Four utilities in New Hampshire are offering programs to help their customers save money by lowering energy costs as electric rates are expected to soar this winter.
Liberty Utilities says it will have a 50-percent hike while Unitil says its rates will rise 44 percent. New Hampshire Electric Cooperative says its customers will see a 29 percent increase. Public Service of New Hampshire says its rates will remain stable.
Liberty Utilities spokesman John Shore tells the Eagle Tribune the rates are the result of an increased demand in the region for natural gas to fuel electricity-generated power plants. (See a report on that by NHPR's Sam Evans-Brown in the related stories below.)
The utilities have teamed up to offer "Button Up" workshops to provide energy-saving tips.
Increases for some utilities don't take effect until Dec. 1.
