Burlington Electric Department Announces New Hydroelectricity Power Purchase Agreements with New England Reliable Hydropower Holdings Subsidiary and Relevate Power

Burlington, VT – Burlington Electric Department (BED) announced today new power purchase agreements (PPAs) with a subsidiary of New England Reliable Hydropower Holdings LLC (NERH)* and Relevate Power for hydroelectric power from projects in New England. The PPAs represent continued support of Burlington’s energy needs with clean, renewable generation and BED’s commitment to in-state and New England renewable resources.

BED and a subsidiary of NERH signed two PPAs, one for short-term hydropower through the end of 2026 providing 100 percent of the energy output and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) from the Skelton Hydro facility on the Saco River in Maine and another five-year PPA beginning January 1, 2027 for 50 percent of the output (approximately 50,000 MWh annually) and associated RECs from Skelton Hydro. The five-year agreement was considered and approved by the Burlington Electric Commission (BEC) at its May 13, 2026 meeting.

BED and Relevate signed a 10-year PPA that began in February 2026 under which Relevate will deliver to BED an estimated 10,600 MWh annually, associated RECs, and capacity from the Wyre Wynd Hydroelectric Project on the Quinebaug River in Jewett City, Connecticut. The 10-year agreement was approved by the BEC on September 10, 2025, the Burlington Board of Finance on December 15, 2025, and the City Council on January 12, 2026.

Combined, these new PPAs will replace a prior hydroelectricity agreement with FirstLight that expired on December 31, 2025, and an existing agreement for wind from Hancock Maine that expires later in 2026.

“I appreciate BED’s efforts to secure renewable energy in the form of New England hydropower from NERH and Relevate, building on BED’s recent renewal of its Vermont Wind agreement,” stated Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. “Continuing to include cost-competitive hydro and wind in our energy portfolio are important steps that benefit our ratepayers and help with our strategy of being a climate-forward city.”

“Our new agreements with NERH and Relevate demonstrate BED’s and the City’s continuing commitment to source 100 percent of our power from a mix of different types of renewable generation, while maintaining reliability for our customers,” stated Darren Springer, General Manager, BED. “With demand for renewable generation rising and with energy costs broadly rising across resources, BED will continue with our strategy to source cost-effective, stably priced, and longer-term sources of renewable power to reduce volatility for our customers. We appreciate the opportunity to work with NERH and Relevate to support Burlington’s energy goals and help support renewable energy on the New England grid.”

“We are thrilled to announce our new agreements with Burlington Electric Department, supporting this innovative municipal utility as it looks to maintain a 100 percent renewable power supply as electricity demand grows and the energy transition advances,” stated Steven Zuretti, Senior Director of Commercial Origination, NERH. “This collaboration complements BED’s mission to meet its customers’ energy needs in a safe, reliable, affordable, sustainable, and socially responsible manner, and advances NERH’s mission to deliver the clean power needed to meet accelerating electricity demand across New England.”

“Relevate Power appreciates our new partnership that enables Burlington Electric Department to continue sourcing its power from renewable generation and to pursue its Net Zero Energy goal,” stated Ian Clark, Chief Commercial Officer, Relevate Power LLC.

* NERH is a joint venture between affiliates of Brookfield and a subsidiary of B Grimm Power Public Company Limited.