Partnership between CEDC and Freedom Energy Logistics NH's Coös County businesses nearly $500,000 on energy costs

“This was already the end of three small businesses and could be the final straw for more!” Ericka Canales knows of the health and well-being of many North Country NH businesses. As Executive Director of the Coos Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), she speaks regularly with these businesses to discuss challenges that disrupt growth. “The cost of electricity escalated from simply a concern to an actual viability threat. We knew we must act.”

Ericka needed solutions. She first gained support from the CEDC board of directors, a nonprofit focused on promoting economic growth and business development. After getting up to speed on the energy options landscape in the state, she then began a search for an industry partner with practical solutions and experience in navigating challenges. She found a New Hampshire-based company, Freedom Energy Logistics.

 Known regionally for its strategic energy expertise, Freedom Energy Logistics typically manages large industrial and municipal clients with marquee names like General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works, and the State of New Hampshire. However, Freedom Energy has also carved out a niche competency in aggregation groups. Managing buying groups for large associations, and now leading NH in the adoption of Community Choice Aggregation programs, Freedom Energy understands how to leverage the power of group purchasing. Community Choice will help to alleviate this need in the near future, but who will help the businesses survive until then? This group purchasing capability led Ericka to ask the right questions:  What common denominators must be present to constitute a ‘group’? If we organize enough small and micro businesses on the same page, in the same timeframe, can we independently benefit from an opt-in group purchase?

Motivated by the passion to save the small business and now energized by this industry partner and thought leader, Ericka designed an open enrollment. A brief assessment was sent out to gauge initial interest from businesses. Over 50 businesses responded. The results showed that the cost of energy had become a significant financial hardship.

On Monday, February 27th, the rollout began. Coos County businesses had five days in which to enroll for a utility supply rate far below the $0.23/kWh that most had been paying. Organizing the supplier RFP with Freedom Energy, a goal had been set to obtain a rate as close to $0.10/kWh as possible. With a final rate of just over $0.11 kWH, businesses and respondents were pleased with the results.

A handful of enrollments came in on day one. A pizza restaurant, a small café, a group of insurance offices, and a dentist's office. Word began to spread, and outreach efforts of the CEDC began to take effect. By the end of the period, over 120 accounts had been enrolled with nearly 4 million kWh of estimated annual energy usage, nearly half a million dollars in savings for the Coos County region.

Such a remarkable program was formulated and executed in a matter of weeks. Thanks to the action of the Coos Economic Development Corporation, our Coos businesses can continue making pizzas, hosting visitors, and scooping ice cream without handing away all their hard-earned profits.  Ericka agrees, "We’re thrilled at Freedom Energy’s willingness to create a new partnership with Coos Economic Development Corporation. This enabled us to be able to save participating Coos County.

 Here’s a recap of the money-saving energy project:

• 60+ Businesses Served 

• 120 Eversource Accounts Served (actual individual meters)

• 3,824,720 Estimated Annual kWh enrolled (based on 12mo historic usage utility data)

• 10,199,306 Estimated Term kWh enrolled (based on 12mo historic usage utility data)

• $416,895 Saved by Coos County businesses in 2023 alone.

About Coos Economic Development Corporation

CEDC supports both for-profit and nonprofit organizations to assist in fostering growth, resulting in sustainable jobs in Coos County.  Learn more information about grants, small business advising, business loans, educational seminars, and professional skills training here on our website, or contact us at execdirector@coosedc.org.