General Information
On August 9, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act to Advance Clean Energy, which requires the DOER to develop a program requiring retail electricity providers to meet a baseline minimum percentage of sales with qualified clean peak resources that dispatch or discharge electricity to the electric distribution system during seasonal peak periods, or alternatively, reduces load on said system. DOER is charged with establishing seasonal peak periods, which are defined by the statute as “the daily time windows during any of the 4 annual seasons when the net demand of electricity is the highest; provided however, that a seasonal peak shall be not less than 1 hour and no longer than 4 hours in any season, as determined by the department.” DOER must also establish a value for clean peak certificates for each megawatt hour of energy or energy reserves during the seasonal peak period by creating an alternative compliance payment rate and potentially other mechanisms. Lastly, DOER must determine a metering and verification protocol to ensure that all data is collected, reviewed and reported in a consistent manner.
DOER encourages all interested parties to check this page regularly for updates. Stakeholders can also sign up to receive email updates here.
Spring 2024 - CPS Programmatic Review
On March 25, 2024, DOER released a list of questions to solicit stakeholder feedback to inform the 2024 CPS Review. Responses are due Friday, May 3, 2024. The questions and instructions for responding may be found on DOER’s CPS Programmatic Review webpage.
Winter 2023 - Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline Finalized
On December 5, 2023 DOER posted the finalized version of the Distribution Circuit Multiplier (DCM) Guideline. The Guideline and accompanying Eligible Circuit List and application form can be found on DOER's CPS Guidelines webpage.
Fall 2022 - Draft Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline
On Otctober 31, 2022 the Department posted a draft Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline for public comment. In addition to the Guideline, the Department also posted the preliminary list of eligible circuits, based on the draft guideline. The Guideline and Eligible Circuits List can be found below.
The deadline for submitting written comments on this guideline was Friday, November 18, 2022. Stakeholder comments can be found below.
Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline
NOT ACTIVE - ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY - DCM Eligible Circuits List 2023
Winter 2022 - Distribution Circuit Multiplier Straw Proposal
Following a series of stakeholder sessions, DOER has drafted a straw proposal for the Distribution Circuit Multipler Guideline, which can be found below.
Distribution Circuit Multiplier Straw Proposal
DOER solicited stakeholder feedback on the proposal from 2/25/22 until 3/25/22. The stakeholder comments received can be found below.
Summer – Fall 2021 – Clean Peak Energy Guideline Revisions
On August 15, 2021 the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) posted drafted guideline revisions on the topics listed below in order to support the Clean Peak Energy Standard regulation and provide further clarification to stakeholders.
Comments were due to DOER on August 10, 2021. DOER received the following comments on the draft guidelines.
CPS Guideline Comments (Zip File)
Clean Peak Energy Standard were updated based on stakeholder comments and published on September 10, 2021.
These Guidelines include:
Spring – Summer 2021 – Demand Response Working Group
DOER hosted weekly meetings of a Demand Response Working Group the first half of 2021. The result of the working group was revisions to the Demand Response Resource Guideline to establish participation pathways for Electric Vehicle Chargers, Electric Water Heaters, Load Curtailment and Infrequent Demand Response, and Building Thermal Mass and Thermal Storage. The Demand Response Working Group is no longer meeting, but may be re-established at a future date if additional technologies warrant consideration for a separate pathway to participation in the Clean Peak Energy Standard.
Summer – Fall 2020 – Clean Peak Energy Standard Guidelines
On August 14, 2020 the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) posted drafted guidelines on the topics listed below in order to support the Clean Peak Energy Standard regulation and provide further clarification to stakeholders.
Comments were due to DOER on September 4, 2020. DOER received the following comments on the draft guidelines.
CPS Guideline Comments (ZIP File)
Clean Peak Energy Standard were updated based on stakeholder comments and published on October 26, 2020.
These Guidelines include:
- Clean Peak Resource Eligibility Guideline
- Clean Peak Demand Response Resource Guideline
- Clean Peak Energy Reserves Guidelines
- Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline
- Clean Peak Determination of Sales Guideline
Summer 2020 - Final Regulation Filed with the Secretary of State
In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 25A of the Massachusetts General Laws, DOER has filed the final regulation, 225 CMR 21.00 — the Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard.
The final regulation was filed with the state secretary on July 23, 2020 and took effect on publication in the Register on August 7, 2020.
The materials filed can be accessed here.
Spring 2020 - Final Regulation Filed with General Court
In accordance with Section 12 of Chapter 25A of the Massachusetts General Laws, DOER has filed the final amendments to 225 CMR 21.00 — the Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard.
The final regulation was modified upon the review of the Joint Committee’s report following the filing of the proposed regulation. DOER will file the final regulations with the state secretary not earlier than thirty days from the date the filing of the final amendments with the General Court.
The materials filed can be accessed here (zip file)
Winter 2020 - Regulation Filed with General Court
Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 25A Section 12, DOER has filed its proposed 225 CMR 21.00, the Clean Peak Standard Regulation, and a summary of the regulations, to the General Court.
The materials filed can be accessed here (zip file)
Fall 2019 - Proposed Regulation Available to Public for Review and Comment
On Friday, September 20, 2019, acting under statutory authority of M.G.L. Ch. 25A § 17, DOER filed Notice of Public Review of the proposed 225 CMR 21.00, the Clean Peak Energy Portfolio Standard regulation with the Secretary of State for the Commonwealth to be published in the Massachusetts Register.
The public notice for this filing can be found here
The unofficial version of the proposed regulations can be found here
Public comments were due to DOER on October 30, 2019. DOER received the following comments on the proposed regulation.
Fall 2019 - Public Hearings on Proposed Regulation
DOER hosted three public hearings on the draft regulation at the following times and places:
Friday, October 25, 2019, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Department of Energy Resources, Boston, MA
CPS Public Hearing 10/25 Audio
Monday, October 28, 2019, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Greenfield Community College, Greenfield, MA
CPS Public Hearing 10/28 Audio Part 1
CPS Public Hearing 10/28 Audio Part 2
Wednesday, October 30, 2019, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Department of Fish and Wildlife, Westborough, MA 01581
Fall 2019 - Consultant Study
DOER hired a consultant to develop a model to evaluate the impacts of Clean Peak Portfolio Standard market design changes. The consultant final report is posted below.
Summer 2019 - Draft Regulation Presentation
DOER incorporated the results of consultant analysis, policy considerations, and feedback received on the development of the Clean Peak Standard into a detailed draft regulation presentation and held two stakeholder meetings on August 7, 2019 and August 9, 2019 respectively.
Below is the presentation link, which includes program details such as alternative compliance payment rates, annual obligation increases, eligibility criteria, and multiplier values.
Spring 2019 - Straw Proposal Presentation
DOER has incorporated the feedback received to date on the development of the Clean Peak Standard into a detailed straw proposal and presented it during a stakeholder meeting at the Federal Reserve on April 2nd.
Clean Peak Standard Straw Proposal Presentation PDF
Clean Peak Standard Straw Proposal Presentation audio (MP3)
DOER accepted written comments on the Clean Peak Standard Straw Proposal until April 12th.
Winter 2019 - Stakeholder Q&A
DOER sought responses to a set of questions intended to help with the development and design of the Clean Peak Energy Standard, which must be established pursuant to the enactment of Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2018. All responses to these questions were due on Tuesday, February 5, 2019. The questions and answers received are posted below.
Questions and Information
For regulatory information on Clean Peak, please email DOER.CPS@mass.gov
For Clean Peak application assistance, please contact the Cadmus review team at 1-888-994-4718 or CPS.Help@CadmusGroup.com.
For questions on production reporting or metering, please contact MassCEC at pts@masscec.com