New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Rate Selection Guide
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC) is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative serving over 84,000 members across rural New Hampshire. NHEC has deployed AMI across 82,000+ meters and supports billing, Green Button, and EDI data access. Because New Hampshire has retail electric choice, NHEC members can shop for competitive supply while NHEC provides default delivery service.
New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2 / B32 (small general) | commercial | $0.22053-$0.22768/kWh, no demand charge | Offices, retail, small commercial under 50 kW |
| LB32 | commercial | $0.19547/kWh + $12.15/kW over 40 kW | Mid-size commercial 50-150 kW |
| IND | industrial | $0.17945/kWh + $11.57/kW over 60 kW | Industrial loads 150 kW+ |
| Primary P / P5 | industrial | $0.17478-$0.17864/kWh + $11.47-$11.63/kVA | Large primary-metered facilities |
Market Overview
New Hampshire deregulated retail electric supply. NHEC provides distribution delivery plus a default Co-op Power energy rate; members can elect a competitive supplier or join a community power aggregation.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Data Access Guide →
Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) Options
Municipal/county Community Power programs operate in NHEC territory under RSA 53-E; members are auto-enrolled with opt-out and may also choose any registered supplier.
Current Rate Schedules
Verified from NHEC's Schedule of Rates approved December 22, 2025, effective February 1, 2026. All values are exact published per-kWh effective billing rates and monthly member/demand charges. C&I rates combine a monthly member charge, a demand charge above a kW/kVA threshold, and per-kWh distribution, regional access, system benefits, and Co-op Power charges.
Effective: February 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Service Multi Phase - LB32 | commercial | Demand 50 kW to less than 150 kW | Monthly member charge plus demand charge above threshold plus per-kWh energy and delivery charges | $0.19547/kWh effective billing rate (distribution $0.03507 + regional access $0.04290 + system benefits $0.00778 + Co-op Power $0.10972)+ $12.15 per kW for demand over 40 kW; $435.79 monthly member charge |
| General Service Industrial - IND | industrial | Demand 150 kW and above | Monthly member charge plus demand charge above threshold plus per-kWh energy and delivery charges | $0.17945/kWh effective billing rate (distribution $0.02939 + regional access $0.03256 + system benefits $0.00778 + Co-op Power $0.10972)+ $11.57 per kW for demand over 60 kW; $636.87 monthly member charge |
| Primary Service - P | industrial | Primary-metered, demand up to 1,000 kVA | Monthly member charge plus per-kVA demand charge above threshold plus per-kWh energy and delivery charges | $0.17864/kWh effective billing rate (distribution $0.02843 + regional access $0.03271 + system benefits $0.00778 + Co-op Power $0.10972)+ $11.47 per kVA for demand over 80 kVA; $601.37 monthly member charge |
| Primary Service Large - P5 | industrial | Primary-metered, demand over 1,000 kVA | Monthly member charge plus per-kVA demand charge above threshold plus per-kWh energy and delivery charges | $0.17478/kWh effective billing rate (distribution $0.02457 + regional access $0.03271 + system benefits $0.00778 + Co-op Power $0.10972)+ $11.63 per kVA for demand over 125 kVA; $1,322.22 monthly member charge |
| General Service Single/Multi Phase Small - B2/B32 | commercial | Small general service: single phase up to 400 amps (B2) or multi-phase demand under 50 kW (B32) | Monthly member charge plus per-kWh energy and delivery charges; no demand charge below 50 kW | B2 $0.22053/kWh ($29.00 member charge); B32 $0.22768/kWh ($79.48 member charge)+ None below 50 kW |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial (office, retail, under 50 kW)
Energy-only general service with no demand charge.
Below 50 kW NHEC bills an all-in energy rate (~$0.22-$0.228/kWh) with only the monthly member charge, so there is no demand penalty to manage.
- Track usage in SmartHub to confirm you stay below 50 kW
- Consider competitive supply to replace the $0.10972/kWh Co-op Power component
Mid-size commercial / light industrial (50-150 kW)
Demand-tiered multi-phase service.
LB32 lowers the per-kWh distribution rate (effective ~$0.195/kWh) but adds a $12.15/kW demand charge above 40 kW plus a $435.79 monthly member charge, so peak management drives the bill.
- Stagger large equipment startups to cut the 15-minute peak
- Use Green Button interval data to find demand spikes
- Evaluate the OpenADR Transactive Energy Rate pilot for load flexibility
Industrial 150 kW and above
Industrial demand service.
IND offers the lowest secondary per-kWh effective rate (~$0.179/kWh) with an $11.57/kW demand charge above 60 kW and $636.87 monthly member charge; demand control and supply procurement are the biggest levers.
- Pursue competitive supply to manage the $0.10972/kWh energy component
- Target a flatter load profile to reduce peak demand
- Pull 15-minute interval data via the SmartHub API for demand analytics
Large primary-metered facility
Primary service for the largest loads.
Primary metering yields the lowest per-kWh effective rates ($0.17864 for P, $0.17478 for P5) with kVA-based demand charges; the high fixed member charge ($601-$1,322) is offset at high load factors.
- Maintain high power factor to control kVA demand
- Negotiate competitive supply for the large energy block
- Consider on-site generation/storage to shave kVA peaks
Historical Rate Trends
NHEC adjusts its default Co-op Power supply rate roughly twice per year (typically February and August) reflecting wholesale energy costs, while distribution charges change less frequently. The Schedule of Rates effective February 1, 2026 was approved December 22, 2025.
February 1, 2026
Schedule of Rates effective February 1, 2026 (approved December 22, 2025), updating Co-op Power and delivery components across all classes.
varies by classJanuary 1, 2026
Prior Schedule of Rates in effect January 1-31, 2026.
n/aAugust 1, 2025
Schedule of Rates in effect August 1 - December 31, 2025 (prior default supply period).
n/aOverall trend: Default supply rates move semi-annually with wholesale market conditions; NHEC has communicated minimal rate increases ahead for 2026. Distribution and delivery components are relatively stable year to year.
Next expected change: Next scheduled Co-op Power supply rate update expected around August 1, 2026
Cost Optimization Strategies
NHEC C&I bills are driven by three controllable levers: demand (kW/kVA) charges above the schedule threshold, the replaceable Co-op Power energy component, and rate-schedule selection. Interval data from SmartHub supports each.
Peak demand management
For: LB32, IND, P, P5 (demand-billed accounts)
Stagger equipment startups and shift flexible loads to avoid setting a high 15-minute peak that drives the per-kW/kVA demand charge.
Competitive supply procurement
For: All C&I accounts
Replace the default Co-op Power energy charge ($0.10972/kWh for C&I) with a competitive supplier or community power contract under NH retail choice.
Power factor / kVA correction
For: Primary Service P, P5
On primary P/P5 service, demand is billed in kVA, so correcting power factor reduces billed demand.
Rate schedule right-sizing
For: Growing commercial/industrial loads
Verify the account is on the lowest-cost eligible schedule as load grows; moving from energy-only to demand-tiered service can lower per-kWh cost at high load factor.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download New Hampshire Electric Cooperative interval data →
Deregulated Market Shopping
New Hampshire has retail electric choice. NHEC members can purchase energy supply from a registered competitive supplier or a community power aggregation while NHEC provides regulated delivery and a default Co-op Power supply rate.
How to Compare New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Suppliers
- 01Confirm your current default Co-op Power supply rate on the NHEC Schedule of Rates
- 02Check whether your town/county offers a Community Power aggregation
- 03Solicit quotes from registered NH competitive suppliers for your C&I load
- 04Compare the all-in supply price against NHEC's Co-op Power rate
- 05Enroll; NHEC continues to deliver power and bill delivery charges
Contract Terms for New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Supply Agreements
- Fixed vs. index pricing and contract length
- Whether the price is all-in or excludes certain market charges
- Early termination fees and auto-renewal terms
- Renewable content / REC options
Common Pitfalls When Shopping New Hampshire Electric Cooperative Rates
- Teaser rates that reset after an introductory period
- Auto-renewal into higher variable rates
- Comparing supplier price against the correct NHEC default supply component, not the all-in delivered rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How can a C&I customer or their consultant obtain interval data from NHEC?▾
C&I members can download Green Button XML (up to 14 months) directly from SmartHub, or call NHEC at 1-800-698-2007 to request a formal billing/usage data export (3-5 business days). For 15-minute granularity, the NISC SmartHub API or the community electric-usage-downloader tool can be used with the member's credentials.
Does NHEC support automated third-party API access (Green Button Connect My Data)?▾
Not in a publicly documented form. NHEC's NISC SmartHub supports Green Button Download My Data, and a community-documented interval API exists. A formal OAuth-based Connect My Data program is not published; energy managers should contact NHEC to confirm current capabilities.
Can a competitive supplier serving my facility get our usage via EDI?▾
Yes. NHEC supports ANSI X12 transactions 814, 867, 810, and 820. Suppliers register with the NH Department of Energy, complete NHEC training and EDI testing, and exchange enrollment, historical usage, and billing data automatically once live.
What rate schedule applies to a commercial or industrial NHEC account?▾
Multi-phase general service is billed under LB32 (demand 50-150 kW) or IND (demand 150 kW or more), and larger primary-metered loads under P (up to 1,000 kVA) or P5 (over 1,000 kVA). These carry a monthly member charge, a per-kW/kVA demand charge above a threshold, and per-kWh distribution plus Co-op Power energy charges.
Can NHEC members shop for a competitive energy supplier?▾
Yes. New Hampshire has retail electric choice. NHEC members can buy energy supply from a registered competitive supplier or community power aggregator while NHEC continues to provide regulated delivery and a default Co-op Power supply rate.
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