New Hampshire Electric Coop

My name is Laurel Boivin, and I’m a longtime New Hampshire resident with over 30 years of experience working at the intersection of energy, environmental policy and compliance, community relations, and communications. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in both the public and private sectors, and in the electric utility industry, helping others to navigate complex energy issues and build practical solutions that serve both people and place. I’m running for the board because energy touches just about every part of our lives. It powers how we live, how we work, and even the things we buy and use every day. In many ways, it’s the foundation underneath everything we do—and that’s why reliability and affordability matter so much. I believe NHEC can take a more proactive, thoughtful approach to meeting the needs of its members, and I want to contribute my experience and perspective to help ensure strong, locally responsive solutions for members now and into the future.

Electric co-ops are locally governed and member-owned, which keeps them closely connected to the communities they serve and focused on balancing reliability and affordability.

For members, that means reliable, reasonably priced power, a voice in how the cooperative is run, and clear communication, especially when it matters most.

I’m proud to be a member of the NHEC Board of Directors because that model reflects the values I care about, including local decision-making, community connection, and shared responsibility.

Electric cooperatives play a critical role in energy and community resiliency by maintaining reliable systems, restoring power quickly, and managing costs for members. Because they are locally governed and member-owned, co-ops stay closely connected to the communities they serve, supporting strong communication and responsive decision-making.

For members, that means reliable, reasonably priced power, a voice in how the cooperative is run, and access to programs that help manage energy use and costs. Through smart, long-term planning, co-ops help communities recover from disruptions and adapt over time.

I’ve always loved being outside. It’s where I feel most at home. These days, you’ll find me walking the beach, jumping ocean waves, paddle boarding, wandering forest trails, mushroom foraging, stargazing, or snowshoeing.

You can learn more or get in touch on her website: https://www.laurelfornhec.com

I’m keen to see my local Electric Co-op do sensible things to support environmentally responsible power. My Co-op is New Hampshire Electric Co-op (“NHEC”), and, as a member-owned organization, it traces its heritage to a public body established before WW2 to help rural communities modernize and prosper. With a modified set of practical challenges today, not least climate change and environmental damage, the underlying goal is, however, still the same as it was when the Coop was founded to help the communities it serves. There’s still a lot that the Co-op can do to make a real positive impact. I want to help my Co-op support our rural community in a long-term and responsible way.

Because of their ownership and funding structure Coops can still think long term and make practical decisions that help members that need the most help.

In Rural communities, electric supply is probably more important than in the City. Even though there’s limited public transport and street lighting out here, there are also a lot of isolated dwellings, many with people living alone, that rely on electricity for their water and for a big freezer of food. In the country, these can’t be replenished during a power cut by just walking to a neighborhood store. Good electricity and good broadband also help to keep people working and living life to the full in rural communities – and they help attract new community members.

Walking, playing football (soccer), trying to keep up with jobs around the house and in the orchard and woods! Hopefully this year looking after some bees!

Email Emily at Emily.johnson@powactionfund to learn more and sing up for a canvass.

My name is Brad Harkavy, and I’m a Campton resident, running for the NHEC Board of Directors. My campaign is based on wanting to give back to our community and help strengthen our electric cooperative.

I’m a tech entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience working with utilities, highlighted by building LiveData Utilities and leading its acquisition by Oracle. At Oracle, I worked with utilities of all sizes to modernize their operations, and I’d welcome the opportunity to bring that experience to NHEC. I’ve served on public, private, and nonprofit boards, and currently serve as 2nd Vice Chair of the Edison Electric Institute OT Subgroup. If elected, I will ensure that while technology is an important tool, it’s not the end goal.

My priorities for the Co op are:
• Affordable Energy: Affordable, reliable power for every NHEC member; not just those who can install rooftop solar. Energy costs are skyrocketing, so maintaining affordable electricity will take strong, innovative support from the board, and is a top priority
• Grid Resilience: Hardening the network so the lights stay on, 24/7
• Transparency: Allowing greater access to data for members, to ensure a stronger Co-op
• Distributed Energy Resources: Renewables, battery storage, and microgrids that improve resilience, reduce peak demand, and lower costs
• Disciplined Technology Adoption: Smart investments that align with long-term financial and strategic goals
• Broadband: Strengthening our community by enabling fast Wi-Fi and supporting more reliable electric service with new electric poles, but also requiring fiscal discipline

Co-ops are awesome. Shared community responsibility to build great utilities. Running as a non-profit, we can deliver the lowest cost energy. NHEC executes well as a smaller utility, and I am proud to be a member.

Operating as co-op, we have a greater responsibility to enusre we deliver electricity (and now broadband) equitability. Ensuring that everyone has access to affordable power and broadband makes for a much stronger community. In addition, reducing the cost to deliver energy makes the overall coop more resilient, and finally, NHEC’s investment in broadband enabled us to install new poles and high-speed bandwidth to our switch gear. Both of which make the grid more resilient.

Hiking, biking, running, swimming, and lately, maple syruping.

You can learn more or get in touch here: https://www.facebook.com/BradNHEC