KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) William Hinkle, Director of External Communications for Eversource, appeared on WKBK’s “Good Morning with Dan Mitchell” Wednesday morning to discuss the company’s proposed changes to electric rates in New Hampshire and a new plan that would tie future increases to performance metrics.

Eversource has asked the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to approve a distribution rate increase and a performance-based ratemaking (PBR) model. Hinkle said the company is seeking a $6.75 per month increase for residential delivery charges beginning Aug. 1, but emphasized that PBR, if approved, would change how rates are adjusted moving forward.

“Instead of large rate increases every five to seven years, this would allow for smaller, more predictable changes—based on how well we’re performing,” Hinkle said during the broadcast. “PBR ties our future rates to metrics such as reliability, customer satisfaction, and how well we interconnect solar systems.”

Hinkle explained that while customers can choose their electricity supplier in New Hampshire, Eversource still handles the infrastructure and billing. The current rate proposal under review only affects the delivery portion of electric bills.

The conversation also highlighted efforts to improve grid reliability. Hinkle pointed to Eversource’s investment in distribution automation, a technology that lets system operators reroute power remotely and quickly isolate damage after outages. “Sometimes we’re able to restore a large number of customers just by our remote system operators switching things around in the control room,” he said.

That technology paid off in 2023, when more than half of non-storm outages were resolved in under five minutes, he added.

Vegetation management and the impact of severe weather were also key topics. “We live in a heavily forested state and the health of the trees has declined. There are a lot of dead or dying trees that pose a threat to our lines,” Hinkle said. Wind storms, regardless of season, remain the biggest hazard to the state’s electric grid, he noted.

Hinkle said summer electricity use typically rises about 20% and urged customers to take advantage of upcoming webinars and Eversource’s assistance programs. “At this point in our world, we need to be becoming more energy efficient, not less,” he said.

The PUC is expected to continue reviewing Eversource’s proposal throughout the year. Any decisions about rate changes or performance-based plans will be made by regulators—not the state legislature.

Listen to the full interview: