Sharon Davis: Dwyer letter misleads NHEC members

To The Daily Sun,

As the chair of the board at New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, I write to correct misleading statements in a recent letter from NHEC Director Leo Dwyer.

Mr. Dwyer is the author of a proposed amendment to NHEC’s bylaws, which is on the 2024 ballot being sent to the co-op’s 86,000 members-owners. The NHEC board opposes this amendment.

Mr. Dwyer claims the amendment would provide NHEC directors with “information necessary to exercise their fiduciary responsibility” and that “directors need information to ensure your rates are kept as low as possible.”

Under longstanding board policy, “The Board of Directors shall have access to all NHEC contracts and documents, other than personnel files.” The only restriction? Confidential documents must remain on NHEC property unless the president/CEO or general counsel authorizes their release. This policy ensures proper oversight and handling of confidential information, including our members’ data.

The proposed amendment removes these important safeguards.

Directors already have complete access to all information needed to set NHEC’s electric rates. The information is summarized and presented in public session at our monthly board meetings.

Mr. Dwyer expressed no concerns about this information when he voted with the full board in December to unanimously approve NHEC’s current rates.

Our board has a process by which directors can propose bylaws amendments and receive board input before bringing the question to our members.

Mr. Dwyer did not follow this process. Instead, he bypassed the board and solicited members’ signatures on a petition without providing the needed context about our current policy.

Mr. Dwyer now asks why most NHEC directors oppose the bylaws amendment. It’s because it removes necessary security safeguards and puts NHEC’s and our members’ information at needless risk.

I urge NHEC members to vote “No” on the bylaws amendment.

Sharon Davis

Campton