The Peak Energy Demand Reduction Work Group is focused on developing a prioritized set of gas and electric peak demand reduction actions for Massachusetts to avoid future supply and infrastructure investments and enable the affordable, reliable, and equitable achievement of the Commonwealth's climate and clean energy goals, including those established in Executive Order 654 as related to load management and the Everett Marine Terminal.
Overview
Massachusetts has leading clean energy and climate mandates and is seeking avenues to achieve those mandates affordably and reliably. Insights from multiple FAWGs highlight that reducing peak electric and gas demand can have a significant impact in meeting these mandates while driving affordability, providing cost savings for energy consumers and protecting them from price volatility, and maintaining reliable gas and electric service for all customers.
Governor Healey’s Executive Order 654: To Secure Massachusetts’ Energy Future, signed March 16, 2026, sets a target of achieving 3.5 GW of new electric load management by 2035, and called for identifying opportunities to accelerate gas demand reduction in strategic locations served by the EMT, reinforcing the priority of this focus area.
The proposed working group will bring together critical stakeholders, including, for example, the gas and electric utilities, policymakers, business groups, community groups, technology providers, equity and environmental justice, building owners, and customers themselves. This is especially important because strategies to reduce peak gas demand will interact with and impact the electric system, both supply and infrastructure needs, so coordination is critical.
Informational Webinar
The Peak Energy Demand Reduction Focus Area Working Group launched with an informational webinar on July 20, 2026. The webinar provided an overview of:
- The function and purview of the Focus Area Working Group and its relationship to OET, the Advisory Board, and the other focus areas.
- The scope of work this Focus Area Working Group will undertake.
- How organizations and individuals can participate in this Focus Area Working Group.
- The expectations of Focus Area Working Group participants.
- How the Focus Area Working Group recommendations will be shared with the OET and Advisory Board.
For questions about the Focus Area Work Group webinar or other efforts of the OET, please email energytransformation@mass.gov.
Join the PEDR FAWG
Registration for this Focus Area Working Group has closed, but please email energytransformation@mass.gov if you are interested in joining and we will accept new members on a case-by-case basis. Thanks!