Clean Peak Energy Standard Program Details

This page contains guidelines, regulations and program information on the Massachusetts Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS) for project developers and installers.

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).

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

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:

1. Clean Peak Resource Eligibility Guideline
2. Clean Peak Demand Response Resource Guideline
3. Clean Peak Energy Reserves Guidelines
4. Clean Peak Distribution Circuit Multiplier Guideline (revised 12/5/23), see additional information below
5. Clean Peak Determination of Sales Guideline
6. Clean Peak Near-Term Resource Multiplier Guideline (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) 

The changes went into effect immediately.

Eligibility and Application Information

Step 1: Verify Resource Eligibility

Clean Peak Resources are defined in the regulation and listed below.  

Four types of eligible resource

1. New RPS Class I generation units in operation on or after 1/1/19
2. Existing RPS Class I / Class II generation units (in operation prior to 1/1/19) that are paired with a Qualified Energy Storage System
3. Qualified Energy Storage Systems operating to primarily store and discharge renewable energy and installed on or after 1/1/19
4. Demand Response Resources, as defined by the Clean Peak Energy Standard

Useful Information:

• Please review the CPS Application Matrix for questions on resource eligibility.
• Additional information on qualifying and applying for the Distribution Circuit Multiplier can be found below
  • Distribution Circuit Multiplier
• Additional information on qualifying for the Resiliency Multiplier can be found below
  • Resiliency Multiplier

Step 2: Register at NEPOOL GIS

All Clean Peak Resources must register and receive a NEPOOL GIS Clean Peak Energy Standard Identification Number. Clean Peak Resources can register for a NEPOOL GIS Clean Peak Energy Standard Identification Number below.

NEPOOL GIS Clean Peak Energy Standard Identification Number Registration

Useful Information:

• Clean Peak NEPOOL Registration Categories
  • Clean Peak Resources are all included in the NEPOOL categories, but they are organized to accommodate the NEPOOL system so it is important to understand what category your resource falls under ahead of registration.
• NEPOOL CPS Registration Webinar Slides (PDF)

Step 3: Register at PTS

All Clean Peak Resources must also register with the Massachusetts Production Tracking System (PTS). Existing resources may already be registered and can link their system information to the CPS SQA. 

Massachusetts Production Tracking System (PTS) Registration

Please note that all PV systems that participate in the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Energy Target (SMART) Program are registered by the PTS team. Applicants do not need to complete a PTS registration for a SMART system. It may take up to six weeks from when the system is claim approved to process and assign a Production Tracking System (PTS) ID. Please continue to check the PTS until you are able to find your registered SMART system.

Also note that if your Clean Peak Standard application is for an energy storage system co-located with a generating resource, you will be required to provide the PTS ID of the co-located resource. If the co-located resource is a SMART system, the note above regarding SMART PTS ID applies. If the co-located resource is not a SMART system, you will need to register this resource with PTS.

Step 4: Complete a Statement of Qualification Application

All Clean Peak Resources must apply for a Statement of Qualification through the  CPS SQA portal which can be found below. 

Statement of Qualification Application

Useful Information:

• Required Document Lists, by Resource Type
• CPEC Service Agreement
• CPS SQA overview webinar recording

Step 5: Register to Report

All Clean Peak Resources must register to report performance data through the MassCEC hosted reporting platform. A resource may self-report or utilize a data reporting service, but all reporting entities must complete the following steps to report resource performance that can then be processed for Clean Peak Energy Certificate (CPEC) calculation and consequent MassCEC reporting to NEPOOL GIS for CPEC minting.

1. Sign up for an API (Developers) Key
2. Notify PTS Customer Service that you have registered by emailing [e-mail] with the Subject: CPS API
3. Receive your organization API (Access) Key to the API Testing Environment from PTS Customer Service
4. Successfully report sample data to the API Testing Environment
5. Receive meter verification and approval to report from PTS Customer Service
6. Begin reporting actual performance data for Clean Peak Resources

Useful Information:

• Clean Peak Resource Metering and Reporting Guidelines

Additional Resources

• Clean Peak Resource Eligibility Requirements
• Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS) Statement of Qualification (SQA) Required Document, by Resource

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 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.

2026 DCM Eligible Circuits List

CPS DCM Application

NOT ACTIVE  - ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY - DCM Eligible Circuits List 2025

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 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 Reservation List - 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 (6/22/26)

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 (5/20/26)

ISO-NE SMD Data (4/21/26)

ISO-NE SMD Data (3/23/26)

ISO-NE SMD Data (2/24/26)

ISO-NE SMD Data (1/21/26)

ISO-NE SMD Data (12/23/25) 

ISO-NE SMD Data (11/20/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (10/20/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (9/23/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (8/25/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (7/21/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (6/23/25)

ISO-NE SMD Data (5/20/25)

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%