year in new orleans.

A

I always liked her definitely has qualifications yeah but uh yeah. So.

D

Great, the coalition definitely needs a ceo in place because it's you know it's run by.

D

The the board and the you know through clifton and others, it's we're at a point now, where it'll be.

D

Really helpful to get a leader in the organization, yes, and any of us have been on a board and the.

A

Board has had to step in yeah on day to day knows that, so that can only go so yeah. So it's exciting.

D

That we're at that point now getting that out today was okay. Thank you for your help. Yeah.

A

Okay, we'll see everybody in the 13th of october.

A

Thank you. Okay, it's very helpful. Thank you yeah. This is a nice craft course.