Consumer advocate wants purchase price of Northern Pass power made public

by Allie Morris, Concord Monitor

The state consumer advocate is fighting Eversource Energy’s request to keep secret the price it plans to pay for power off the Northern Pass transmission line.

“In any contract for the purchase of goods or services, the key term is the price,” said Donald Kreis, who represents ratepayer interests before state energy regulators. “It’s especially important here.”

At issue is a power purchase agreement between Eversource and HydroQuebec, filed at the Public Utilities Commission for approval last month.

The deal secures 10 percent of the 1,000-megawatt Northern Pass line for Eversource customers if the controversial transmission line is built. The 20-year agreement is “expected to produce economic benefits” for New Hampshire customers that exceed $1 billion in energy cost savings, Eversource said.

But the utility is requesting to keep the deal’s price data confidential. The documents Eversource filed at the PUC are heavily redacted, and all information about cost is blacked out.

Kreis suggested the PPA is a “publicity stunt” meant to diffuse public opposition to Northern Pass, and help the project’s permitting chances at the state SEC.

Click below to read the full story in the Concord Monitor.