Public Hearing Notice  Climate Compliance Plans Public Hearing (DPU 25-40 through 25-45)

The Department is conducting two virtual public hearings to receive public comments on the 2025 Climate Compliance Plans (CCPs) from the state’s gas local distribution companies:  Berkshire Gas, National Grid, Unitil, Liberty Utilities, and Eversource (both Eversource Gas of Massachusetts and NSTAR). The Department requires these companies to submit CCPs every five years to help achieve the state’s Target 2050 Climate Goals, starting this year.  Each company’s CCP is required to expand on previous net zero enablement plans; detail the total investment necessary and at least one alternative method to meet the required emissions reductions; include customer, stakeholder, and community input; and report on hybrid heating switchover practices. 

In the CCP proceedings, the Department will investigate several issues addressed in the recent 2025 gas system enhancement plan (GSEP) Orders (DPU 24-GSEP-01 through 24-GSEP-06):

• Requirements for the analysis of non-pipeline alternatives before a pipeline project is planned to begin; 
• The companies’ decommissioning practices and related depreciation charges; 
• Stranded costs associated with GSEP investments; 
• And the appropriateness of requiring each company to combine its GSEP into its CCP. 

Furthermore, the Department will also be looking into the companies’ line extension allowance policies as part of these proceedings. For more information, please see the Notice and related documents below. 

The first public hearing will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 2:00 pm.. For audio-only access to the hearing, attendees can dial-in at 646-931-3860 (not toll free) and then enter the Meeting ID# 871 9781 5903.

The second public hearing will take place on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 7pm.   For audio only access to the hearings, attendees can dial in at 1-301-715-8592 (not toll free) and then enter the Meeting ID# 834 1764 9618. 

The public hearings will be available in English. To request interpretation in a language other than English, please contact Kaylee Burgess at dpu.ej@mass.gov, no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2025.  

Any person interested in commenting on this matter via Zoom during the public hearing should send an email by Monday, June 2, 2025 to Jennifer.cargill@mass.gov, Elizabeth.c.mcnamara@mass.gov, and stephanie.mealey@mass.gov with your name, email address, and mailing address. 

Any person interested in commenting on this matter may submit written comments no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Friday, June 6, 2025, to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, Jennifer.cargill@mass.gov, Elizabeth.c.mcnamara@mass.gov, and stephanie.mealey@mass.gov, and to the companies’ respective attorneys, found in the Notices below. Please note that in the interest of transparency, any comments will be posted to our website as received and without redacting personal information, such as addresses, telephone numbers, or email addresses. As such, consider the extent of information you wish to share when submitting comments. The Department strongly encourages public comments to be submitted by email. If, however, a member of the public is unable to send written comments by email, a paper copy may be sent to Mark D. Marini, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110.