Portsmouth Community Power Rate to Rise Aug. 1, Topping Eversource Default Price

PORTSMOUTH, NH — Portsmouth Community Power customers will see a higher electricity supply rate starting Aug. 1, after the Community Power Coalition of New Hampshire announced new prices for its next rate period.

The new CPCNH Granite Basic default rate for residential and small commercial customers will be 14.949 cents per kilowatt-hour from Aug. 1, 2026, through Jan. 31, 2027.

The Public Utilities Commission approved Eversource's default rate at 14.009 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The change affects Portsmouth because the city is one of the coalition's member municipalities. Rates are based on energy prices CPCNH can negotiate across its aggregated customer base in 68 New Hampshire towns and regions.

“The adjustment reflects higher energy supply costs associated with wholesale market conditions, including impacts from geopolitical conflicts and increased electricity demand during the past winter,” according to a statement.

The Portsmouth Energy Advisory Committee reminded residents they can switch from Portsmouth Community Power to Eversource and back again without penalty. Electric customers in New Hampshire can choose between Community Power, third-party options, or their default utility.

In Portsmouth, the default utility is Eversource.

“Community Power rates increased 2 percent from their winter rates in the first half of the year, while Eversource went up 24 percent from 11.3 cents to 14 cents. Eversource is still the lowest rate by about $6 per month for basic service customers,” City Councilor John Tabor, the chairman of the city's Energy Advisory Committee, said.

Community Power estimates the savings from switching back to Eversource for now could be $6.11 a month for the next six months, based on average household use of 650 kwh per month. Customers who want to opt in or out can use the online customer portal at communitypowernh.gov/community/portsmouth, call 1-866-603-7697, or email info@communitypowernh.gov.

Tabor also pointed to comments made at a recent City Council meeting.

“New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Don Kreis advised us again at the June 8 City Council meeting that he supports sticking with CPCNH because their financial reserve issues are being addressed, they can advocate on behalf of their statewide customer base of energy consumers, and because they afford consumers choices they didn’t have before, which include supporting more renewable power generation in the long term,” Tabor said. “Still, our Energy Advisory Committee is watching CPCNH closely.”

Tabor said the program still offers long-term value for residents and small businesses.

“Portsmouth Community Power gives residents and small businesses a choice when it comes to their energy supply,” Tabor said. “In the long-term, our residents will benefit from the Coalition’s combined buying power and advocacy on our behalf in the NH Legislature. In addition, being able to select options with higher proportions of renewable sources means the City is better able to achieve its Climate Action Plan by reducing our carbon footprint and saving towards future funding of our own green energy projects.”