Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities Issues Phase II Order

On June 4, 2024, the MA Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) released the long-awaited D.P.U. 20-145 Phase II Order (“Phase II Order”). The Order addresses several outstanding matters related to the SMART Program administered by the Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) as well as reconciling the 2021 Climate Act, Section 96 as it pertains to the Distribution Companies SMART Tariffs. The subjects covered in the Phase II Order include:

• SMART Tariff Revisions

  • Technical changes to definitions in the SMART Tariff
  • Transfer of Alternative On Bill Credits (“AOBC”) between National Grid’s load zones (Eastern Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts)
  • Approval of the Pollinator Adder

• Revisions regarding the AOBC Payment and Credit Form, including approval for a cash-out option

• Metering for Energy Storage Systems

• Municipal Load Aggregation and Alternative Community Shared Solar/Low Income Community Shared Solar Programs

  • National Grid’s Low Income Community Shared Solar proposal
  • Eversource’s NSTAR Electric Eversource Community Solar Access Program to enhance low-income customers’ access to the SMART Program

Stay tuned to the Sherin and Lodgen Renewable Energy Blog for more details on each of these topics addressed in the DPU’s Phase II Order.