Concord Steam to Close Next Year

CONCORD, NH — A local utility will cease to create heating for customers in Concord in May 2017, ending a multi-year effort by the company and politicians to save the steam company, according to a press statement.

Liberty Utilities, one of New Hampshire’s largest natural gas companies, has agreed to work with the customers of Concord Steam during the next year to transition them to natural gas after the steam company was unable to continue operations despite plans to build a new facility, tax breaks, and other incentives and giveaways.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we are unable to see a future in which we can continue operations,” said Peter Bloomfield, president of Concord Steam, in the statement. “It is paramount to all of us at Concord Steam that, as we begin the process of winding down operations, our customers have a smooth transition to new services from a reliable provider. To that end, we recently approached Liberty Utilities to see if there was a way to work with them on an orderly transition for our customers who wish to use their services.”

Concord Steam is a wood fired cogeneration plant that provides heat and electricity to a number of facilities across the city including school buildings, state buildings, parts of the South End, and Downtown Concord. The company has been in the process of attempting to build a new plant in the South End for a number of years in an effort to replace its aging facility on Pleasant Street.

The statement noted that the transition from steam to natural gas for both private and public customers will need to be approved by the state’s Public Utilities Commission. The planned transition from steam to natural gas will be available for any customer that chooses to switch.

“This agreement with Concord Steam is good for its customers and good for our customers,” said David Swain, president of Liberty Utilities-NH, in the statement. “By being able to plan for the transition of Concord Steam’s customers, we can reduce the cost of engineering and construction, which will benefit our existing customers, and ensure that there is minimal disruption for Concord Steam’s customers.”

According to Liberty, the agreement will provide Concord Steam “sufficient time to work with its customers and Liberty Utilities, so that Liberty can design distribution systems upgrades, new services and plan construction activities.” This, all involved hope, will provide “a smooth and orderly transition for customers who elect to take natural gas service for their heating needs.”

The planning and transition would occur this year and should end before next the 2018 winter season.

“No customer who chooses to switch to natural gas service for their heating needs will see an interruption in service,” the press statement noted. “The construction of new services to customers are not expected to impact the completed portions of Concord’s Main Street Project.”

Swain admitted that that the “upfront cost” will be expensive for many of the building owners since they don’t currently have furnaces or boilers. But he stated that the company would be looking into financing options for building owners.