Establishing the Clean Peak Energy Standard
On August 9, 2018, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law An Act to Advance Clean Energy, which required DOER to do the following:
- 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.
- Establish 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.”
- 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.
- Determine a metering and verification protocol to ensure that all data is collected, reviewed and reported in a consistent manner.
As a result of these requirements, DOER developed and promulgated regulations and guidelines for the implementation of the Clean Peak Energy Standard. The following sections provide an overview of the history of program development from most to least recent.
May 2026: CPS Emergency Rulemaking Filed
On May 28, 2026, the Department of Energy Resources (Department) 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)
225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard - REDLINE (.pdf)
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)
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 was published in the Massachusetts Register on August 28, 2026 and confirmed that the changes made in the May 28, 2026 Emergency Rulemaking are permanent.
May 2026: Actual Monthly System Peak Report Update
Effective May 1, 2026, DOER transitioned to using the five-minute System Demand dataset published by ISO New England in place of the previously used dataset. This update is intended to improve the accuracy of the Actual System Monthly Peak identification. Under the updated methodology:
DOER will download all available five-minute system demand data for the previous month and consolidate the data into a single dataset.
Using the Native Load column in this five-minute system demand dataset, DOER will calculate the average load for each hour in the monthly dataset and sort these calculated average hourly load values from highest to lowest.
Consistent with 225 CMR 21.05(5), DOER will select the hour with the highest average load value that also occurs (1) on a Business Day and (2) during a Seasonal Peak Period. DOER will designate that hour as the Hour of Actually Monthly System Peak.
DOER will continue to determine and publish the Hour of Actual Monthly System Peak report on the 20th day of the following month or next business day.
April 2026: Bulk Statement of Qualification Updates
Effective April 3, 2026, DOER reinstated the bulk upload asset registration capability in the Production Tracking System (PTS) for EVSE and smart thermostat technologies. A bulk upload process streamlines the application process for system registration and statement of qualification applications (SQAs) comprising multiple assets within an Aggregation. DOER paused the bulk upload asset registration capability on December 12, 2025 due to significant data quality issues with the bulk submissions. DOER has updated the bulk upload system registration and SQA submission process to improve the data quality of submissions. Updates include:
A required Prescreening Application that must be completed prior to bulk upload system registration and SQA submissions. Organizations wishing to register assets in the Clean Peak Standard program via a 'bulk upload' process must first apply to do so by submitting a Prescreening Application using the link below. Prescreening applications must be submitted for every Aggregation an entity wishes to submit using bulk upload capabilities. Additions of resources to an existing Aggregation do not require the submission of a prescreening application.
Bulk upload SQAs must be submitted using updated SQA templates found via the links below. Applicants may not submit bulk upload SQAs until they have received Prescreening Application approval from DOER:
Requirements for bulk uploads:
Resources submitted as part of bulk upload SQAs must consist of a single technology type, a single facility/customer sector, and a single utility.
EVSE and smart thermostat technologies are the only technologies eligible for the bulk upload process at this time.
Additional requirements and information on the bulk upload SQA process can be found within the prescreening application document.
Applicants may continue to register assets individually in the PTS portal as an alternative to the bulk upload process.
March - October 2024: CPS Programmatic Review
In Spring 2024, DOER conducted a review of the CPS program to identify potential program improvements. More information on this review, including stakeholder questions, comments, and resulting rulemakings, can be found on the CPS Programmatic Review webpage.
December 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.
October 2022: Draft Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline Posted
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.
Winter 2022: Distribution Circuit Multiplier Straw Proposal
Following a series of stakeholder sessions, DOER drafted a Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline Straw Proposal (.pdf).
DOER solicited stakeholder feedback on the proposal from February 25, 2022 to March 25, 2022. Stakeholder comments can be found below.
September 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:
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.
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 file for Spring 2020 - Final Regulation (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 for Winter 2020(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 Fall 2019 - Proposed Regulation
- The unofficial version of the proposed regulations Fall 2019 - Proposed Regulation
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.
Drafts Clean Peak Energy Standard Regulations Summary (.pdf)
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.
Clean Peak Standard Straw Proposal Stakeholder Comments (.zip)
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