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 is promulgating 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.
225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard - CLEAN
225 CMR 21.00 Clean Peak Energy Standard - REDLINE
Public Hearing Information
DOER will hold a virtual public hearing and comment period on the emergency regulation.
Date: July 6, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Virtual Hearing via Zoom
Written comments will be accepted beginning May 28, 2026 and ending at 5:00 PM on July 6, 2026. DOER requests that written comments be submitted as attached PDF files to DOER.CPS@mass.gov with the words “CPS 2026 Emergency Rulemaking” in the subject line.
Copies of the emergency regulation, redline regulation, and additional supporting materials may be obtained by emailing DOER.CPS@mass.gov.
For any questions regarding the CPS emergency rulemaking, please contact: DOER.CPS@mass.gov.
Clean Peak Energy Standard Actual Monthly System Peak Report Update
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is providing notice of an update to the methodology used to determine the Hour of Actual Monthly System Peak under the Clean Peak Energy Standard (225 CMR 21.00).
Effective May 1, 2026, DOER will transition 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. For clarity, DOER will use the existing 2026 SMD Hourly Data for the April 2026 peak determination which will be performed on May 20, 2026. Beginning with the May 2026 peak determination, which will be performed on June 22, 2026, DOER will use the Five-Minute System Demand dataset.
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
CPS Bulk Statement of Qualification Reinstatement
Effective April 3, 2026, DOER is reinstating 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.
CPS Bulk Statement of Qualification Upload Pause
Effective December 12, 2025, the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) paused the bulk upload asset registration capability in the Production Tracking System (PTS).
The CPS team developed the bulk upload capability to streamline the application process for statement of qualification applications (SQAs) comprising large quantities of assets within an Aggregation. To date, nearly all bulk uploads submitted to the Department have contained numerous data quality errors, resulting in the minting of invalid Clean Peak Energy Certificates that have required significant administrative time and resources to resolve. The CPS team is exploring solutions to these issues and welcomes applicant feedback on ways to improve the bulk upload process and ensure that submitted SQAs contain true, accurate, and complete information that complies with all program eligibility requirements.
Applicants may continue to register assets individually in the PTS portal while DOER evaluates improvements to the bulk upload process. DOER will share additional updates as they become available.
2024 CPS Programmatic Review Stakeholder Questions
On Monday, 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.
Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline Posted
On December 5, 2023 DOER posted the final 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.
Procurement of Clean Peak Energy Certificates
DOER intends to develop a Clean Peak Energy Certificate (CPEC) procurement mechanism in conjunction with the Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) in order to meet the requirements set forth in 225 CMR 21.05(8) and pursuant to M.G.L. c. 25A, § 17(c).
DOER collaborated with the EDCs to develop a structure for the CPEC procurement. Documentation related to the CPEC procurement can be found below.
- Draft straw proposal procurement structure
- Summarized Questions and Answers on the Draft Straw Proposal
- Stakeholder comments on the Draft Straw Proposal
- Final Straw Proposal
Next Steps:
The EDCs will begin their regulatory approval process to establish a procurement mechanism aligned with the Final Straw Proposal
DOER asked for feedback on the initial proposed procurement structure.
Summarized Q&A (02/05/21)
Distribution Circuit Multiplier Stakeholder Series
DOER intends to host a Stakeholder Series to design the process by which Distribution Circuit Multipliers may be established.
Stakeholder Session Schedule:
Proposed Multiplier Structure
There are two distinct common causes for upgrades which may be resolved by CPS Resources: 1) high solar PV saturation and 2) increasing peak demands. We propose establishing two separate formulaic methods to identify circuits facing these conditions. The formulaic method is established using existing public datasets. The result would be identification of circuits which can be identified by developers through existing publicly accessible hosting capacity maps.
Distribution Circuit Multiplier Eligibility
We propose that projects eligible to receive the circuit multiplier be limited to project types that help to resolve the constraint (i.e. solar PV should not be provided a 2x Distribution Circuit Multiplier on a circuit facing solar saturation constraints).
- Solar saturated circuits, resources eligible for Distribution Circuit Multiplier include:
- BTM storage
- Standalone storage which accepts operating limitations in its ISA and/or accepts EDC DERMs signals to limit system operations
- Heavily loaded (peak demand) circuits, resources eligible for Distribution Circuit Multiplier include:
- Demand Response
- RPS class I resources
- BTM storage
- Standalone storage which accepts operating limitations in its ISA and/or accepts EDC DERMs signals to limit system operations
The multiplier should be available to new CPS resources that receive a CPS Statement of Qualification after the Distribution Circuit Multipliers have been designated. This will ensure that projects receiving the multiplier are the result of intentional siting decisions.
Circuit Identification
We propose to leverage existing public datasets to identify circuits to apply multipliers (such as the Utilities’ annual Grid Modernization reports, see DPU 21-30 for latest). Reports include substantial circuit specific data, including circuit ratings, annual peak demand, amount of solar, amount of other DG (e.g. CHP), etc.
For identifying circuits with high solar PV saturation, we propose to use a formula along the lines of:
- Connected PV Capacity (MW) / Feeder Capacity Rating (MVA)
- Then sort from high-to-low for an indication of PV saturation.
For identifying circuits with peak demands approaching the circuit rating, we propose to use a formula along the lines of:
- Annual Peak Load (MVA) / Feeder Capacity Rating (MVA)
To start, we would recommend an even split of circuit designations, half to circuits with high solar saturation, and half to circuits facing high peak demands relative to their rating. Where DOER will designate no more than 10% of a Utility’s circuits with a Distribution Circuit Multiplier, the above would establish 5% of circuits with a multiplier on the basis of solar saturation, and 5% of circuits a multiplier on the basis of peak loading.
DOER seeks stakeholder participation to improve the formulaic approach to circuit selection. For example, methods to ensure geographic distribution, consider trends of circuits, identify existing upgrades in-process, weighting by number of customers served, and other methods to improve circuit selection will be considered. While methods to weight circuit selection will be considered, simplicity will be a desired trait of any final formula.
Establishing Multiplier Value(s)
At the outset, DOER recommends establishing a single multiplier applied to all selected circuits (e.g. 2x). This aligns with the object of simplicity where possible.
Size of Available Multiplier
The existing guideline states that when the Distribution Circuit Multiplier is established, it will be established for a designated size (number of MW). The circuit multiplier would remain available until the calendar quarter in which the designated size is filled. This is designed to limit the number of resources which can benefit from the multiplier on a single circuit, while ensuring the multiplier remains in effect for some period-of-time after it’s filled to recognize resource development lags price signals.
An alternative structure would be for the multiplier to be in effect for the full year from circuit identification, and to remain in effect until the next year when the analysis is repeated and new circuits are identified for multipliers. This would be more administratively efficient, and DOER anticipates conversions at the stakeholder series to discuss an appropriate and simple structure for duration of multiplier effect.
Frequency of Updates
The EDC reports on circuit status are annual. We propose to similarly provide annual updates to what circuits have other-than-one multipliers. This reduces administrative burden and simplifies developer community tracking the price signal and responding with development activities.
Future Refinement & Metrics
We will want to track the performance of the Distribution Circuit Multipliers. There will be opportunities to improve their structure.
One potential outcome to watch for is if by targeting the worst circuits, we are targeting circuits that will certainly face upgrades in the near term. If this comes to fruition, it may warrant adjusting the formulaic identification to instead target circuits which are trending toward necessitating an upgrade, but have substantial headroom before it occurs (e.g. target the 75th – 85th percentile circuits rather than 90th to 100th). DOER will appreciate stakeholder discussions related to processes to track the effectiveness of the multipliers to inform potential future revisions.
Clean Peak Energy Standard Guideline Revisions
The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) published guidelines to support the Clean Peak Energy Standard regulation and provide further clarification to stakeholders on September 10, 2021.
These Guidelines include:
Application Portal Update
The Clean Peak Application portal is now live. CPS applicants should first register at www.nepoolgis.com for a CPS ID then visit MassCEC PTS to register the resource in PTS and then complete the CPS Statement of Qualification Application. All application questions should be directed to the Cadmus review team at 1-888-994-4718 or CPS.Help@CadmusGroup.com.
Special Note on Demand Responses Resources, Other Than Energy Storage:
The MassCEC Production Tracking System (PTS) and CPS Statement of Qualification portals are not ready to process non-energy storage demand response resource. These resources must apply by email via doer.cps@mass.gov. Please see the Applications page for more information or contact doer.cps@mass.gov with questions.