Agreement will improve service and reliability for customers, enabling Eversource to more efficiently complete repairs and upgrades

MANCHESTER, N.H. (May 3, 2023) – As part of an agreement approved by the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, Eversource this week took ownership of all electric utility pole interests owned by Consolidated Communications (CCI) in New Hampshire. With the agreement, the energy company is now responsible for the maintenance of an additional 175,393 utility pole equivalents across all 10 counties in the Granite State – improving service and reliability for its customers by enabling Eversource to more efficiently complete repairs, new pole sets, and upgrades in more areas of its New Hampshire service territory.

“From stronger, more durable poles to covered wire and distribution automation technology like smart switches, we’re working every day to improve reliability for our customers and make our electric system more resilient to extreme weather and other issues caused by climate change,” said Eversource New Hampshire President of Operations Doug Foley. “Pole replacements and equipment transfers are time-consuming, labor-intensive processes that are necessary every day in order to provide safe, reliable service to customers, and utilities must work collaboratively to ensure the proper maintenance of this vast network that is essential to all of our electricity and telecommunications needs. With this agreement, these poles will now be fully integrated into our maintenance processes, enabling our dedicated field employees to efficiently complete necessary upgrades and repairs to make our electric system more resilient for customers.”

In New Hampshire, towns are divided into “maintenance areas” between electric and telephone companies dictating who is responsible for installing, maintaining, and removing poles. All other parties rent space on the pole to attach their equipment, and the joint owner companies have signed agreements outlining the process for the replacement of poles. The completion of this agreement between Eversource and CCI eliminates the complexities in administering utility poles under joint ownership and will improve service and reliability for customers as the energy company fully integrates the poles into its maintenance processes.

The New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission approved the agreement on November 18, 2022, following a comprehensive regulatory review process that began in February 2021. With the transfer of pole ownership and maintenance responsibility complete, Eversource is coordinating closely with communities and the state to address any existing pole issues, complete needed repairs or replacements, and include the new poles in its regular inspection procedures.

For more information on Eversource’s efforts to make the electric system smarter and more resilient for customers while enabling the connection of more clean energy sources, please visit Eversource.com.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2023 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource is New Hampshire’s largest electric utility, serving nearly 535,000 homes and businesses in 211 cities and towns, and also supplies water to approximately 10,200 homes and businesses in seven communities. Eversource is proud to be recognized as the #1 contributor to United Way in New Hampshire. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,600 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

CONTACT:
William Hinkle
603-634-2228
william.hinkle@eversource.com