Background and procedural requirements on electric sector modernization plans

Here you will find background information on the Electric Sector Modernization Plans (ESMP) filed by the electric companies Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil.

The Massachusetts legislature requires each electric company operating in Massachusetts to develop a plan, called an ESMP, to proactively upgrade the electric grid.  The companies must submit their ESMPs to the DPU for review once every 5 years.  The first ESMPs were submitted to the DPU on January 29, 2024 and approved with modification on August 29, 2024.

Table of Contents

Background - statutory requirements

On August 11, 2022, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts enacted G.L. c. 164, §§ 92B-92C, through An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind, St. 2022, c. 179, § 53, that requires the electric companies operating in Massachusetts (Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil) to each submit an ESMP with the DPU every 5 years.  The electric companies filed their first ESMP filings by January 29, 2024.

Prior to filing with the DPU, each company must submit its draft plan for review, input, and recommendations to the Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) established in G.L. c. 164, § 92C.  The GMAC must provide recommendations to the companies on the draft plans before the companies file the plans with the DPU.

The statute requires each company to develop an ESMP to proactively upgrade its electrical distribution system and, where applicable, transmission system to: 

  1. improve grid reliability, communications, and resiliency;
  2. enable increased, timely adoption of renewable energy and distributed energy resources;
  3. promote energy storage and electrification technologies necessary to decarbonize the environment and economy;
  4. prepare for future climate driven impacts on the transmission and distribution systems;
  5. accommodate increased transportation electrification, increased building electrification and other potential future demands on distribution and, where applicable, transmission systems; and
  6. minimize or mitigate impacts on the ratepayers of the Commonwealth, thereby helping the Commonwealth realize its statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits and sub-limits under state law. 

Each ESMP filed with the DPU must also include: 

  1. a summary of all proposed and related investments, alternatives to these investments and alternative approaches to financing these investments that have been reviewed, are under consideration or have been approved by the DPU previously;
  2. identification of customer benefits for all proposed investments and alternative approaches to financing those investments;
  3. three planning horizons for electric demand, including a 5‑year and 10‑year forecast and a demand assessment through 2050; and
  4. a list of each GMAC recommendation, including an explanation of whether and why each recommendation was adopted, adopted as modified, or rejected.

The DPU must approve, approve with modification, or reject each ESMP within 7 months of submittal with the DPU.  To be approved, an ESMP must provide net benefits for customers and meet the criteria enumerated in G.L. c. 164, § 92B(a). 

First ESMP Filings

The DPU assigned the following docket numbers to each company’s January 29, 2024 ESMP filing:

Each company’s ESMP, related filings, and all DPU procedural notices and memoranda, rulings, and orders regarding each company’s inaugural ESMP are posted to the DPU’s online File Room in the dockets linked above.

DPU Issuances and Orders

To ensure an administratively efficient process within the timeframe required by statute, the DPU has taken multiple actions to date, including the issuance of various procedural memos, notices, and Orders.

Docket Notices and Key Hearing Officer Procedural Memos

  • The DPU issued an August 7, 2023 memo and a November 14, 2023 memo . These pre-filing memos establish filing and procedural requirements for the first ESMP filings.
  • On February 2, 2024, the DPU issued Notices (D.P.U. 24‑10D.P.U. 24‑11, and D.P.U. 24-12) which provide details about each company’s ESMP filing and how members of the public could comment on those filings.
  • On February 23, 2024, the DPU issued a  procedural notice formalizing the final procedural schedule for the proceedings during the initial 7-month review.

DPU Orders

  • On February 20, 2024, the DPU issued an Order establishing the scope of the proceedings, including identification of issues to be addressed or excluded from the 7-month review period for the first ESMP filings.
  • On February 23, 2024, the DPU issued an Order addressing certain motions to intervene by entities seeking to participate in the National Grid proceeding.  This Order also clarified the distinction between different participant tracks for intervention in ESMP dockets.
  • On August 29, 2024, the DPU issued an Order approving each company’s inaugural ESMP with modification and identified the issues to be addressed in a subsequent phase of the proceedings and/or through future proceedings.  A more comprehensive summary of this Order is available here.
Last updated: December 10, 2024
Image credits:  Sear Greyson

Help Us Improve Mass.gov  with your feedback

Please do not include personal or contact information.
Feedback