Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 25a - Division of Energy Resources
Section 6 - Powers and Duties

Section 6. The department and its appropriate administrative units shall:--
  (1) develop and administer programs relating to energy conservation, alternative energy development, non-renewable energy supply and resource development, energy bond authority, energy information, and energy emergencies;
  (2) advise, assist, and cooperate with other state, local, regional, and federal agencies in developing appropriate programs and policies relating to energy planning and regulation in the commonwealth including assistance and advice in the preparation of loan or grant applications with respect to energy programs for state, local and regional agencies;
  (3) develop energy data and information management capabilities to aid energy planning and decision-making;
  (4) promote the development of sound energy education programs;
  (5) apply for, receive, expend, represent and act on behalf of the commonwealth in connection with federal grants, grant programs or reimbursements, or private grants, keep accounts, records, personal data, enter into contracts, including contracts for the insurance of vehicles in the alternative fuel vehicle demonstration program, and adjust claims;
  (6) accept gifts, grants, funds, monies, bequests, and devises, whether real or personal, from any source, whether public or private, for the purpose of assisting the commissioner in the discharge of his duties;
  (7) subject to appropriation, acquire real or personal property;
  (8) promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out their statutory responsibilities;
  (9) seek the laboratory, technical, educational, and research skills of state institutions of higher education in order to carry out the provisions of this chapter;
  (10) plan, develop, oversee, and operate programs to help consumers understand, evaluate, and select retail energy supplies and related services offered as a consequence of electric and gas utility restructuring, in accordance with the provisions of section 11D;
  (11) provide technical assistance to municipalities and governmental bodies seeking assistance during the transition to a competitive market, including, but not limited to, the voluntary aggregation of their citizens' demand for electricity pursuant to section 134 of chapter 164; and
[ Clauses (12) and (13) effective until June 24, 2021. For text effective June 24, 2021, see below.]
  (12) intervene and advocate on behalf of small commercial and industrial users before the department of public utilities in any dispute between such businesses and generation or distribution companies, as defined pursuant to section 1 of chapter 164; and
  (13) plan, develop, oversee and operate the commercial sustainable energy program, with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 23M. In accordance with this section, the department shall approve each commercial PACE project prior to the issuance of a PACE bond under chapter 23M and in so doing shall consider whether the energy cost savings of the commercial energy improvements over the useful life of such improvements exceed the costs of such improvements.
[ Clauses (12) and 13 as amended by 2021, 8, Sec. 31 effective June 24, 2021. For text effective until June 24, 2021, see above.]
  (12) intervene and advocate on behalf of small commercial and industrial users before the department of public utilities in any dispute between such businesses and generation or distribution companies, as defined pursuant to section 1 of chapter 164;
  (13) plan, develop, oversee and operate the commercial sustainable energy program, with the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 23M. In accordance with this section, the department shall approve each commercial PACE project prior to the issuance of a PACE bond under chapter 23M and in so doing shall consider whether the energy cost savings of the commercial energy improvements over the useful life of such improvements exceed the costs of such improvements; and
[ Clause (14) added by 2021, 8, Sec. 31 effective June 24, 2021.]
  (14) develop and promulgate, in consultation with the state board of building regulations and standards, a municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code that includes, but is not limited to, net-zero building performance standards and a definition of net-zero building, designed to achieve compliance with the commonwealth's statewide greenhouse gas emission limits and sublimits established pursuant to chapter 21N.

Structure Massachusetts General Laws

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth

Chapter 25a - Division of Energy Resources

Section 1 - Department of Energy Resources; Commissioner

Section 2 - Commissioner; Responsibilities; Divisions Established Within Department; Description of Organization Statement

Section 3 - Definitions

Section 4 - Officers and Employees

Section 5 - Reports Filed With Legislative Committees

Section 6 - Powers and Duties

Section 7 - Collection of Energy Information; Reports; Violations

Section 8 - Declaration of Energy Emergency

Section 9 - Information Obtained From Other Agencies or Political Subdivisions

Section 10 - Division of Green Communities; Duties of Director; Program; Qualification as a Green Community; Funding; Rules; Annual Report

Section 10a - Competitive Bidding Procedure for Municipal Green Communities

Section 11 - Establishment of Energy Programs; Rules and Regulations; Contracts; Grants

Section 11a - Commercial and Apartment Conservation Service Program; Enforcement; Penalties

Section 11b - Motor Vehicles Owned by Commonwealth; Fuel Efficiency

Section 11c - Contracts for Procurement of Energy Management Services

Section 11d - Consumer Education; Telephone Hotline; Plan Approval

Section 11e - Monitoring and Reporting on Electricity System Reliability and Future Capacity Excesses or Deficits

Section 11f - Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard for Retail Electricity Suppliers

Section 11f1/2 - Alternative Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard

Section 11f3/4 - Municipal Lighting Plant Gges; Minimum Percentage of Non-Carbon Emitting Energy Sold; Annual Report

Section 11g - Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Energy Efficiency Programs

Section 11h - Assessments Against Electric and Gas Utility Companies; Rate Determined and Certified Annually by Commissioner

Section 11i - Energy Management Services Contracts; Request for Qualifications; Regulations; Payments; Performance Bond

Section 12 - Regulations; Submission to General Court

Section 13 - Department of Energy Resources Credit Trust Fund

Section 14 - Contracts for Energy Conservation Projects Costing One Hundred Thousands Dollars or Less; Additions to Monthly Utility Bills.

Section 15 - Contracts for Photovoltaic Projects Costing Less Than One Hundred Thousand Dollars.

Section 16 - Public Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations

Section 17 - Minimum Percentage of Kilowatt-Hour Sales From Clean Peak Resources

Section 18 - Issuance of a Notice of Non-Compliance