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Hearing Examiner Issues Memo On LDC Gas Compliance Climate Plans
Excerpts from a Massachusetts Hearing Examiners Memo:
BACKGROUND
{***} “On December 6, 2023, the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) issued an Order announcing a regulatory framework intended to set forth its role and that of the local distribution companies (“LDCs”) in working towards the Commonwealth’s target of net zero greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions by 2050. Role of Gas Local Distribution Companies as the Commonwealth Achieves its Target 2050 Climate Goals, D.P.U. 20-80-B at 137.1 The Department established regulatory principles to guide its decision-making in future proceedings, which may include technical conferences, adjudications, and additional investigations wherein the Department (with the input of stakeholders and the LDCs) will investigate and implement the issues and principles identified in the Order. D.P.U. 20-80-B at 5-6.” {***}
CLIMATE COMPLIANCE PLANS
{***} “Among other policies, the Department directed each LDC to file Climate Compliance Plans (“CCPs”) every five years, beginning no later than April 1, 2025. D.P.U. 20-80-B at 134-136. For the inaugural CCPs, the Department required that each CCP expand on previous net zero enablement plans by demonstrating how each LDC proposes to: (1) contribute to the prescribed GHG emissions reduction sublimits set by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for both Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions; (2) satisfy customer demand safely, reliably, affordably, and equitably using market-ready technology available at the time of the filing; (3) use pilot or demonstration projects to assist in identifying investment alternatives; and (4) implement recommendations for future plans. D.P.U. 20-80-B at 134-135.” ……
{***} “To promote administrative efficiency, the Department issues this memorandum to: (1) assign docket numbers for the CCP filings; and (2) identify certain filing requirements, including specific information that the LDCs must include in their CCP filings. The Department intends to fully adjudicate the forthcoming CCPs. The resulting orders will set forth directives regarding the content and format of future CCPs, as well as reporting requirements during the term of the 2025 CCPs. Additional procedural memoranda regarding the CCP filings, including the establishment of a procedural schedule and arrangements for public and evidentiary hearings, will be provided at a later date.” {***}
The Department assigns the following docket numbers for each LDC’s 2025 CCP filing:
- D.P.U. 25-40 The Berkshire Gas Company D.P.U. 25-41 Boston Gas Company d/b/a National Grid
- D.P.U. 25-42 Fitchburg Gas and Electric Light Company d/b/a Unitil
- D.P.U. 25-43 Liberty Utilities (New England Natural Gas Company) Corp. d/b/a Liberty
- D.P.U. 25-44 Eversource Gas Company of Massachusetts d/b/a Eversource Energy D.P.U. 25-45 NSTAR Gas Company d/b/a Eversource Energy
D.P.U.20-80 Hearing Officer Memo Climate Compliance Plan (01/24/2025)
D.P.U. 20-80 (06/04/2020)
(Investigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own Motion into the role of gas local distribution companies as the Commonwealth achieves its target 2050 climate goals.)
