Public Hearing: AMI Data Access and Related Proposals (DPU 26-20/21/22)

The Department is conducting a virtual public hearing to receive comments on an advanced metering infrastructure data access protocol implementation plan (“AMI data access plan”) and related proposals submitted by Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil (“electric companies”). The electric companies submitted these proposals in compliance with sections 79, 127, and 128 of the 2024 Climate Act. The Department docketed the plan filings as DPU 26-20 for Eversource, DPU 26-21 for National Grid, and DPU 26-22 for Unitil. The Department has combined the three dockets into one for the proceeding and consolidated its investigation. 

Sections 79 and 127 of the 2024 Climate Act requests an AMI data access plan to include:  

1. the establishment of a statewide centralized AMI data repository to allow electric company customers and third parties, including competitive suppliers, access to AMI data in near-real time; and 
2. implementation of accelerated switching to permit residential and small commercial customers to change competitive suppliers within three days once AMI is fully deployed by the electric companies within the next few years.  

Section 79 of the Act, also allows the electric companies to recover prudent and necessary expenses to implement the centralized data repository.  The Department previously approved the electric companies’ AMI deployment and implementation plans in 2022. 

In this consolidated proceeding, the electric company filings address the following key topics:   

1. three-phase implementation of AMI customer usage data access and the centralized AMI data repository; 
2. data sharing timing and formats; 
3. third-party eligibility requirements to access customer-specific and bulk AMI data; 
4. customer opt-outs, outreach, and education on AMI data sharing by the electric companies to third-parties; 
5. estimated costs for implementation of the centralized data repository; 
6. proposed cost recovery from third-parties and customers for the centralized data repository; and 
7. accelerated switching. 

This list is not exhaustive.  Additional details can be found in the Notice linked below and in each company’s filing.  To access the filings in the Department’s online file room, type in the docket number such as “26-20”, “26-21”, or “26-22”. 

The public hearing will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. For audio-only access to the hearings, attendees can dial-in at 309-205-3325 (not toll free) and then enter Meeting ID# 834 1252 9912. If you anticipate providing comments over Zoom, please send an email by Wednesday, May 6, 2026, to kerri.phillips@mass.gov with your name, email, and mailing address. This hearing will be conducted in English. To request interpretation and/or translation in a language other than English, please send an email to dpu.ej@mass.gov by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2026. 

Any person interested in commenting on this matter may submit written comments no later than the close of business (5:00 p.m.) on Thursday, May 29, 2026. Written comments may be sent by email to dpu.efiling@mass.gov, and kerri.phillips@mass.gov. 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 Peter A. Ray, Secretary, Department of Public Utilities, One South Station, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110. 

For more information, please refer below.