A path exists for New Hampshire to electrically isolate itself from the rest of New England, according to a study released this month. But such a move, the authors said, would likely come at a significant cost for ratepayers.
The July 15 report is the outcome of a monthslong investigation into the feasibility of New Hampshire leaving ISO New England, the nonprofit that oversees electric grid operation and the wholesale electricity market in the six New England states. The $230,000 report was compiled by Boston-based consultant London Economics International at the request of the New Hampshire Department of Energy, after a bill passed in 2025 directed the department to examine the feasibility of detaching from the regional system.
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 C6A@CE 7@F?5[ E96 “F?AC64656?E65” >@G6 @7 =62G:?8 x$~\}t H@F=5 96C2=5 D:8?:7:42?E 492?86D 7@C E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 6=64EC:4 64@DJDE6>] (9:=6 :E H@F=5 244@>A=:D9 46CE2:? 9JA@E96E:42= 8@2=D =68:D=2E@CD 925 @FE=:?65[ =:<6 D64FC:?8 >@C6 2FE@?@>J @G6C 9@H 6=64EC:4:EJ :D 3@F89E 2?5 D@=5 :? E96 DE2E6[ :E H@F=5 2=D@ D24C:7:46 E96 677:4:6?4J 82:?65 3J @A6C2E:?8 H:E9:? E96 x$~] }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 2=D@ 36 7@C465 E@ E2<6 @? 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 C68F=2E@CJ 5FE:6D[ 7@C H9:49 @77:4:2=D H@F=5 2?DH6C E@ 7656C2= @G6CD:89E] %96 D4@A6 @7 E9@D6 E2D<D[ E96 C6A@CE 7@F?5[ H@F=5 >2<6 E96 56A2CEFC6 4@DE=J 7@C E96 DE2E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 DEF5J AC@;64E65 E92E =62G:?8 E96 C68:@?2= 8C:5 H@F=5 C2:D6 E@E2= 4@DED 7@C C2E6A2J6CD 3J 23@FE S`cg >:==:@?[ @C C@F89=J `cT[ H:E9 255:E:@?2=[ 92C56C\E@\6DE:>2E6 4@DED @7 :>A=6>6?E:?8 E96 D6A2C2E:@? 2=D@ =:<6=J E@ 36 F?2G@:523=6] #2E6A2J6CD :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 2=C625J A2J D@>6 @7 E96 9:896DE 4@DED 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ :? E96 &]$][ H:E9 DE2E6 C2E6D @7E6? C2?<:?8 :? E96 E@A E6?k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]6:2]8@G^6=64EC:4:EJ^>@?E9=J^6A>0E23=608C2A96C]A9AnEl6A>E0d0e02Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm?2E:@?2==Jk^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm] ~E96C }6H t?8=2?5 DE2E6D C2?< D:>:=2C=J 9:89] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 C6A@CE 7@F?5 E92E :?DE625 @7 56E249:?8[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 4@F=5 AFD9 7@C C67@C>D H:E9:? E96 DECF4EFC6 @7 E96 x$~ E92E H@F=5 8C2?E >@C6 2FE@?@>J 2?5 36?67:ED[ 2 4@?4=FD:@? =:<6 E9@D6 C624965 3J |2:?6 2?5 r@??64E:4FE H96? E96J 2D<65 D:>:=2C BF6DE:@?D :? a__g 2?5 a_a_[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qms68C66D @7 D6A2C2E:@?i (92E H@F=5 2? 6I:E 7C@> E96 C68:@?2= 8C:5 6?E2:=nk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%C2?D>:DD:@? @H?6CD[ ?@E DE2E6D[ 2C6 >6>36CD @7 E96 x$~] %96C67@C6[ :? @C56C E@ D6A2C2E6[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 92G6 E@ >2?52E6 E9C@F89 DE2EFE6 E92E EC2?D>:DD:@? @H?6CD E96>D6=G6D H:E95C2H]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 >2;@C EC2?D>:DD:@? @H?:?8 6?E:EJ :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 :D tG6CD@FC46 t?6C8J] ~E96C EC2?D>:DD:@? @H?6CD :?4=F56 &?:E:= t?6C8J $JDE6>D[ }2E:@?2= vC:5[ E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 t=64EC:4 r@@A6C2E:G6[ 2?5 }6H w2>AD9:C6 %C2?D>:DD:@?[ {{r[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 4@?DF=E2?ED 2?2=JK65 G2C:@FD H2JD }6H w2>AD9:C6 >:89E 2EE6>AE E@ =62G6 E96 x$~[ 7C@> 2 4@>A=6E6 A9JD:42= 5:D4@??64E:@? 7C@> E96 8C:5 E@ 2 >@C6 >@56C2E6 5:DE2?4:?8]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 4@>A=6E6 A9JD:42= 5:D4@??64E:@? 2?5 H:E95C2H2= 7C@> E96 }6H t?8=2?5 8C:5 H@F=5 ?@E 36 762D:3=6[ E96J 4@?4=F565]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm$F49 2 >@G6 H@F=5[ 2D :?E6?565[ :D=2?5 }6H w2>AD9:C6 — 3FE 2=D@ :?25G6CE6?E=J :D=2?5 |2:?6[ H9:49 C6=:6D @? 6=64EC:4 EC2?D>:DD:@? =:?6D CF??:?8 E9C@F89 }6H w2>AD9:C6 E@ 6?8286 H:E9 E96 C6DE @7 }6H t?8=2?5] s:D4@??64E:?8 7C@> E96 C68:@?2= 8C:5 H@F=5 2=D@ C6>@G6 E96 >62?D E9C@F89 H9:49 86?6C2E@CD H:E9:? }6H w2>AD9:C6 4@?G6J E96 6=64EC:4:EJ E96J D6== E@ 6?E:E:6D @FED:56 E96 DE2E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmp7764E65 86?6C2E@CD H@F=5 :?4=F56 E96 }6IEtC2\@H?65 $623C@@< $E2E:@? ?F4=62C A@H6C A=2?E[ H9:49 D6==D 6=64EC:4:EJ 36J@?5 DE2E6 =:?6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%2<:?8 2H2J E96 23:=:EJ 7@C E9@D6 AC:G2E6=J @H?65 86?6C2E@CD E@ EC256 H:E9 6I:DE:?8 3FJ6CD 4@F=5 36 D66? 2D 2k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]=2H]4@C?6==]65F^H6I^E2<:?8DQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmC68F=2E@CJ E2<:?8k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ A@E6?E:2==J C6DF=E:?8 :? “6IA6?D:G6 =682= C2>:7:42E:@?D[” E96 C6A@CE H2C?D] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 6I:E D46?2C:@ E96 4@?DF=E2?ED 566>65 >@DE =:<6=J[ E9@F89 DE:== A@E6?E:2==J AC@3=6>2E:4[ H@F=5 :?G@=G6 }6H w2>AD9:C6 =62G:?8 E96 x$~\}t C68F=2E@CJ F>3C6==2 H9:=6 <66A:?8 A9JD:42= EC2?D>:DD:@? 4@??64E:@?D :?E24E] %9:D H@F=5 ?@E ?646DD2C:=J D9FE 5@H? EC25:?8 H:E9 @FED:56 6?E:E:6D[ 3FE :E H@F=5 :?EC@5F46 ?6H 7:?2?4:2= AC6DDFC6D E@ <66A 6=64EC:4:EJ H:E9:? E96 DE2E6]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmx? E9:D 42D6[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 DE:== ?665 E@ E2<6 @? C68F=2E@CJ C@=6D 4FCC6?E=J D9@F=56C65 3J E96 x$~[ E96 C6A@CE DE2E6D[ 2E D:8?:7:42?E 4@DE] %96 C6A@CE 2=D@ @FE=:?6D @E96C A@E6?E:2= 67764ED @7 DF49 2 >@G6[ DF49 2D A@DD:3=6 F?H:==:?8?6DD 2>@?8 :?G6DE@CD E@ 4@?DECF4E ?6H 86?6C2E:@? :? E96 C6=2E:G6=J :D@=2E65 >2C<6E }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 364@>6] k^DA2?mk^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qmr@DE 2?5 6>:DD:@?D :>A24EDk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm(9:=6 @G6C2== 4@DED H@F=5 :?4C62D6[ E96 4@DE @7 H9@=6D2=6 6?6C8J 7@C 4FDE@>6CD :? }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 =:<6=J 564C62D6 :7 E96 DE2E6 H6C6 E@ D6A2C2E6 7C@> E96 C6DE @7 }6H t?8=2?5[ E96 C6A@CE 7@F?5] %9:D :D :? A2CE 3642FD6 }6H w2>AD9:C6’D 86?6C2E:@? 7=66E :D =@H6C\4@DE @G6C2== E92? E9@D6 @7 ?6:893@CD[ E96 C6A@CE DE2E65[ 2?5 3642FD6 :D@=2E:?8 E96 DE2E6’D 8C:5 H@F=5 “EC2A” =@H\4@DE 6?6C8J :? E96 =@42= >2C<6E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmqFE @E96C 4@DED H@F=5 C:D6 E@ DF49 2? 6IE6?E E92E E96J H@F=5 ?682E6 E9@D6 D2G:?8D[ E96 C6A@CE DE2E6D] p?5 E9@D6 4@DED H@F=5 F=E:>2E6=J 27764E C2E6A2J6CD] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm}6H 4@DED 7@C E96 DE2E6 :?4=F56 E96 AC:46 @7 >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 A9JD:42= 8C:5[ EC2?D>:DD:@? 766D[ A=2??:?8 7@C C6D6CG6D 2?5 256BF2E6 86?6C2E:@? 42A24:EJ[ 2?5 >@C6] &A@? 6I:E:?8[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 ?665 E@ 56G6=@A E96 42A24:EJ E@ 42CCJ @FE 2? 2CC2J @7 C68F=2E@CJ 7F?4E:@?D 4FCC6?E=J F?56CE2<6? 3J E96 x$~ :? @C56C E@ DE2J 4@>A=:2?E H:E9 E96 C6BF:C6>6?ED @7 E96 u656C2= t?6C8J #68F=2E@CJ r@>>:DD:@? 2?5 AC6G6?E 8C:5 >2=7F?4E:@?D E92E 4@F=5 C6DF=E :? 3=24<@FED]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm~E96C 4@DED E96 DE2E6 H@F=5 7246 FA@? =62G:?8 4@F=5 :?4=F56 >:==:@?D :? =682= 6IA6?D6D E@ :>A=6>6?E E96 D6A2C2E:@?j E96 AC:46 @7 25>:?:DE6C:?8 =@42= H9@=6D2=6 6?6C8J >2C<6EDj A@DD:3=6 x$~ 6I:E 766Dj 2?5 >@C6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmuFCE96C>@C6[ }6H w2>AD9:C6’D :56?E:EJ 2D A2CE @7 E96 x$~ :D 32<65 :?E@ E96 DE2E6’D DE2EF6D] {62G:?8 E96 8C:5 H@F=5 C6BF:C6 FA52E:?8 >2?J =2HD — 2?5 E96 492?86D C6BF:C65 H@F=5 36 >@C6 4@>A=:42E65 E92? D:>A=J DH2AA:?8 @FE E6C>D[ 2D E96 =2HD 2C6 7C2>65 2C@F?5 2?5 56A6?5 FA@? 46CE2:? 2DDF>AE:@?D 23@FE E96 C68:@?2= 8C:5[ E96 C6A@CE DE2E6D]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 6?6C8J >:I 86?6C2E65 H:E9:? }6H w2>AD9:C6 H@F=5 2=D@ D9:7E :7 E96 DE2E6 H6C6 E@ C65F46 EC25:?8 H:E9 ?6:893@CD[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE] (:E9 2 C65F4E:@? :? 6?6C8J 6IA@CED[ E96 2>@F?E @7 6=64EC:4:EJ 86?6C2E65 :?\DE2E6 — :?4=F5:?8 2E >2;@C 82D\7:C65 86?6C2E@CD — H@F=5 564=:?6[ E96 C6A@CE 7@F?5] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm&?56C E96 DE2EFD BF@[ }6H w2>AD9:C6 @7E6?[ 3FE ?@E 2=H2JD[ 86?6C2E6D >@C6 6=64EC:4:EJ E92? :D ?66565 H:E9:? E96 DE2E6] %96C67@C6[ F?56C 2 A@E6?E:2= 6I:E D46?2C:@[ :7 }6H w2>AD9:C6 H6C6 E@ C65F46 86?6C2E:@? E@ >66E @?=J :?\DE2E6 56>2?5[ D@>6 82D 86?6C2E:@? 4@F=5 462D6 2?5 “>@DE @7 E96 6?6C8J 4@?DF>65 3J }6H w2>AD9:C6 C2E6A2J6CD H@F=5 36 86?6C2E65 7C@> K6C@\6>:DD:@? C6D@FC46D :?4=F5:?8 ?F4=62C[ 9J5C@[ H:?5 2?5 D@=2C[” E96 C6A@CE 4@?4=F565] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 C6DF=E H@F=5 36 2? 2AAC@I:>2E6 h_T C65F4E:@? :? 6>:DD:@?D 3J a_b_[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C6A@CE] qFE :?4C62D6D E@ @E96C 4@DED 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 =62G:?8 E96 x$~ >2<6 E9:D D46?2C:@ F?=:<6=J[ :E 4@?4=F56D]k^DA2?mk^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQ65:E@C:2=$F3965Qmx$~\}t =:?<D }6H w2>AD9:C6 E@ DE2E6D H:E9 8C66?6C A@=:4:6Dk^9am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 C6A@CE H2D >2?52E65 3Jk^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^84]?9]8@G^3:==0DE2EFD^=6824J^3Da_`e^3:==%6IE]2DAInDJla_adU2>Aj:5ld`dU2>AjEIEu@C>2El9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm2 3:==k^DA2?mk^2mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm[ A2DD65 :? a_ad[ 7C@> AC:>6 DA@?D@C 2?5 }6HE@? #6AF3=:42? #6A]k^DA2?m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmy2>6D $F>>6CDk^DA2?mkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm] %96 3:== 5:C64E65 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?6C8J E@ 4@?5F4E 2? :?G6DE:82E:@? :?E@ E96 DE2E6’D A@E6?E:2= H:E95C2H2= 7C@> x$~\}t] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm$F>>6CD 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ 2 C6BF6DE 7@C 4@>>6?E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 3:== H2D C@@E65 :? BF6DE:@?D 23@FE H96E96C @E96C }6H t?8=2?5 DE2E6D’ A@=:4:6D E2C86E:?8 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D 925 C2:D65 E96 4@DE @7 6?6C8J 7@C }6H w2>AD9:C6 4@?DF>6CD[ 96k^DA2?m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6H92>AD9:C63F==6E:?]4@>^a_ae^_a^_b^6I64FE:G6\4@F?4:=\2AAC@G6D\ab____\E@\DEF5J\D6A2C2E:?8\7C@>\6=64EC:4\8C:5^QmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQmE@=5 E96 qF==6E:?k^DA2?mk^2m kDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm:? u63CF2CJ] p>@?8 E96 BF6DE:@?D E96 6?E:C6=J #6AF3=:42?\DA@?D@C65 3:== 5:C64E65 E96 DEF5J E@ 255C6DDi s@6D }6H w2>AD9:C6 A2J 6IEC2 7@C 6=64EC:4:EJ 3J G:CEF6 @7 D92C:?8 2 8C:5 H:E9 @FC ?6:893@CDnk^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm&=E:>2E6=J[ E96 C6A@CE 4@?4=F565[ C682C5=6DD @7 A2CE:4:A2E:?8 DE2E6D’ :56@=@8:42= 2=:8?>6?E[ 36:?8 2 A2CE @7 E96 x$~ D2G6D >@?6J 7@C E96 DE2E6 2?5 C2E6A2J6CD 3J DAC625:?8 E96 3FC56? @7 8C:5 @G6CD:89E]k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 36?67:ED @7 x$~ >6>36CD9:A 2C6 ?@E 5:DEC:3FE65 6BF2==J 2>@?8 >6>36C DE2E6D[ ?@C 2C6 E96J C6BF:C65 E@ 36[ E96 C6A@CE DE2E6D[ 3FE A2CE:4:A2E:@? :D DE:== 2 ?6E 7:?2?4:2= A@D:E:G6] k^DA2?mk^Am
kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm“tG6? E9@F89 2 DE2E6 :? x$~\}t >2J 766= E92E :E :D ?@E C646:G:?8 :ED 72:C D92C6 @7 36?67:ED C6=2E:G6 E@ @E96C DE2E6D[ :E 5@6D ?@E >62? 36:?8 A2CE @7 2? #%~ WD9@CE 7@C C68:@?2= EC2?D>:DD:@? @C82?:K2E:@?[ 56D4C:3:?8 E96 x$~X :D ?6E ?682E:G6[” E96 C6A@CE DE2E6D] “xE >2J ;FDE >62? E96 36?67:E :D ?@E AC@A@CE:@?2= E@ E96 =@25 D92C6 @7 E96 DE2E6]”k^DA2?mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.