The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU), through its order in D.P.U. 20-80, requested that the natural gas distribution companies (also known as local distribution companies (LDCs)) engage with stakeholders to develop a Non-Pipes Alternative (“NPA”) framework.
The LDCs want to gather input from a wide range of people with different viewpoints to ensure the NPA framework meets customer needs while maintaining safety and reliability as the gas system changes. The companies have hired a team of consultants (E3, Apex, and Efficiency for Everyone) to lead the stakeholder input process. There are multiple ways for interested individuals and organizations to participate (outlined in the figure and described below).
The purpose of this website is to share information on the NPA stakeholder process, including background information, public notices, NPA Working Group meeting materials, and written comments from the public and group members.
NPA Working Group. This group will consist of approximately 30 selected stakeholders who will meet monthly from October 2024 to March 2025. The goal is to collect diverse perspectives to help shape a comprehensive NPA framework. A Technical Subcommittee will also review the framework in detail, with a focus on methodological approaches and assumptions. More information about the NPA Working Group is provided below.
Community Focus Group. This group will examine the potential impacts of NPAs on communities in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on historically overburdened and marginalized populations. The 15-member focus group will seek to gain feedback from community members about how alternatives to natural gas infrastructure will impact their families, businesses, and communities. It will also identify considerations that enable the equitable distribution of anticipated costs and benefits from NPAs. The feedback from this group of stakeholders will help the LDCs refine their NPA framework. The Community Focus Group will meet approximately six times between November 2024 and March 2025.
Public Engagement: Individuals and organizations that would like to stay informed and provide input without joining a standing group have several options: signing up to receive email updates about the NPA stakeholder process, attending live listening sessions, and utilizing this website to review materials and/or submit public comments.
Working Group Application Announcement [link]
Working Group Application [window closed]
Community Focus Group Application Announcement [link]
Community Focus Group Application [window closed]
Interested in updates from the NPA stakeholder process? Fill out the "Contact Us" form below with your contact information or email us at npaworkinggroup@apexanalyticsllc.com
On Thursday November 14th and Monday November 18th there were two virtual Public Listening Sessions held to provide a brief overview of NPAs and the DPU 20-80 order related to them. There was a daytime and evening option to provide flexibility with schedules, and live caption translation was available. The recordings of those sessions are linked below, and presentation is linked [HERE].
Notice of the dates and registration were distributed through the NPA Distribution List, and posted below. The emailed announcement is linked below, with translations in Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish:
Public Listening Session Announcement (English)
公众听证会公告 (Chinese) Public Listening Session Announcement
Anúncio de sessão pública de escuta (Portuguese) Public Listening Session Announcement
Anuncio de la sesión pública de escucha (Spanish) Public Listening Session Announcement
[CLICK HERE] for Daytime Listening Session Recording
[CLICK HERE] for Evening Listening Session Recording
The NPA Working Group is designed to ensure balanced representation, transparent communication, and effective stakeholder engagement to provide meaningful input to the LDCs regarding the development of an NPA framework. The group seeks to gather diverse perspectives and inputs that will inform a comprehensive NPA framework that considers the needs and concerns of stakeholders as the natural gas system evolves. This framework will be critical in helping the LDCs make capital allocation decisions related to future investments in the gas system.
If you wish to submit a public comment, please use the "Contact Us" form at the bottom of this page. Written comments from group members and the public will be uploaded on a regular basis.
Copyright © 2024 20-80 NPA Working Group - All Rights Reserved.
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