New Hampshire Electric Cooperative leaders recently had a rare opportunity to bring member concerns about energy affordability and reliability directly to the nation’s top energy official.

In late August, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visited NHEC’s Raymond district office for a discussion focused on the cost and reliability challenges facing New Hampshire and the broader New England energy market. NHEC President and CEO Michael Jennings was joined by Board Vice Chair Bill Darcy, Director of Operations Jim Horan and Jim Matheson, CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), for the meeting.

“Energy policy decisions made in Concord, Washington and across the regional market have a direct impact on what our members pay and the reliability they expect,” Jennings said. “That is why NHEC needs to be part of these conversations. Our job is to make sure rural New Hampshire members are represented when major energy decisions are being made.”

The discussion centered on two priorities that matter most to Co-op members: keeping electric service reliable and keeping energy costs as reasonable as possible. Jennings said resource adequacy, the ability to ensure enough energy is available when members need it most, remains one of the region’s most important energy challenges.

“I want to thank Secretary Wright and NRECA CEO Jim Matheson for taking the time to visit the Co-op and discuss something we work on every day: affordability for our members,” Jennings said.

“It was a valuable opportunity to advocate for practical ways to reduce energy costs in New Hampshire while maintaining the reliable service our members depend on. We appreciated the Secretary’s willingness to listen, ask questions and engage in a productive discussion.”

Secretary Wright discussed the importance of expanding energy infrastructure in New England, including additional natural gas pipeline capacity, as one way to help lower costs for residents and businesses and support economic development. New England continues to face some of the highest electricity costs in the country, and the region relies heavily on natural gas for power generation, especially during periods of high demand.

Wright said additional pipeline capacity could also help reduce reliability risks during peak energy demand events, particularly in the winter, when constrained fuel supplies can place added pressure on the regional electric grid.

The visit also included time with Co-op operations supervisors and line crews. Wright heard directly from employees about the challenges of working in difficult New Hampshire weather, restoring power after storms and preparing the next generation of lineworkers to enter the profession.

Wright praised the role electric cooperatives play in communities across the country, saying, “America would not be America without cooperatives”