Regulations
Please note: All regulations listed on this web page are unofficial. The only official version of each regulation is published in the Massachusetts Register, which is available through the State Bookstore.
Learn about current developments in Regulatory Proceedings.
- Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard Regulation, 225 CMR 21.00 - published January 3, 2025
CPS Guidelines
The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has published guidelines on the topics listed below in order to support the Clean Peak Energy Standard regulation and provide further clarification to stakeholders.
Guidelines include:
- Clean Peak Resource Eligibility Guideline
- Clean Peak Demand Response Resource Guideline
- Clean Peak Energy Reserves Guidelines
- Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline (revised 12/5/23), see additional information below
- Clean Peak Determination of Sales Guideline
- Clean Peak Near-Term Resource Multiplier Guideline
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 below. 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.
2025 DCM Eligible Circuit List
NOT ACTIVE - ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY - DCM Eligible Circuits List 2024
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. Applications for the NTRM will open on January 7th, 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.
CPS 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 Qualified Units List (excel) (4/2/25)
Actual Monthly System Peak Report
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 utilizes 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 (4/22/25)
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 (4/22/25)
ISO-NE SMD Data (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%