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Meeting Scheduled to Discuss Utility Load Forecasts Including Large Load Factors
The Massachusetts Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) announced the next meeting has been scheduled:
January 29, 2026 from 1-3 PM
At this meeting, the utilities will present:
- EDC load forecasting overview; and
- How the EDCs forecast base loads
More specifically, the EDC presentations will address:
- How the utilities create their 5-10-year (short-term) load forecasts;
- How the utilities address the components of load forecasts, including:
- the process for determining a base load forecast; and
- the policy, market, and technological factors that affect load forecasting”
Meeting Materials
- Notice of public meeting
- Agenda
- Draft December 4, 2025 GMAC meeting minutes
- Draft December 12, 2025 GMAC meeting minutes
- Draft December 18, 2025 Executive Committee meeting minutes
- Presentation slides
- January 2026 Activity Tracker
In the upcoming February and March meetings, the GMAC will investigate how large loads, including data centers, are forecasted.
Next Steps:
- Next GMAC meeting scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on January 29, 2026.
- Next GMAC executive committee meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on February 12, 2026.
- Next biannual report due by March 31, 2026.
- National Grid will make February 26 filings responding to the 2024 Climate Act’s AMI data access directives in DPU Docket No. 26-21.
As background the GMAC reviews and advises on Massachusetts investor-owned electric distribution companies’ (EDCs) Electric-Sector Modernization Plans (ESMPs), promoting transparency and engagement in the
GMAC activities can be followed here.
Associated Dockets:
21-80 – Petition of NSTAR Electric Company d/b/a Eversource Energy for approval of its Grid Modernization Plan for calendar years 2022 to 2025
21-81 – Petition of National Grid for approval of its Grid Modernization Plan for calendar years 2022 to 2025)
21-82 – Petition of Unitil for approval of its grid modernization plan for 2022-2025)
