Regulations and Legal Authority
The Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard was established with the 2018 Act to Advance Clean Energy and is promulgated pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, § 17(c).
An unofficial version of the CPS Regulation is provided by the Secretary of State's office and is linked below. The only official version of each regulation is published in the Massachusetts Register, which is available through the State Bookstore.
Regulatory Updates
On May 28, 2026, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) filed an emergency rulemaking with the Secretary of State that makes changes to 225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS), effective immediately. This emergency rulemaking:
- Changes the Minimum Standard from 2026 through 2030;
- Modifies the Near-Term Resource Multiplier for Qualified Energy Storage Systems; and
- Makes technical updates to references related to the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program.
The Department promulgated these changes on an emergency basis to reduce near-term impacts of the CPS program on ratepayers while creating a pathway to ensure additional energy storage is deployed across the Commonwealth. Clean and redlined versions of the updated regulations are provided below.
225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard - CLEAN (.pdf, 244 KB)
225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard - REDLINE (.pdf, 309 KB)
DOER accepted public comments on the emergency rulemaking and held a virtual public hearing on July 6, 2026. The written public comments received can be reviewed below; DOER did not receive any verbal comments during the public hearing. After considering all public comments, the Department elected to make no changes to the emergency rulemaking filed on May 28, 2026.
CPS 2026 Rulemaking - Public Comments (.pdf, 1.7 MB)
On August 14, 2026, DOER filed the Notice of Compliance with the Secretary of State for the Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS) emergency rulemaking filed on May 28, 2026. The Notice of Compliance will publish in the Massachusetts Register on August 28, 2026 and confirm that the changes made in the May 28, 2026 Emergency Rulemaking are permanent.
The Department appreciates and thanks stakeholders for their time and participation in the regulatory process to provide feedback on the CPS Emergency Rulemaking. The Department does not anticipate additional rulemakings in the next year.
Program Guidelines
The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) published guidelines on the topics listed below to support the Clean Peak Energy Standard regulation and provide further clarification to stakeholders.
Guidelines include:
- Clean Peak Resource Eligibility Guideline (.pdf, 195 KB)
- Clean Peak Demand Response Resource Guideline (.pdf, 279 KB)
- Clean Peak Energy Reserves Guidelines (.pdf, 155 KB)
- Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline (.pdf, 163 KB) (revised 12/5/23), see additional information below
- Clean Peak Determination of Sales Guideline (.pdf, 188 KB)
- Clean Peak Near-Term Resource Multiplier Guideline (.pdf, 170 KB) (revised 5/9/25), see additional information below
On May 9, 2025, DOER updated the Near-Term Resource Multiplier Guideline. A redlined version of the Guideline can be found below.
Clean Peak Near-Term Resource Multiplier Guideline (REDLINE) (.pdf, 157 KB)
The changes went into effect immediately.
Eligibility and Application Information
For more information on how to apply to the CPS, please see the CPS Application Page.
Program Components
Distribution Circuit Multiplier
The Distribution Circuit Multiplier (DCM) provides a 2x multiplier for the first 10 years of qualification to eligible Clean Peak Resources sited on pre identified circuits; see the Eligible Circuits List for more detail. As each eligible circuit has a limited amount of DCM capacity, Clean Peak Resources may reserve capacity on a selected circuit by submitting the application found below. Any resource that is eligible for the DCM circuit multiplier should submit a CPS DCM application to reserve capacity on a selected circuit prior to submitting a CPS SQA. This will ensure timely processing of the SQA. For the CPS DCM application, the following must be provided:
- Clean Peak Resource type (Demand Response, Qualified Energy Storage System, etc.), address, and capacity;
- Clean Peak Resource owner and contact information;
- An executed Interconnection Service Agreement
- Right to construct documentation; and
- Non-ministerial permits.
NOT ACTIVE - ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY - DCM Eligible Circuits List 2025 (.xlsx)
NOT ACTIVE - ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY - DCM Eligible Circuits List 2024 (.xlsx)
Near-Term Resource Multiplier
The Near-Term Resource Multiplier (NTRM) provides a 2x multiplier for the first 10 years of qualification to eligible Clean Peak Resources, see below for more details on eligibility. Applications for the NTRM opened on January 7, 2025.
The initial cap for the Near-Term Resource Multiplier shall be 50 MW of cumulative Qualified Energy Storage System capacity. After notice and opportunity for public comment, the Department may increase this cap in the future.
All of the following four criteria must be met for a Clean Peak Resource to qualify for the Near-Term Resource Multiplier:
- The Clean Peak Resource must be a standalone, front-of-the-meter, Qualified Energy Storage System (QESS) that is interconnected to the Distribution System. A standalone, front-of-the-meter, QESS is a QESS that serves no associated on-site load other than parasitic load or station load utilized to operate the QESS.
- The Clean Peak Resource must not have received a Statement of Qualification on or before January 1, 2025, and must have a Commercial Operation Date before January 1, 2027.
- The Clean Peak Resource must not be receiving nor will receive the Distribution Circuit Multiplier. No Clean Peak Resource shall receive both the Distribution Circuit Multiplier and the Near-Term Resource Multiplier.
- Qualification of the Clean Peak Resource for the Near-Term Resource multiplier shall not cause the affiliated Owner, Operator, or Authorized Agent to qualify for greater than 50% of the total capacity designated by the Department in the Near-Term Resource Multiplier program.
Near Term Resource Multiplier Application
Near-Term Resource Multiplier Reservation List (.xlsx)- Updated 12-02-25
Actual Monthly System Peak Reports
The Actual Monthly System Peak is defined in the Clean Peak Energy Standard as the highest net demand for electricity in a calendar month in ISO-NE Control Area. The Hour of Actual Monthly System Peak is the hour in which that occurs. DOER uses that monthly ISO-NE reported peak to identify when the Actual Monthly System Peak Multiplier should modify the number of Clean Peak Energy Certificates generated by a Clean Peak Resource.
DOER updates the Actual Monthly System Peak Report on the 20th of each month (or the following business day) by adding the previous month’s peak (e.g., the October monthly system peak is added to the Report on November 20th or the following business day).”
Actual Monthly System Peak (.xlsx) (8/20/26)
Prior to May 1, 2026, DOER used ISO-NE's SMD data to determine the Actual Monthly System Peak. As ISO-NE makes regular updates to the SMD data, which is used to determine the Actual System Monthly Peak, the data set pulled by DOER on the 20th of the month is below:
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (5/20/26)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (4/21/26)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (3/23/26)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (2/24/26)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx)(1/21/26)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (12/23/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (11/20/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx)(10/20/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx)(9/23/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (8/25/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (7/21/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (6/23/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (5/20/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx)(4/22/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (.xlsx) (3/20/25)
Minimum Standard
2020 Clean Peak Minimum Standard
Pursuant to M.G.L. Ch. 25A Section 17(a), DOER is required to annually increase the Minimum Standard by not less than 0.25 percent of kilowatt-hour sales by retail electricity suppliers in the Commonwealth. DOER has determined that 1.5 percent of sales by retail electricity suppliers in the Commonwealth shall be met with Clean Peak Energy Certificates in the 2020 compliance year.
2019 Clean Peak Minimum Standard
Pursuant to Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2018, not later than December 31, 2018, DOER was required to establish the baseline minimum percentage of kilowatt-hours sales to end-use customers that shall be met with clean peak certificates beginning on January 1, 2019.
After reviewing available information, the statutory definition of clean peak resources, and a number of other factors, DOER determined that approximately 0 MWh were being served by existing clean peak resources during peak load hours as of December 31, 2018, and established the Minimum Standard percentage requirement for retail electricity suppliers in the 2019 compliance year at 0%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Review the CPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more about program co-participation, calculation of Clean Peak Energy Certificates, and metering requirements.
Qualified Units List
Qualified Clean Peak Resources are listed here on the Qualified Units List. These units have met all the eligibility requirements to participate under the Clean Peak Energy Standard. Their NEPOOL GIS Certificates are known as Clean Peak Energy Certificates or CPECs. CPECs can be used only for compliance with the Massachusetts Clean Peak Energy Minimum Standard, not for any other energy portfolio standard.
Clean Peak Energy Standard Qualified Units List - September 1, 2026 (.xlsx)
Program Design History
DOER designed the CPS program from 2019 to 2020 and has made subsequent updates throughout the program's implementation. Learn more about the CPS program design history.