BY JEFF TOUNGE

The days were hot on Lake Winnipesaukee during the 2025 Northern New England Energy Conference( NNEEC), hosted by the Maine Energy Marketers Association( MEMA) and Energy Marketers Association of New Hampshire( EMANH). So too, were the discussions on the Federal Update Panel with Rob Underwood( Energy Marketers of America) and Jim Collura( National Energy & Fuels Institute).

It is not often we see 100-degree weather at the annual NNEEC, but this year the hot temperatures added some excitement to the federal discussions.

Jim Collura enthusiastically provided an overview of the Energy Choice act supported by both NEFI and EMA, introduced to both the House and Senate. As previously reported by NEFI Energy Online News,“ Introduced by Rep. Nick Langworthy( R-NY-23) in the House as H. R. 3699 and by Senator Jim Justice( R-WV) in the Senate as S. 1945, the Energy Choice Act would prevent state and local governments from adopting, implementing, or enforcing any law, regulation, ordinance, or building code that prohibits or limits – or has the effect of limiting – access to heating fuels based on energy type or source.”

It was noted during the panel discussions that currently 26 states have passed energy choice legislation that ensures the consumer is free to choose how they heat and power their homes. Federal legislation would preserve this right for all states and prevent communities and states from overpowering this freedom of choice.

Jim Collura pointed out the difference between New Hampshire and Maine during the unified conference of these two states. New Hampshire currently has energy choice legislation passed in 2021 with the support of EMANH, PGANE and several prominent fuel marketers. Now, Maine has an opportunity to pass similar legislation. Charlie Summers, President at MEMA, and his team have been diligently supporting LD 556 that has passed both the House and the Senate in Maine recently. During the time of the NNEEC conference, the Maine Energy Choice bill was waiting for the governor’ s approval.

Summers mentioned during the NNEEC that“ thanks to

CURRENTLY 26 STATES HAVE PASSED ENERGY CHOICE LEGISLATION THAT ENSURES THE CONSUMER IS FREE TO CHOOSE HOW THEY HEAT AND POWER THEIR HOMES.

From left: Rob Underwood( EMA) Jim Collura( NEFI) Joe Sculley( EMANH). Credit Meghan Sylvester, Maine Energy Marketers Association.

the tireless advocacy of consumers, energy marketers, team members at MEMA and bipartisan support at the state level, this bill has a real chance of being passed. It is a common-sense bill and we are encouraged that the law makers in Maine are giving this a serious look.” And now the good news- the Energy Choice bill LD 556 was signed into law on July 1st in Maine. So now both Maine and New Hampshire have effective Energy Choice legislation that protects the consumer. The efforts of the various associations and energy marketers are paramount to the success of these bills. It often seems obvious to the consumer that they should have a right to choose their own energy needs – but without efforts from these associations and marketers, the consumer is often overlooked by perilous restrictions enacted by legislatures. In order to have a thriving economy, we need competition and options. These energy choice bills preserve these rights and afford the consumer the choice. l FON

Jeff Tounge is managing partner of Tounge Associates, offering mergers and acquisitions services, based in Portland, Maine.

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