Planning Resources

Three-Year Planning

This web page contains information related to the Three-Year planning process as well as details on ways the public can become involved in the planning process for the 2022-2024 Plan which begins in the fall of 2020.

Information about previous Three-Year Plans is available at: http://ma-eeac.org/plans-updates/.

What is the Three-Year Plan?

The 2008 Green Communities Act established the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) to oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of the energy efficiency plans for Massachusetts investor-owned utilities and Cape Light Compact JPE, also referred to as the Program Administrators. These plans are required to maximize economic benefits for residents and businesses through energy efficiency programs and achieve the Commonwealth’s energy, climate, and environmental goals through a sustained and integrated statewide energy efficiency effort.

Every three years, the participating Program Administrators issue a Three-Year Plan that outlines the budgets, economic benefits, and energy savings for the statewide energy efficiency programs, branded as Mass Save®. Included in the Three-Year Plan are descriptions of proposed energy efficiency incentive programs to be implemented during the three years of each plan. These programs are for residential, income eligible, and commercial and industrial (C&I) utility customers.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals

On July 15, 2021 the Baker-Polito Administration established an ambitious greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reduction goal for the next three-year Mass Save® Energy Efficiency Plan. These goals have been established as part of An Act Creating A Next-Generation Roadmap For Massachusetts Climate Policy, which was signed into law in March of 2021 by Governor Baker. The GHG reduction goal for the 2022-2024 Joint Statewide Energy Efficiency Plan for electric utility program administrators is an emissions reduction in metric tons of CO2 equivalent (e) of 504,955. The emissions reduction for gas utility program administrators is 335,588 metric tons of CO2e. Each goal represents the emissions reductions that are projected to occur in 2030 as a direct result of investments made by the 2022-2024 plans.

On July 15, 2021, Secretary Kathleen Theoharides sent a letter, below, to the utility program administrators who administer the Mass Save® Program detailing the goals and priorities for the 2022-2024 Energy Efficiency Plans, which are currently in development and which must be voted on by the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council and submitted to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) by October 31, 2021.

2021-07-15 Mass Save GHG Goal

 

Why is the Three-Year Plan important to Massachusetts residents and businesses?

The Massachusetts energy efficiency programs offered by Mass Save are funded by utility customers. All residents and businesses located in investor-owned utility territories in Massachusetts pay into a fund through their utility bill which supports the Mass Save programs. The Three-Year Plan directs how these funds will be spent on financial incentive programs for homes and businesses.

The Three-Year planning process involves the EEAC, the Program Administrators, and members of the public to help shape the programs for the next three years. Public engagement is highly encouraged during the planning process to help the EEAC understand what programs and incentive offerings would benefit the Commonwealth’s residents and businesses, and how the Program Administrators can improve existing program offerings to better serve Massachusetts customers.

The planning process for the 2022-2024 Three-Year Plan begins this fall. The final plan will be submitted to the EEAC in October 2021.

How can you get involved in the Three-Year planning process?

1. Attend an EEAC meeting: The EEAC holds meetings every month, typically on the third Wednesday of the month. These meetings are open to the public and are a good way to learn about the programs currently being implemented as part of the 2019-2021 Three-Year Plan. Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these meetings are currently being held remotely.
   • Monthly meeting materials are posted here: http://ma-eeac.org/latest-council-meetings-materials/
   • Meeting calendar is found here: http://ma-eeac.org/events/

2. Provide Public Comment: Public comment is critical to the EEAC as it highlights the energy efficiency needs of residents and businesses which helps direct where the Council should focus its priorities. Public comment is welcome during the monthly EEAC meetings and written public comment can be sent at any time to MA-EEAC@mass.gov. Written public comment is posted on the EEAC website after it’s received: http://ma-eeac.org/public-comment/. During the Three-Year Planning process, public comment is important to help shape the future of the Massachusetts energy efficiency plans. 
3. Equity Working Group: As part of the 2022-2024 Three-Year Planning process, members of the EEAC have established an Equity Working Group to discuss how the Massachusetts energy efficiency programs can more equitably serve residents and businesses. If you are interested in receiving information on the Equity Working Group, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources at MA-EEAC@mass.gov.

 

Want to learn more about how to be involved in the planning process?

Email MA-EEAC@mass.gov if you would like to be added to the EEAC email distribution list – updates on planning and regular monthly meetings are sent to the list regularly. Questions about the EEAC, the planning process, and energy efficiency programs can be sent to this address.