Carroll County commissioners sign half‑cent net‑metering agreement, defer broader supplier change

Carroll County commissioners voted April 20 to sign a signature page to accept a half‑cent net‑metering arrangement offered through Freedom Energy Logistics, a move officials said would yield a modest annual benefit while they consider a larger contractor change.

Director Murray, the county official who presented the option, told the board the county previously signed a 0.2‑cent net‑metering credit while solar plans remained on the table and that the new half‑cent option would provide roughly $11,000 a year in net‑metering value. "At a half a cent, it's about $11,000 a year," Murray said. Murray added that bundling purchasing with Freedom Energy Logistics would increase the total benefit to about $17,000 a year but that the difference over the county's current supplier amounted to roughly $6,000 annually.

Chair (name/seat recorded in minutes) moved to sign the half‑cent signature page immediately; a commissioner seconded the motion and the board voted in favor. Commissioners framed the vote as authorizing the signature page only. "If the commissioners think that, it's worth $6,000 to switch companies and go with Freedom Energy Logistics, that's the decision that you guys will need to make," Murray said, adding that the county has relied on USource through the Hampshire Association of Counties for bidding services and that USource has provided reliable service.

Several commissioners emphasized the value of long‑standing vendor relationships and asked staff to bring a fuller comparison back for one more meeting before a permanent switch. "We work hard to establish relationships with vendors around here," one commissioner said. The board approved signing the immediate signature document while reserving final vendor selection for further review.

The signature allows the county to capture the half‑cent net‑metering arrangement now; any decision to bundle electricity purchasing with Freedom Energy Logistics or to replace USource will be considered at a subsequent meeting.