Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities

Address

One South Station, Boston, MA 02110

Phone

(617) 305-3500Fax (617) 345-9101

Website

mass.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Eversource Energy (NSTAR Electric / Western Massachusetts Electric) IOU

  Eastern Massachusetts including Greater Boston, and a western Massachusetts service area covering Springfield region

  Eversource has faced sustained DPU scrutiny over storm restoration performance and associated rate recovery mechanisms. The company filed a major electric distribution rate case in 2024 and has been under pressure to accelerate grid modernization capital investment while managing affordability concerns.

• National Grid (KeySpan Energy Delivery New England / New England Gas) IOU

  Approximately 1.3 million electric customers in eastern Massachusetts; gas distribution across portions of eastern and central Massachusetts

  National Grid is navigating significant regulatory pressure around gas system long-term planning under the state's Act 97 (An Act Driving Clean Energy and Offshore Wind) framework and has engaged in DPU proceedings on gas system reliability alternatives and energy transition planning.

• Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company) IOU

  Fitchburg and surrounding communities in north-central Massachusetts for both electric and gas distribution

  Unitil's Massachusetts subsidiary operates under DPU rate structures reviewed most recently in the 2022-2023 period; the company participates in DPU grid modernization plan proceedings and faces capital recovery pressures from aging infrastructure upgrades.

• Columbia Gas of Massachusetts (now Eversource Gas, operated under Bay State Gas transition) IOU

  Natural gas distribution serving approximately 300,000 customers across central and northeastern Massachusetts communities including Lawrence and Lowell areas

  Following the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions and subsequent NiSource divestiture, Bay State Gas (acquired by Eversource) continues to operate under DPU compliance oversight and has been subject to ongoing safety-related capital investment requirements tied to settlement conditions.

• New England Power Pool / ISO-NE (as jurisdictional context) IOU

  Wholesale electric market operator across all six New England states including Massachusetts; not a distribution utility but central to DPU retail rate proceedings

  ISO-NE capacity market reforms and the Forward Capacity Market auction outcomes directly affect Massachusetts retail rates and are frequently cited in DPU electric distribution company rate cases and grid modernization filings.

• Municipal Light Plants (MMWEC / Reading Municipal Light / Braintree Electric Light) muni

  Approximately 40 municipal light plants serving communities across Massachusetts including Reading, Braintree, Norwood, and others coordinated through MMWEC for wholesale power procurement

  Municipal light plants are exempt from DPU retail rate regulation but participate in state-level renewable portfolio standard compliance and are subject to DPU proceedings on competitive supplier access and net metering interconnection rules.

Key issues

• Eversource Electric Distribution Rate Case (DPU 24-XX series): Eversource's pending electric distribution rate case filed in 2024 involves contested revenue requirement, proposed performance-based ratemaking metrics tied to storm response and reliability, and disputes over grid modernization cost recovery timelines — a high-priority docket for distribution-connected solar and EV charging stakeholders.
• Gas System Long-Term Planning and Managed Transition Rulemaking: The DPU is implementing its landmark 2023 Order (DPU 20-80) requiring gas LDCs to file long-term system plans that account for declining gas load under state decarbonization mandates; National Grid and Bay State Gas are in active compliance filing phases with intervenors contesting cost allocation for stranded gas infrastructure.
• Grid Modernization Plan (GMP) Phase II Implementation: Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil are in Phase II of DPU-mandated Grid Modernization Plans, with contested proceedings over advanced metering infrastructure deployment timelines, distribution automation investment levels, and equitable access to grid-edge programs for low-income customers.
• Offshore Wind Cost Recovery and Ratepayer Impact Proceedings: Following contract awards under the state's offshore wind solicitation process, the DPU is reviewing long-term power purchase agreement cost recovery mechanisms for Vineyard Wind and SouthCoast Wind successor contracts, with significant ratepayer advocacy around contract pricing transparency and bill impact disclosure.
• Net Metering and SMART Program Successor Tariff Design: The current Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) program capacity blocks are approaching exhaustion; DPU is expected to initiate a successor incentive structure proceeding that will determine compensation rates for distributed solar, with contested issues around avoided cost methodology and community shared solar program design.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Estimated deadline for Eversource Electric to file supplemental testimony or respond to DPU data requests in its 2024 electric distribution rate case; evidentiary hearing phase anticipated to commence in fall 2026 based on standard DPU scheduling timelines for complex rate proceedings.

• 2026-10-01

  Estimated filing deadline for National Grid and Bay State Gas long-term gas system plans under DPU 20-80 compliance schedule; plans are expected to address low-carbon alternative pathways including networked geothermal, heat pump adoption projections, and proposed infrastructure retirement schedules.

• 2026-11-18

  Estimated date for DPU public comment hearing on SMART successor program design rulemaking; the DPU is anticipated to release a draft proposal or notice of inquiry by fall 2026 given program capacity constraints and legislative pressure to maintain solar development momentum.

• 2027-01-31

  Estimated deadline for Grid Modernization Plan Phase II annual progress reports from Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil; DPU staff review of advanced metering infrastructure deployment milestones and equity metrics is expected to trigger follow-on orders addressing underperformance penalties or program modifications.