We are filing a rate request with the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC or Commission) to support necessary and prudent improvements to our system that will enhance safety and reliability of service, add value for our customers, and support a high-quality workforce.

The last full rate request was filed in 2023. Since then, the Commission has approved limited rate requests to reflect specific capital investments made.

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) is ultimately responsible for establishing and approving the rates customers pay. We provide the NHPUC with full transparency into the company’s financials, which indicate the overall costs to maintain a safe and reliable system in the coming years.

After we file a rate request, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (NHPUC) reviews our filing to determine whether the proposed rates are just and reasonable. As part of that process, we have requested temporary rates that would allow us to earn the rate of return approved in our last distribution rate case while the NHPUC reviews our full request. These temporary rates are based on costs incurred in 2025.

If approved, temporary rates are expected to take effect on x and would represent only a portion of our overall rate request. The NHPUC will then continue reviewing our filing before making a final decision on the rates that will apply going forward. The overall review process is expected to take approximately 12 months.

If approved by the NHPUC, the temporary rate adjustment planned to take effect x would increase an average residential customer (650 kWh per month) bill by approximately $x per month, or x percent based on current rates for customers taking Default Energy Service. If approved by the NHPUC, the permanent rate adjustment will increase a typical residential customer’s bill by $x per month or x percent from rates in effect today for customers taking Default Energy Service. Permanent rates, if approved, will be retroactive effective x. 

Yes, each Liberty customer has the right to participate in the rate case we have filed with the NHPUC. You may file written comments with the NHPUC, and, in some circumstances, you may have the right to participate as a full party to the rate case. The Commission has opened Docket No. DE 26-045  to consider our rate request. Documents associated with the rate case are available from the PUC’s virtual file room located here. The NHPUC’s procedural rules can be viewed here. The Office of the Consumer Advocate maintains a guide to public participation in NHPUC proceedings on its website. 

Every month, a customer bill consists of the following:

Energy service costs have risen dramatically in recent years, largely due to extreme weather events, wars overseas, supply and demand issues, and overall economic uncertainty. Liberty buys energy off the open market and passes that cost directly on to customers. We do not benefit from the increased cost of energy. In addition, Liberty has been allowed a series of rate increases related to specific investments in the system between the last rate case and today.

Since 2003, Liberty has invested more than $X million in substation upgrades, feeder improvements, distribution automation, load growth, and other reliability-focused enhancements. These include: 

• A 2-mile 115kV supply line from the Golden Rock Substation to the Rockingham Substation to provide firm capacity for Tuscan Village 

• A bare conductor replacement program to enhance system reliability in the Walpole area 

• Distribution circuit expansion from the new Rockingham Substation to provide service to the Salem area, which has experienced substantial development in recent years 

Over the coming years, Liberty will be investing in additional operational and capital initiatives designed to replace aging infrastructure, improve system reliability and resiliency, modernize the electric distribution system, and support continued customer growth. At a high level, these initiatives include:  

• Continuation of our bare conductor replacement program that is designed to reduce the risk of outages caused by vegetation and animal contact on existing bare wires.

• A distribution automation program that aims to improve reliability performance, increase operational efficiency, and reduce operational costs through remote access, monitoring, and control. This program will help us respond faster to outages if and when they occur and minimize the number of customers impacted. 

• A remote terminal unit ("RTU") replacement program that supports the gathering of real-time data and helps us respond faster to outages and reduce the number of people out of service. 

• An underground residential development ("URD") cable replacement program for older, direct buried electric lines that are at risk of failure. 

In addition to infrastructure upgrades, we are also proposing new programs and system enhancements to benefit customers. These inclide:

• A new arrearage management program for income-eligible customers that will help you pay outstanding balances. If approved, this program will provide arrearage forgiveness of up to $1,200 per year for eligible customers.  
• Fee-free credit and debit card payments, along with fee-free electronic check payment options. 

Liberty offers flexible payment options for residential and business customers, allowing additional time to spread past-due balances and make payments more manageable. Liberty works with its customers to resolve past-due balances and avoid the potential of disconnection. 

The state of New Hampshire has several programs available to customers, including a Homeowners Assistance Fund, a State Supplemental Electric Benefit Program, an Electrical Assistance Program, Fuel Assistance, and a Neighbor Helping Neighbor Program. Click here for more information. 

Part of Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp., Liberty is committed to providing safe and reliable natural gas, water, and electricity distribution services to over one million customer connections. Liberty’s utility operations are primarily located in the United States and Canada and have expanded to Chile and Bermuda. With a customer-centric approach to management, Liberty provides a superior customer experience through local management of walk-in centers, conservation and energy efficiency initiatives, and programs for businesses and residential customers. We measure our performance in terms of service reliability, customer satisfaction, and an unwavering dedication to public and workplace safety. Liberty’s North American distribution operations include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma and Texas in the United States, and New Brunswick, Canada. In New Hampshire, Liberty provides services to approximately 46,000 electric utility customer connections and more than 99,000 natural gas utility customer connections.