City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire Mayor's Blue Ribbon Energy Advisory Committee, 5 May 2022

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From YouTube: 5.5.2022 Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee Work Session

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5.5.2022 Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee Work Session

A

Who's in the room, I can't really see we have rebecca. Why don't we go around? I'm I'm here, go.

B

Around stephanie c cord public information officer, ramon, stephanie, counselor, hi, counselor, hi, allison.

C

It's rebecca great, hey folks, uh kevin's, here: okay and tom rooney hi john hi allison, hey tom hi tom.

A

Okay, well, um I just wanted us to get together to go over the.

A

Lesson tanner drafted and uh think about web page information to go with that.

A

My hope was that when we meet next week, we could vote to move ahead with the survey. If we can.

A

Finalize it in the intervening period and um and then we can get the copy in.

A

Stephanie, because we need to add that, in um by the middle of the month, right, correct.

A

Okay, um and uh so I think, on our agenda first, we had an update from kevin on cbcmh and then.

A

I'll update you, on my conversation with uh all the members of the board. Of course, ms.

A

Smart growth, very enthusiastic partners um ready to go on the event and choose by the night. So.

A

Kevin, why don't you get this off sure and I um I do have a little handout here. I don't know.

D

John, what I sent you last night did that make it to the folks or not yeah the the cpc and h.

D

Update, yes, that and the lebanon community power both went out excellent john set those up great.

B

I'm not I'm not sure I got an update. I did get the uh surveys from durham and walpole yeah. I set.

D

Those separately to everybody yesterday afternoon and then last night I just I had whipped together.

D

A couple things to uh to john that uh I guess some of you received the yeah. I didn't get that.

E

Yeah, I don't think I got that either okay. Well, I have handouts here so for what it's yeah um on the.

A

Website for this meeting, so, okay, so maybe that's where I took it: okay and allison. If you don't.

D

Have it I'm sorry, I can send it to you after the meeting as well a hard copy. Okay, that'd, be fine.

D

So I'll make this brief, but I just uh um there's just a one pager here.

C

Peter, do you want peter? Do you have a point? uh I think I have it right here. This one right, yeah, yep,.

B

Yep, okay, um so just a real. You know: 50 000 foot snapshot from a cp uh cnh perspective. We had our.

D

uh The annual meeting of of the organization was april 21st up in webster new hampshire.

D

And uh councillor tabor peter rice and myself uh did attend and and while the the.

D

The agenda was extensive, a couple just takeaways. It was exciting that portsmouth was uh installed.

D

And recognized as the I think, 19th member of the organization and the board took a vote and.

D

And was happy to have us, as well as myself and peter being brought on board. As as.

D

Representatives of portsmouth to the to the organization um and the other just highlight.

D

Is uh clifton below who had, I think was the vice chair is now the chair of the organization.

D

So he is officially in that in that role um I think the vice chair at this point is chris parker.

D

From um from dover, I think the deputy city manager, over and over, I had an opportunity to meet chris.

D

Yesterday um so that was the annual meeting um I'd say the the probably the the biggest.

D

Thing in in flight right now, as the organization approved at that meeting and sent out on the 25th.

D

Their request for proposal for a whole slew of services to support the organization, because.

D

You know the vast majority of this organization is going to be sourced and and they're getting third.

D

Third-Party services to uh uh to kind of run the gamut of of what it's necessary to um to operate.

D

And and there's going to be more of a skeleton crew from a staff, internal staffing perspective.

D

I included on the page here the kind of the four major segments of the request for proposal.

D

And if you're so inclined and maybe having a difficult sleeping, it is.

D

You can go to their website and it's on their landing page and you can click on it.

D

And look at the document, it's 50 or so pages and there's a number of.

D

Additional supporting documents, like their business plan, et cetera, that are there.

D

But it's a comprehensive document that the group had been working on for some some period of time.

D

And at the board meeting it was approved and released on the 25th to a whole bunch of vendors.

D

That operate in this space and they had already done a request. An rfi request for information.

D

Some number of months ago, and so they had already kind of generated interest in the market in terms.

D

Of that, this rfp was going to be forthcoming. um So on the page here I just broke out the.

D

The kind of the four major segments of of services that they're looking to obtain.

D

And one is in a bucket called organizational development, and this is really in many ways.

D

Kind of putting together the structure of their operation- um and you know from.

D

Opera policies and procedures to services to help with the preparation of their budget.

D

Cost sharing agreement, all sorts of things that they've been working on, but they're also looking.

D

For these vendors to comment on them and perhaps come forth with other solutions or other other.

D

Approaches then there's a segment of the rfp. That's all about recruiting new members to.

D

To the coalition and getting support to make that happen, you know they've been.

D

Doing it now for the past year, or so with uh you know, samuel, golding and and henry.

D

And clifton and so forth, but they are looking to bring in uh resources that would really.

D

Oil, this process and bring resources to bear that they can have a repeatable process going.

D

Across the state of new hampshire and bringing on new new members and in kind of an organized.

D

Efficient manner um and then there's a whole segment that- um and I you know some of the things.

D

We're interested in here just with the area I was just talking about around their marketing, their branding, developing their web presence um and and so forth. Then there's an area around.

D

All the support services to launch for the communities to go live, um and I I mentioned.

D

A little bit further in the document here, their tenant of go live right. Now is april of.

D

2023 for the communities that are ready to go at that point in time, but they have they're looking.

D

For services, you know from implementation, planning, regulatory compliance, etcetera.

D

How to go about setting the rates for the communities that are participating in the.

D

Coalition, so that's all part of a bucket of services called uh um launching the programs.

D

And then I'd say the real, where the rubber hits the road is in the last segment. This is their kind.

D

Of the operational services to run the the place on a day-to-day basis on a going forward basis.

D

And you know you can you can read through those? I did highlight the one, that's you know, probably the.

D

Most important and the most complex is their whole. All the the activity, that's around securing power.

D

Forecasting what the power needs are going to be for the community securing that.

D

And managing that portfolio on a real-time basis. Internally, with this with this model- and I.

D

I astrict and footnoted below at the bottom of the page kind of the the activities that are.

D

Within that bucket and any of the areas that I've boxed out here, there's a whole bunch of like sub.

D

Activities that are in those- but I just tried to uh you, know, give you the high level snapshot.

D

um So this is the the the document is is, and they recognize kind of from a to z. They need to stand.

D

Up this operation, it's largely from you know third-party third-party support with a handful.

D

Of uh folks internally, the responses are due to the rfp on june 15th and then between now and june,.

D

They're responding to questions from the vendors they're having some webinars that the vendors can.

D

Participate in to ask questions so there's a lot of activity. That's going on between now and june,.

D

15Th to position these vendors and the vendors there might be one vendor that says they can do.

D

It all they may partner with other vendors and say: okay, you know our expertise here. You know we'll.

D

Partner with another firm that has expertise in another area, so the rfp is designed to.

D

Allow a group of vendors to come together and and deliver a joint proposal with one being the lead.

D

So this is going to play out over the summer and the coalition right now is targeting august or.

D

September, to make their proposals to the the board of directors as to you know the vendor or vendors.

D

That they're, that they're, you know recommending and then followed by negotiations and standing up.

D

These services, hopefully in the fall because then the the runway to go, live in april of 23. If that's.

D

Going to happen is not extensive and it's going to largely be executed by all these vendors with you.

D

Know some level of oversight internally by some staff and and now and the board of directors.

D

Any questions on that on the rfp yeah questions for kevin. That's a that's! A great wrap-up.

A

And the rfp is huge: it's really how they put the pieces together, yeah and then the other.

D

um Kind of big thing that's getting going, is they formed a search committee to.

D

Identify a ceo of this organization, or it may be called something else. You know, executive director,.

D

But the point person for the coalition and a search committee has been formed.

D

They've have a draft job description that was largely put together by samuel golding who's. The.

D

Consultant, that's been working with this organization for a bit.

D

And there's a little bit of urgency to get a ceo on board by the time the these contracts are. Let.

D

So you know there's leadership at the coalition. That's overseeing really a broad array of scope.

D

Here, that's going to be, um uh you know, stood up in in the fall. I had a couple of questions. Sure.

B

Go ahead, um how have they is it too early to get the level of interest or on the rfp? Have they get.

B

A sense of that yet or has it just been released? um There was a good deal of interest in the rfi.

D

Okay and it's really the same cast of characters, I think that the rfp is going out to great so.

D

Interesting enough from my kind of background, we'd send an rfp to maybe eight to ten companies that.

D

We were very interested in they really shotgunned this out to the industry, to initially to.

D

Probably well over 50 companies that operate in all this space with the rfi to kind of get the.

D

You know: hey we're here, we're going to need help and uh you have to respond to the rfi.

C

To participate, I don't, I don't believe so. Becca yeah, but I think the um it uh it was.

D

Again to, I think, generate interest and uh you know kind of get get the ball. The ball rolling.

B

And so they're are they? They don't have any funds for the ceo or the companies they're just.

B

Gonna they're all gonna, or do they have something they're gonna string them along with yeah. um So I.

D

Wasn't gonna get it into the weeds there too much, but they're they're asking for these vendors to to.

D

Come on board and self-fund, initially until there's a revenue stream within the coalition.

D

You know they go, live and um and they're in a position to generate revenue. So the the rfp.

D

Is there's a lot of discussion in there around? That's part of the stipulation that.

D

That they would have confidence that the coalition's going to be stood up.

D

Bring in bring in monies and then eventually pay them. Counselor is closer to some of the funding.

D

That the coalition is trying to get from a grant perspective, but I think that's largely to fund.

D

Salaries for internal staff to bring the ceo on board and maybe a handful of other.

D

Support staff that'll oversee this scope, but that that funding is, I think, more internal.

D

But they're really looking for these vendors to be agreeable to to.

D

Kind of eating their cost as the as the organization has stood up.

D

I know counselor if you want to add to that at all. You're closer yeah they've also got 75 000.

A

Seen money from the new hampshire charitable foundation, um I think there's more that will.

A

Be coming from that um and there's there's some foundation money that.

A

That I'm actually they'll be a group working on that as well too. So.

A

It's important that they have some some seed money at this point um and and that's in prospect.

D

So it's an interesting little model to bring on these resources and- and you know, they'll have to.

D

Have faith that the coalition is um you know, is, is going to be stood up and and have a revenue stream.

D

And you know, for all you know, there's no reason to believe that it's not going to be, but it's.

D

They're they're not going to be paid initially um and go ahead. uh Serious sponsor.

A

Tom rooney may be aware of this too. There's been discussion with clean energy, new hampshire.

A

As well and I think there was some talk of a joint fundraise, but I think in the end.

A

We're looking at the coalition needing a certain amount of seed money to get going and that'll.

A

That'll stay focused on just the coalition yeah and then I guess in the critical path.

D

That right now is the adoption of rules by the puck around aggregation and so.

D

That is ongoing and the coalition is one of the stakeholders. That's quite involved with that with.

D

Clifton and others, and the coalition is targeting now realistically, that you know.

D

Hopefully that there's a decision and adoption by the rules by july, um that's where they're.

D

What they're, putting in their kind of critical path chart right now that it would be in in july,.

D

And, as I already mentioned, there's going to be their their expectation is that the go.

D

Live would be in the april may time frame and there's some rationale behind the way.

D

The utilities manage default service and when they go out to bid and when those six-month contracts.

D

Are put in place that gives the coalition windows during the year kind of the sweet.

D

Spot to go live, and so it's like april may or I think it's a couple months in the fall so they're.

D

Really shooting to go, live in the april may time frame. If you know it can get all this together and.

D

And it would be some number of the cities and towns that have um that are on board. You know.

D

Some of the earlier cities and towns have already put together their plans.

D

And have them sitting and waiting and until the rules are approved by the puc, um the plan, a town.

D

Or city's plan can't be brought forward to the puc for approval and those plans might have to be.

D

Modified a bit once the rules are written to make sure they're in compliance with with the rules.

D

So there's a handful of towns that were the early adopters of the coalition that are.

D

Ready to rock and roll once the rules are written and then there's others that are at.

D

Different points in time and obviously portsmouth is, you know really at the at the starting point.

D

Of that, so are the rules that you talked about: the rules that they're writing and hoping to.

B

Put in place by july yep rules that are going to be approved by the puc yeah. Those are the rules.

D

Yeah yeah, so it's it's really just how how this is all going to work on a day-to-day basis? How the.

D

Coalition's going to work with utilities going to work with customers going to work.

D

With the suppliers, just all the rules of the road uh for aggregation, you know the the the.

D

um You know the regulation has been written, you know approved for allow aggregation in the state.

D

But now really, the the the the nits and grits of how it works on a day-to-day basis is really the.

D

Rule making that is getting is going through kind of the sausage making process right now.

D

And um and I think they're they're positive about the progress that that is being made. But all the.

D

Different stakeholders, the utilities, the coalition, the suppliers- are all weighing in and trying to.

D

Get their points of view and and um and they and it's not a quick process and so they're. Looking at.

D

June or july, as the time frame that they're hoping that they're counting on to support. Because if you.

D

Look at their critical path between now and then in april, go live. They kind of there's a series.

D

Of things that have to really happen reasonably on schedule to make that make that happen. Okay and.

D

And then just finally, you know from a portsmouth perspective as it relates to the coalition and.

D

This is just kind of me speaking in terms of the next broad steps. Obviously we're beginning.

D

Engagement, what we're here to talk about tonight of our residents and education.

D

And we are now also in a position where we can submit through to eversource serves.

D

All of portsmouth we can, we can send, in a request to eversource, to get our load data.

D

At the aggregate level you know, based on you know, industry, you know commercial, residential and get.

D

Our data from from the utility, not at the customer level but at the aggregate level. So we have that.

D

As part of data that we need to start putting together, our plan was that was that part of the.

B

Puc approval- that's part of yes, that's part of the kind of the cycle here that.

D

We given that we're moving forward- and uh you know uh assuming we're moving forward.

D

To develop an energy aggregation plan, the the step that we now can um there's there's.

D

A process and there's a like a a letter and a form that has to come from the city to request.

D

Our data and that takes a little bit of time, but that we would then have that and understand at a.

D

High level, but broken down by class, industrial, commercial and residential, what are what our load.

B

Load is that's what we tried to get when we were doing our greenhouse gas inventories and always.

B

Had a huge challenge getting it, so it's great to hear that that's going to be available is.

B

It available public like will it be available for the municipality to use in its greenhouse.

B

Gas inventory, or only for the aggregation and is it peter, I'm not sure I don't know. I.

D

Would assume once you have it, you have it, but uh once the city has it it's public, so yeah yeah, so.

D

um We uh yeah, I still talk to peter rice and we'll coordinate the the kind of the forms.

D

That what not that have to get submitted to the utility, because supposedly they don't haven't been.

D

Turning it around as as quickly as uh as maybe we'd like so um that's happening, and then.

D

And then it's really just you know we as a as a energy advisory committee can start to.

D

Think about our our our plans and objectives of what we were looking to do, what timing.

D

We're looking at as far as potential go, live and actually start to work on our.

D

Electric aggregation plan and the coalition has provided a template that it's it's in many ways.

D

Kind of a fill in the blank document um with any nuance, that's specific to a city or town.

D

But we're not starting from scratch. These are pretty comprehensive documents.

D

But the the plan itself, the template for the plan exists and we would modify it as we see fit. But.

D

Much of it is a is a kind of a plug-and-play in terms of filling out data data specific to.

D

Portsmouth and then, ultimately you have your plan you're going to have to have hearings. There's a.

D

Requirement to have a couple hearings within the city it gets approved by the city council.

D

And then once it's finalized, then it's ready uh to get submitted to the puc.

D

For um for approval, and as I mentioned earlier, you know nothing gets submitted yet because the.

D

Rules and regulations haven't been finalized. So there's nothing that says we as a as port smith.

D

As an injury, advisory can't start the process of putting our plan together and the plan is kind.

D

Of generic, whether we decided to go all the way through and be get our supply from the coalition.

D

Or whether we decided we wanted to get our supply elsewhere, it's not it's not. um It's.

D

Not lost work to start putting the plan together because it it's it's a community power plan. It's.

D

Not a plan specific to the coalition yeah, so I know I've been rambling here, but I just that.

D

Was those are the points I wanted to make yeah. That's great super helpful, oh yeah. Thank you.

A

You gave us the forward the future forecast of what our work is to be.

A

One of the benefits of engaging the community now is we get a sense.

A

For our strategic goals, based on what people are saying, how much clean energy, how much renewable.

A

Energy, how much desire there is for that and uh versus pure cost, and um so you know, I think it all.

A

Works hand and well, we get this engagement going now um and this this very light survey out there.

A

Will get some directional feedback from the community and get people talking about it?.

A

As things as things work towards the fall, when we actually put a plan together, one thing.

D

Counselor I mentioned one of my notes yesterday is from what I've I've tried to find out which towns.

D

Cities and towns have done surveys and and talk to them, and and I mean we can do.

D

Whatever we want, I mean, but what I'm, what I've got from other cities and towns is that they've.

D

They did some level of education first and and then surveyed um durham's in the process of doing.

D

That now and the note I said around the gentleman from durham said they, you know they felt strongly.

D

That any data they got before there was some level of education might be of less value. So there.

D

The approach I've heard from other towns is that there's you know they start the education process.

D

Through multiple channels and then survey a little bit out once people have in their noggin what this.

D

Is all about, and and also from everything I've seen is that the there's not a real heavy focus.

D

On the coalition, it's on community excuse me on community power like what is community power. Why.

D

Is it a benefit and the notion of the coalition is brought in a little bit further downstream.

D

um So as to not introduce complexity around, what is that organization and try to educate folks.

D

First, on what is community power and why? Why it's important and why we would be doing it and and etc.

D

Etc and then um and then start to feather in the notion of the coalition, I'm just mentioning what.

D

I've heard from other other communities that they're they've kind of approached it that way.

F

I remember that we discussed this and I think that that was why I had.

F

Such a short um just two questions and uh just to get a feeling and to provide a little bit.

F

Of education regarding their energy bills, that was why I posed the questions the way I did, because we.

F

Had talked about the fact that they need education before you're actually going to give them the.

F

Survey so that they have a better understanding of what it is that you're asking for. So that was why.

F

I did these two brief questions, just as a taster to see where our clientele are at this point.

A

Right right, um I'll, just jump in and recap: what's happened with courtsman smart growth.

A

I talked to them week before last saturday, they're very eager to host an event.

A

We moved it to june 29th so that we could get a revert tournament to speak from the coalition.

A

The event would really be: what is community power and.

A

They're looking at 3s as the venue looking at a zoom component and we're thinking, speakers.

A

Could be henry also possibly julia griffin from hanover just because hanover set very ambitious.

A

Goals for their amount of renewables and they want to be pretty much.

A

Carbon neutral and they viewed community power as a big part of that. So I thought.

A

You know the smartphone folks and I thought that she might be a good speaker.

A

And uh and then and then there's a survey but that's really interesting uh input um kevin from.

A

The other towns about the educational component- um I kind of viewed this very short survey.

A

As a way to get that people thinking get a lot of households, thinking about it, which and then.

A

We try to educate and inform of this event, but you know I'm open to what all you guys think and.

A

You know if you think that a better way might be pure information. We could do that as well.

F

I don't know how many others of you know about a new hampshire, network.org, they're, sponsoring.

F

A community power to get some for your town, it's educational, it's going to be may 9th.

F

From 5 30 to 6, 00, 30 pm and henry herndon lisa sweet and sam evans brown from clean.

F

Energy new hampshire are going to be speaking at this, so um if anybody's interested, I can.

F

Send you the link so that you can register for it if you're interested in seeing it sure yeah.

D

um I I mean it is again just me speaking, I'm more in the camp counselor to do.

D

Start our education.

D

And you know whether it's through you know a one-pager in the water bill, as we were talking.

D

About stand up the website and have some begin to feather in information there. These.

D

Events like at 3s- and you know other another article in the in the newspaper et cetera,.

D

I'm just thinking that there might be some benefit and I'm thinking out loud here I but.

D

There might be more benefit in my mind, to stand up more in the way of education and then and then.

D

Start to survey and ask people what do they think about what they're hearing and.

D

And what they're being told? Because I think for the vast majority of the residents, it's a.

D

It's it's kind of a foreign concept and and the objectives just aren't around renewables. I.

D

Mean the if the you know the the four primary objectives and there's some good information.

D

I think in the q and a's here, but local control, lower cost renewables and then um resilience and.

D

Innovation and that's from community power- or this is uh when we get to a point- this is some. This is.

D

A faq that hanover recently had that, I think, has some very nice language um that could be ported to.

D

Our website and just things like you know what is community power and it has some good graphs.

D

And then and then you know some questions around you know would everybody would be required to join.

D

You know, would the local utility continue to deliver my energy, but what are the benefits.

D

Of community power there's some there's some good information here in graphics,.

D

In the hanover faq, that is vetted language that, because.

D

The coalition has used it in various documents, etc, but I just you know so we're not spinning our.

D

Wheel, I just um stephanie as we're looking at web information. There might be some.

D

Content here to start to introduce things, I was just wondering what, because we do have a page.

G

For the committee- and we have a link to a document that is faqs about this, I was just.

G

Looking to see which document it is so yeah yeah, we already have a really nice platform where we.

C

Could start you know feathering in information, and I think you know allison's idea of putting out the.

C

This, what are we calling it survey light? Might maybe maybe survey's even the wrong word. It's sort.

C

Of like teaser questions to get people to sort of go to the webpage, you know inform them about this.

C

Event coming up at the end of june and kind of direct them right to our webpage, where we have.

C

This kind of beefier faqs and that's our kind of housing place for informational links um so.

C

Maybe it's not really even a survey right, I mean it's more of a these two questions to sort of get.

C

Them to right, I don't know, I don't want to speak for allison, though no. That was exactly what I was.

F

Going to say, rebecca okay, and what struck me about it. Looking at your questions is that this isn't a.

G

Survey about: are you interested in participating in the community power project? It's getting you.

G

To focus on your energy bill and, and it's a way asking questions is a great way to get people.

G

To be thinking along the lines that you then want to provide information, if I recall I don't have.

D

It in front of me, but one of the questions I was specifically referenced. The coalition.

D

Yeah- and I don't know, if that's what you want to do right out of the gate, because I mean we.

D

Have not made a commitment as a city to get our supply through the coalition and.

D

I think the focus should be on community power at this point where that can be changed instead.

F

Of saying the city of portsmouth is pursuing an agreement with community power coalition of new.

F

Hampshire, the city of portsmouth, is interested in pursuing community power, yeah yeah that and.

D

I think at some point the coalition's got to be kind of feathered in and introduced, but I.

D

Don't know if it's it's at the beginning, that makes sense um yeah. It simplifies it.

E

Like you said, there's really no reason to get into a lot of detail about that. We're really looking to.

E

Yeah raise the awareness I mean, even if we're obviously leaning very heavily.

D

Toward that, it's it's a model to implement, and it's not the it's, not the concept itself.

A

Right, what do you think if we said uh you know, city enforcement is looking at aggregating.

A

The community's electricity demand, for you, know, aggregated purchasing or something like that.

A

And, rather than making it all, the.

E

How are we planning to? How would this be sent out? Is it electronic or yeah? I think that what we.

F

Were talking about was putting a little flyer in with the uh the water bill or even putting it on.

F

On a page of the water bill, something that says um something about you know: community power is coming.

F

Are you ready for something like that um and then getting them to go to this link that we supply.

F

To them, which then provides them with this survey light or whatever you want to call it.

F

And link to the webpage and to the information about the june 29th meeting at 3s to learn more.

E

And the timing for the water bill, that's the thing we kind of need to act quickly, all right.

E

Like okay middle of the month, okay yeah, so that would reach 8500 households. If I.

A

Remember correctly around the middle of june, and it would give people a way to interact with it.

A

With us, through the survey and build their awareness and then.

A

We could have the call to action. You know want to learn more attend this event june 29th.

C

Would it be helpful if it was our original concept? I don't know if we actually mocked.

C

Anything up yet for for inclusion, but would it be helpful if a couple of us.

C

Just mocked something up: it's an eight and a half right folded, three ways or folded twice.

G

They're folding it we give them an eight and a half by eleven word document. Okay, um all right.

G

Maybe we can give them a pdf, it's it's a basic just one sheet: no, can it be front and back.

G

I don't think so, because if it could, I mean we could put a little. I think that would be great.

D

If we could put a little more information on a couple graphics, but that if it was a two page.

D

If we could do it front and back find that out tomorrow, it's I know it's very limited.

G

I mean I expect to having done bill inserts forever. I'm expected to do a third of a page.

G

That just goes right in we can't do that. Right has to be an eight and a half by eleven sheet.

G

And they print it as they print the bill and we don't have the option the way I understand it.

G

To print on the bill, it's another page: it's a and separate page inserted into the bill.

B

Right but if we had a section like what is community power, what are the benefits.

D

And then remind them that the utility, the utility is still going to be the distribution company.

D

Yeah yeah it'd be a good. You know for most people reading that it would start to at least get their.

D

Heads around this idea, you know, and if we were able to have content on the web page.

D

And we could then link to that off of the one pager. In addition to the event yeah well,.

G

I think we may have talked about it this last time. The idea of putting a qr code.

G

On the page, because printing a url people can copy it, but they generally don't do both right.

B

But if you have- and yes you would do both so the qr code could lead to the two questions.

G

Which then allow you to automatically tabulate the responses instead of having to do it manually.

G

It's entirely useful to still have the manual option, because many people who get.

G

The water bill aren't going to have access we find to going online to to do it, but.

G

Yeah so making it easy and giving people lots of options the, um but the qr code.

G

Seemed to work the durham surveys using a qr code, not surprised because some people.

G

That one of the things covered, yeah covet brought it back exactly yeah qr code. Yes,.

C

um I guess so two two questions for you all. Do we want to collect if we're just asking these.

C

Sort of teaser questions do we want to actually tabulate the responses, or is it really just a way.

C

To get people to learn about the event, go to the webpage.

C

I mean, I guess they can click if you want to be for more information.

G

Subscribe to the list that then the city keeps in mailchimp as a an energy advisory committee.

G

Interest list so just said my answer to your question: rebecca.

A

Speaking for me is, I think it would be um a nice element of the event on the 29th.

A

If we could say here's how you all responded to that search right.

A

And we could also have the responses on the on the web page um because I think you know.

A

Transparent feedback is always always good. I think yeah, oh yeah look yeah. Even if it's not.

D

Even if it's not positive, because you might get you know, a majority of people say I'm not.

D

Interested in community power, I don't remember how that's the words questions, but that would.

D

At least just say, you know, give us a challenge to turn that opinion around in future surveys right.

C

I thank you both and counselor. I've I'd forgotten, because I think a few weeks we were talking about.

C

Too, how it might be helpful for the speakers to have that knowledge before they're, presenting to.

C

The crowd as well, um I mean I'm sure, it'll, be a friendly crowd if they're actually coming to.

C

3S to learn about it, but it'd be helpful for them to be a little bit more prepped.

C

So, okay, I think that would be that'd be good.

B

You're breaking up john.

A

I said my sense is that uh when I'm out talking to people with the.

A

Community there's a desire to do something about our carbon footprint.

A

And do that on an individual level, but we'll find out yeah, okay,.

E

I did have a comment on one of the questions that we want to get into that detail or tonight or no.

C

Sure I mean I'm I'm happy in the next. If we want to try and get this.

C

Copy ready for this insert, I mean I'm happy to tackle that.

C

If, if there's another volunteer, so it'd be good to tweak the language- and I think is it next week at.

C

Our larger group we wanted to approve that copy is that the the process council yeah, I think so. Okay,.

B

Do you have the questions alison? I I do I do and I'm I'm I'm changing it as we speak and I'm just.

F

Going to send it out to everybody: is there a way to screen share it? I don't think so because it's.

F

On a different computer, oh okay, we have, uh I haven't printed out, you haven't printed out.

E

Okay yeah, can you read just one yeah, so the first one- and this was one I had an edit on.

E

Utility companies are responsible for delivering electricity to your door.

E

But you have a choice: to purchase your energy from a third-party supplier that has options.

E

Not otherwise available from your local utility company.

E

Eversource is the default. Electricity distributor for portsmouth is eversource.

E

Also, the company that determines the source of the electricity to run your home, yes or no.

E

um And there was just a the final part of that. Had me a little confused on what were we asking.

E

Are they buying from a third-party supplier or not? I think that was the question right. Are they.

E

Getting yeah but I'm not sure that they would understand what a third-party supplier was. But I.

F

Know that when durham asked that question, they put it very succinctly and they told her where to find.

F

Out on their bill, yeah, who was doing it, so I think that would be a better way to put that question.

E

Although so, what I was thinking is because, at the beginning I pulled out my bill and.

E

Just was looking so I buy from a third-party supplier, most people that do, I think, would.

E

Be familiar with the concept and, if you, if they're not familiar chances, are they're not probably.

E

They're even aware that either they're not doing it or they're, even aware that it's an option.

D

Tom, can you read that again, the the language sure utility companies are responsible for.

E

Delivering electricity to your door, but you have a choice: to purchase your energy from a third-party.

E

Supplier, that has options not otherwise available from your local utility company.

C

Maybe just add the word: did you know that you have the did? You know right, but you have yeah.

E

But did you know you couldn't we could make that a question then eversource is the default.

E

Electricity distributor for portsmouth they're, not the default they're, they are the there's. No.

D

Yeah there's no choice with the dis distribution company, they're they're.

D

The utility is the distribution company they're, the default energy supplier. If you don't choose.

D

A competitive supply so they're, not the default utility they're, the they are, the distribution.

D

Company right eversource is the electricity. Just is the electric distribution company.

E

Right, yeah and they're your default supplier, if you don't choose a competitive supplier and that's.

E

The second part of the question right, so maybe if we start with that eversource is the energy.

G

Supplier in portsmouth: well, it's not supplier! That's sorry! Distribution, distribution within.

G

Your your the supply, the distribution, can come from eversource or an alternative which one do you.

G

Use I mean, I really think we need to make this as simple as language as possible. You could probably.

E

We probably can't wordsmith it as a group, but I think interchanging, energy and electricity is.

E

A I think is a little confusing because it's almost like you're making a distinction when.

E

We're not they're interchangeable, so we should be consistent and probably either is probably fine.

E

Maybe electric is better because that's what we're talking about, I think electric between there's.

D

Distribution and there's supply, that's where it gets confusing, no matter what is the distribution.

D

Company will continue to be the distribution company as a resident. You have a choice as to your.

D

Who what supplier you have right and third party supplier, is good, because that's right off the bill.

E

If you look at your bill, it's right on there or, if you don't, I I assume it's right on there, but since.

E

If you have probably have it otherwise does it say default service or does it say service.

E

I think it says default service, but I don't know I can't look at my bill.

B

Yeah, because you have a third party right yeah, if your supplier is eversource, it says.

D

Your supplier's eversource there's just there's a supply section and distribution.

D

And it just says your supplier is and if, if you don't have a competitor, it says eversource.

D

Okay and if you're with direct energy, it says directly well, it does say: third party supplier.

E

Yeah and then it gives the name yeah, so we could figure that out. So just ask somebody.

E

And then the final part of the question third party supplier you're right- might not.

E

Might confuse some people but again I just think, um or you could say.

E

Do you um do you purchase your supply from eversource, says default, or something like that.

E

No, I don't think there's a way of getting around a little bit of like energy vernacular in there.

E

Just because it's a specific question, so we'd probably just go one way or the other, I'm just.

B

Thinking, if you could start by defining the terms you know, electricity is distributed by eversource.

B

Other options are available for supplies, including eversource, to supply your electricity, which right.

B

There you're going to lose a lot of people right. So how do you not lose them? I don't know and.

B

Then and then you have an option on your support. I mean I'm just trying it's not simple, it is not, but.

E

Again, I think if, if they're purchasing third-party supply, they probably know or somebody in the house.

E

Knows right right, yeah people that have but don't we want everybody to understand it. Yeah yeah.

C

I'm just wondering if maybe we should even back up even before we get to asking questions about.

C

Supplier and third parties- well, I was trying to do that as educational. I was trying to yeah.

C

Yeah sure that people understood that there was a difference between your distributor and your right.

F

Provider that um what durham says is, who is your electricity supplier note? You may have signed a.

F

Contract for the so-called third-party supplier, if so, the name of that supplier will appear in.

F

The electric supplier service portion of your electric bill- if no supplier names name, appears.

F

Eversource is your default supplier and then we could ask them. Do you have another supplier or.

F

Is eversource the supplier again, even in durham's case, I'm saying the broken record. They have now.

D

They focused initially on education around these concepts as part of their educational, rollout.

D

Before they started asking questions about it, because I think we're seeing how we're trying to.

D

Word a question to be both educational and allow them to answer it. When I don't know, if it does, it.

D

Really makes sense to mix the two initially as opposed to focusing on on education. Initially, I.

A

Don't know I wonder when we get to aggregated data from eversource, could they tell us how many people.

E

Purchased third-party supply, no, the initial is just the load, the electric load for um the.

D

Distribution right for the town, yeah, eventually we'll have. We will know further downstream.

D

How many customers are, or with uh default, through eversource or competitive supply? Because it's a.

D

Different approach you can, if you're with eversource you're, just going to be brought.

D

Into the aggregation and have to opt out right, if you you're tommy you're, with a competitive.

D

Supplier now you're going to have the option of opting in right. You're, not you're, not going to.

D

Be brought into the aggregation because you're with a competitive supplier, you have to opt in.

D

Not going to take business away from competitors sure why not just see the middle of the night.

B

Right, you know they're good, you have to you as a resident have to opt into the aggregation.

A

So I just want to sort of take the temperature of the room here.

A

We initially had the idea of a survey as a way and it gets them a lot of awareness and it.

B

We can't hear you john you're breaking up again.

B

John now you're frozen yeah, it's in the country out in the country, yeah.

A

Like am I getting through real, quick, oh, you were frozen for a minute, but now you're coming back.

A

Okay um yeah, we initially had the idea of a survey as it's something that would.

A

Kind of wake people up to um are you using uh the default supplier uh or are you buying separate.

A

And if you could buy, secondly, what you would.

A

What would you be interested in buying, so that was our original concept.

A

I think our original thinking was that might keep a lot of interest around the event and.

A

Provide some valuable data to get us started so I'll just be interested in hearing people.

A

How they feel about the survey, do we want to stick with that or do wonderful at all.

D

Well, I'm in the camp of using the water bill insert as an initial primer around education.

D

You know what is community power? What are the benefits? What are the role of the distribution.

D

Company, perhaps in that in that environment and then with a leading them to you know, you want.

D

To learn more, we have this great event coming up or you can go to the website, um and I think that.

D

Might be, in my opinion, an initial cleaner approach, just to kind of start folks, thinking about it.

D

Because you're going to get a lot of people that are reading that everybody opens their water bill.

D

And and they're like oh what's this about, you know um you're, probably going to get more people that.

D

Go to the website and take a look that go then go to the event, but who cares? It's just you get.

D

You're starting the ball, the ball rolling um and I'm just relaying what I heard from these.

D

Other towns and I spoke to the gentleman in durham yesterday- they modeled it after exeter.

D

And they were felt, um I I also the guy who's coordinating the rfp matt miller from pembroke.

D

He I reached out to him yesterday because I was told by lisa sweet that they were doing a survey.

D

And he said they felt very strongly that they needed to do education first.

D

Some level of education and then they're they're they're thinking that they would survey.

D

At different points in the learning curve and tailor the survey kind of along that process, so.

D

um I'm just passing, along with these other towns, have kind of felt that that um they they thought.

D

The initial and one of the the towns said, and they just you know the one was kind of a communication.

D

Person she referred to their communication plan as light layered and linked okay, and that's so.

D

They're they're, just really they said they were kind of building it up. Like a you know,.

D

Teasing out more and more information as they went along, but they they found from a lessons.

D

Learned perspective that they they went light initially and then you know that's what um you.

D

Know allison is talking about too in terms of light from a survey perspective, but.

C

Okay, yeah, I I mean I agree with all that I I guess I have two thoughts. If we're kind.

C

Of using this survey light to almost help prep the speakers for the event at the end of june.

C

Then we should ask them the information that would be most useful to them.

C

Otherwise, I think we should just have this be a really nice primer, a nice education piece.

C

Get people to the event get people to the website and further down the.

C

Line use a survey to start informing our aggregation plan, electric aggregation plan.

C

Because yeah, I just worry that if it's so light, the survey that.

C

We certainly don't want to confuse people right off the bat. um I think I'd rather use some like.

C

Teaser questions in this the primer piece. I think we have good vetted language from the coalition.

D

Around you know what is community power? What what are the benefits that you know, there's like force.

D

Kind of groupings of benefit- and you know other information, what's the role, the distribution.

D

Company, yeah and and there's some good graphics to to start to start that process and I think.

D

Durham mentioned to me that, and I don't know how the whole barcode thing works, but they.

D

The survey is online and it's active right now. So if you go to the durham site, it's an.

D

Active survey, but they also are bringing hard copies of the survey to all sorts of.

D

Events in town that aren't even related to community power, but other things so they're trying.

D

To get the survey their plan is to get the survey physically a paper copy into the hands of um of.

D

Residents, you know at farmers markets at this. You know different different things: that little field.

D

You know, wherever, like with the card that has a that, has the questions on it or something or.

B

I don't know if it's just the paper, I don't know how how that works.

G

So as I've been appearing to be rude, looking at my phone, I was trying to call up my eversource.

G

Bill to answer the question about what it says and there's a section about supplier and it just.

G

Says eversource, which it is and presumably if it's something else it says something else, but it just.

G

Yeah clearly and one thing that will be forthcoming and we have it in connecticut right.

D

Now ever sourced about the week, I'm not really I'm just a retiree, but they we were required by the pc.

D

In connecticut that they there's a segment on the bill every month that compares your if you're with.

D

A competitive supplier it compares to that it compares it to the default service and it tells.

D

You in that particular month, based upon the rate that you're paying with your competitive supplier,.

D

You either save money or you lost your lost money and I think that's that's going to make its way to.

D

Massachusetts and connecticut was kind of an I.t issue, but just as we go forward, I think you know.

D

There will be some transparency to residents in new hampshire, eventually on a monthly basis.

D

They'll see you know: if we're in the coalition paying 9.9 and eversource is 10.2, they see they.

D

Save money this month, if it's the flip, they you know they'll, see and that that type of information.

D

Causes migration of people in and out of the um aggregation, because they they don't want to lose.

D

Money right, that's interesting, because um I get my power from north american power and gas and mine's.

F

100, renewable and it says nothing on the bill about the difference between what the default.

F

Bill would have been versus the bit what I'm paying yeah. They don't have it in new.

D

Hampshire yet or massachusetts, it's a it's a feature. Eversource has in connecticut that.

D

That actually the puc wanted, because so many low-income customers were were getting uh kind.

D

Of robbed by um uh third-party suppliers that were kind of giving them teaser rates, bringing them on.

D

Board and all of a sudden, they didn't realize that they were paying more than they really needed to.

D

So the puc wanted us to have more transparency with their customer base around.

D

What they're, paying with the competitive supplier versus default service, yeah and.

D

Because the puc isn't so much interested in renewables, they're interested in.

D

Price and wanting to make sure residents aren't paying more than they should, but that feature.

D

You're right allison is not in new hampshire right now. If people would have to calculate.

D

Themselves and figure out what the default rate is if there was a competitive supplier.

A

Tom and alison, how are you guys feeling about.

F

You're cutting out again, oh uh tom and allison. How are you guys feeling.

A

Or are we sorry like? Am I getting through it all? You cut out at exactly the same place.

F

I'm cursed, I'm cursed, I think I know what you're trying to say, though,.

F

I'm good kevin is really obviously thinking that education is required. First.

F

Because we're we want to sort of emulate the other towns, so I'm.

F

Fine with let's get education out there and the flyer in the mail should talk about the uh maybe.

F

Provide some education, but also talk about the june 29th event, where they can learn more.

D

I think surveys are a wonderful idea, just at the right time, yeah.

G

Thank you, okay, yeah, this, the one that is the um sorry tom. I know you, oh no, I I would agree. I.

E

Mean I think it's it's tough to come in. If people get confused, we don't get good results anyway. So.

E

I mean the intention really is education anyway, so yeah, I'm good, certainly like easier lift.

A

So that makes our focus a nice one-pager that we can put into the the bills and coming up.

A

With the copy for that, maybe drawing on the the coalition's fat material, yeah.

G

This meeting, okay, so it's that link okay, I nearly emailed that to you yesterday. Thank you for some.

C

Reason I didn't see that but I'll look again and maybe just use the time we have left to focus on.

A

One of the key things we want to say about community power.

A

A

It's a chance for us as a community to use our combined buying power.

A

Either for cost saving or for more renewables or if it's possible, both.

A

But that would be me speaking that that.

A

That's certainly what I what I used when I was out campaigning, um but you know, let's think about.

A

The major things that we want to get across and then we can have a draft come into practice.

D

Would we be able to stephanie put a um a graph, I think so I think if we just give them.

G

Either a word document or a pdf, we can not sure that if they can do color, but I'm looking at the.

G

What is community power and what are the benefits, and these would translate in black and white.

G

Yeah just as well right- and I think I think, those two sections in the hanover thing dump.

D

Section one on what is community power and um section seven on what are the benefits if that.

D

Language got skinny down and just made it a little. You know bulleted a little easier on the eye.

D

Perhaps, with one of those graphics on what is community power or the benefits, you know.

D

If, if we could kind of just call out the high points in those two sections into.

D

Some reader-friendly language, I think it would be a great.

D

Start um if we did this mock-up, is there someone from smart growth that can look at the details.

C

Of the event, just to make sure we're, we've got the speakers down correctly and I don't know.

C

If it's only only henry and only julia or if lisa, sweet or others, maybe somebody from exeter, we had.

C

Talked about maybe expanding the panel, but I I'm I'm not privy to discussions with smart growth so.

A

um Or if we leave it more general nailed that found by our may 11 meeting. Okay.

C

And can you help with a qr code as well.

C

Is there anything, I only know the free versions for other things, they've worked on, so we I have.

C

A subscription okay, yes, that so that it actually still works in the year yeah exactly. I was just.

B

Going to ask if there's a way to draw them to the event, that's not just learn about community power.

B

I don't know what that would be, it could be the speakers, it could be the fact that people are.

B

Doing it, maybe so it's community power, but it's I don't know well, maybe to the counselor's point.

G

About the interest in being in renewables and in reducing carbon footprint, is there other electric.

G

Bill carbon footprint yeah can we talk about maybe cost savings? Maybe carbon footprint reduction.

E

Where did sam's, not speaking at that one now right, sam evans brown, I don't know the may 9th one I.

C

Think the new hampshire network is that the one you were saying is that the one allison mentioned.

B

Yeah it's henry herndon and lisa sweet from community power coalition of new hampshire.

F

And then sam evans brown, from clean energy, new hampshire, those are the people that are speaking.

F

And I sent everybody the link. Thank you all right. Thank you is that would that.

C

Be acceptable to put up on the city site it's if you're, essentially the the endorser of the event.

B

Yeah, it's a city committee right, so yeah, I don't see it. I was just wondering if maybe.

E

He we could get him to speak at the june 29th one possibly.

E

I can we have a meeting tomorrow. I can see if what they would think about that.

D

Counselor, could we potentially get um the herald to do an article around that event.

D

To get another, you know kind of the next step in in a piece in the newspaper.

A

Oh yeah, I think I mean I'd, be happy to write a press release or work.

A

With stephanie on a press release and and get us some free, unfriendly homelessness.

C

And just to clarify for the may 9th new hampshire network event, I was asking if.

C

It would be kosher to put that up on our as sort of a educational event. Clearly, it's a.

C

Different organization- and I don't I don't know stephanie- knows the rules on the website. um Yeah.

G

Probably what what I definitely could do is put that in the newsletter. On monday I mean it is.

G

Monday, but I can put there, isn't a newsletter until monday and I could put it through social.

G

Media because we do mention um third-party events relevant and of interest to citizens.

G

Yeah, that might be because they do that. Okay and the one pager that's going in the water bill.

D

Can can a little blurb and a link to it also go in the newsletter? Yes, so that's another way of yep.

D

Once we have whatever we're going to have our qr code get to, then that also gives us all of the.

G

Channels, social media newsletter, web page, okay and then we'll do maybe another blurb again about the.

C

Once we get closer to the june 29th event, okay, what is it light? Layered light, layered and linked.

D

Okay, it just it kind of caught my attention, maybe just okay, sounds cute. I remember I remember.

D

And lisa lisa sweet by the way is in charge of the engagement committee for the coalition.

D

There's a variety of committees and she's the one spearheading that so she's a really good resource.

D

For outreach and what other communities are doing, she's the one who pointed me to.

D

The towns that are doing the surveys and connected with with some folks.

D

Very helpful: okay, okay! Well, um we made some decisions. uh Our next step is to work on the.

A

The draft of the one pager um becca and allison um I'm happy to look at.

A

Your your first take at that on the zoom call with the group for the two of you and.

A

We could check that out before our meeting wednesday. um We could have stephanie join.

A

Us maybe for that, um is that realistic to think in terms of early next week sure, yes, I would think so.

A

Okay, becca, I don't want to, I know you're just back from no that's fine! No! No! I think we've got.

C

Between all the work that we've done over the last.

C

Gosh, has it been almost a year in september, it was like, I mean I think, we've got all the bits.

C

And pieces and tools in our toolbox to put together a nice primer, page.

A

That would be super happy and I'll confirm tomorrow. If we can use graphics and if we.

G

Can I'm pretty sure we can't use color, but I will confirm what it needs to look like.

C

We're assuming one page is not jump back and whether we can do a two-sided, double sided. Yeah.

A

I have a vague recollection of one color right and we did a mcintyre survey, but I could be one.

C

Okay, well, then, should it be blue or should it be green see both those colors seem to be.

C

Energy friendly colors, so blue or green yeah, blue or green.

A

Okay, thank you all for taking some time.

A

And uh you know it occurred to me too, that one thing that we can do is.

A

We might even be able to do an on-the-spot survey and then.

A

um To engage people when they're there with a qr code, but.

A

That's save that one for later we've got plenty of time for that.

G

Actually, brian goetz did a real use, the slido platform to do on on the spot, polling and use the.

G

Audience sees the results immediately. You access it through your smartphone and um it's fun. It's.

G

Yeah, participatory yeah and people on zoom can join too. If there's a zoom link. I don't know if.

B

There's a zoom lens: it does like live results where it populates yup. Those are pretty cool.

A

Okay, um anything else again, thanks for the thanks for the energy on this um and we'll just.

A

What was that trio of words, light layered and linked.

D

I don't know: okay, does that resonate with you, stephanie you're, the communications problem.

E

I'm sorry I had to run out of the room did. Should I inquire about having sam come to the 6 29 event.

E

Or because we were talking about oh yeah, okay, why don't you let me know if he's interested okay.

A

Yeah all right great love, you great. um If there is no other business.

D

Safe travels; okay; okay, thank you. So much.

D

I don't know if you have an electronic copy of that this one. Okay, if you need it, I think I just.

C

Got one- and I can give you this thumb- drive it's on there with they're, both on there I'll send you.

E

An email kevin because I double checked this one I got it it was on. It was on with the meeting notice.

E

Because the meeting notice was the agenda and the questions that allison put together. But.

E

What's there, but then was it from you yes, yeah yesterday afternoon I.