Utilities File Response Clarifying Electric Sector Modernization Plan

Eversource Energy, National Grid, and Unitil submitted a joint response clarifying how their Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP) metrics account for peak demand reductions.

The utilities confirmed that their peak demand reduction metrics include energy efficiency, demand response, solar generation, battery storage, and volt-var optimization, with National Grid also including its residential EV off-peak charging program.

The utilities noted that impacts from managed EV charging, bidirectional charging, and time-varying rates must be estimated rather than directly measured. While advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) can support demand reduction programs, it does not directly reduce peak demand. The utilities also emphasized that lower peak demand does not necessarily reduce distribution infrastructure investment needs.

As background, this a proceeding for the 2026 Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP) reports for Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. The reports are biannual informational filings, made each March and September, for the monitoring of the utilities’ progress toward achieving their ESMP objectives. They include reports of ESMP investments since the previous report and summaries of planned and proposed investments, broken into the categories: (1) Customer Investments and Programs; (2) Platform Investments; (3) Targeted Resiliency; and (4) Network Investments.