Offshore Wind Municipal Aggregation Guidance
The Guidance explains how municipal aggregations could pursue contracts for offshore wind today under existing contract and procurement structures, while recognizing the challenges and limitations of this process. Additionally, the Guidance describes a possible pathway for greater municipal involvement in offshore wind contracts in the future through alternative procurement structures, as outlined in DOER’s Draft Massachusetts Solicitation and Procurement Effectiveness Report. On November 21, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law An Act promoting a clean energy grid, advancing equity, and protecting ratepayers, which included that the guidance would be issued by June 1, 2025.
Data Dashboard
The Dashboard provides an overview of statewide data on municipal aggregations in Massachusetts. DOER summarizes annual municipal aggregation data reports that are submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). DOER collects data submitted by municipal aggregations but does not address issues with data quality.
The Dashboard is interactive and allows users to explore data based on various dimensions (e.g., date, customer class, etc.).
- The Overview panel provides summary data on aggregations in the Commonwealth, including the number of customers and communities served by aggregations, the savings or losses delivered to customers, and how aggregation rates compare to basic service rates.
- The Overview – RECs panel provides summary data on renewable energy certificates (RECs) in aggregations, which are the primary way that aggregations currently support clean energy, including the volume, price, and cost of RECs purchased by aggregation customers.
- The About Your Aggregation panel provides detailed information on specific communities, enabling individuals to learn more about their aggregation.
Dashboard Calculation Details
Savings or Losses Compared to Basic Service: Customers may pay more or less under their aggregation than they would under the utility provided basic service product. The estimated savings (losses) reflect differences in customer supply costs, which are a function of total energy usage and the difference between the aggregation rate and basic service rate. Savings (losses) are calculated by multiplying the difference between customers’ rates under the aggregation product and the corresponding basic service product by electricity usage.
Average Implied Price of Voluntary RECs ($/RECs): The implied price of voluntary RECs refers to the price that customers paid for different forms of RECs (MA Class I or non-MA Class I). These prices are inferred by comparing products with and without voluntary RECs within an individual aggregation. For simplicity, this calculation is only performed for products that include only one class of REC and are in an aggregation that offers a product with no voluntary RECs. The implied REC prices reported in the Overview – RECs panel are the average prices paid by REC type across all aggregations and customer classes.
Average Price of Aggregation Products ($/kWh): The Greenest Product refers to the product with the highest percentage of voluntary MA Class 1 REC purchases offered in an aggregation, Intermediate Product refers to products with a lower MA Class 1 REC percentage than the Greenest Product or only non-MA Class 1 REC purchases, and Standard Product refers to products without any voluntary REC purchases.
Municipal Aggregation Manual
DOER released an updated version of its Municipal Aggregation Manual on August 30, 2024.
The Manual was developed in response to municipalities’ increased interest in establishing municipal aggregations. It seeks to provide information that supports the effective and efficient formation of municipal aggregations, equips municipalities to advocate for municipal interests when forming a municipal aggregation, and improves collaboration with DOER on municipal aggregation formation.
On August 18, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) opened an investigation to establish municipal aggregation guidelines. DOER and other stakeholders participated in this investigation, which resulted in a new set of DPU Guidelines released in July 2024.
Following the finalization of these new Guidelines, DOER released an updated version of its Municipal Aggregation Manual and Best Practices Guide in August 2024. As part of the new Guidelines, DOER also developed a set of best practices for advancing clean energy with aggregation.
Municipalities are required to consult with DOER as they develop municipal aggregation plans. Municipalities that wish to schedule a consultation with DOER should contact their Green Communities Regional Coordinator.
Municipal Aggregation Manual & Best Practices Guide - updated August 2024
Prior Draft for Public Comment
On November 15, 2022, DOER published a draft version of the Municipal Aggregation Manual and Best Practices Guide for public comment. The public comment period closed on December 7, 2022, with ten comments submitted. The draft Manual and copies of the public comments received are provided as links below. DOER thanks the individuals and organizations who provided comments on the draft Manual.
Municipal Aggregation Manual & Best Practices Guide - Draft for Public Comment (2022)
Municipal Aggregation Manual & Best Practices Guide - Public Comments (2022)