Working with stakeholders to enable the energy transition in Massachusetts
The Electric Sector Modernization Plan (ESMP) is a regulatory filing mandated by the Massachusetts 2022 Clean Energy Act. The plan sets out our strategic roadmap to modernise and upgrade the electric grid to enable an affordable clean energy transition.
Projects contained in our ESMP are designed to enhance grid reliability and resiliency, support electrification and distributed energy resources, and prepare the system for future impacts of climate and increased demand. Our ESMP was filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) on January 29th, 2024, and was approved on August 29th, 2024.
Stakeholder engagement
Regular stakeholder engagement has been key to the development of the ESMP and will continue throughout implementation. The state of Massachusetts established the Grid Modernization Advisory Council (GMAC) to improve transparency and stakeholder engagement in the electric distribution system planning process in Massachusetts. Through GMAC, we receive recommendations on our grid modernisation efforts from government officials, consumer representatives, community organizations, and industry representatives.
We have also worked with the Community Engagement Stakeholder Advisory Group (CESAG) to develop a community engagement framework centered on equity that can be applied to major infrastructure projects related to the ESMP. Through this advisory group, we work with other utilities and local community organisations on how to best engage communities in the energy transition.
We’re also part of the Integrated Energy Planning External Stakeholder Working Group, which kicked off in May 2025. This group allows for electric and gas utilities to jointly plan for an orderly transition to electric heating. Membership includes MA utilities, government representatives and community organisations.
Opportunities for stakeholder feedback
Beyond these partnerships, National Grid has engaged with other opportunities to receive stakeholder feedback on our ESMP. We held two public listening sessions, two joint stakeholder workshops with Eversource and Unitil, several webinars, legislative briefings and a stakeholder deep dive technical session. We’ve also sponsored forums hosted by business organisations and local chambers and participated in relevant conferences related to the focus areas of the ESMP.
A shared understanding
Extensive stakeholder engagement throughout the development of our ESMP has allowed us to build a shared understanding among stakeholders around the goals of our plan and has provided insights into how we can deliver a smarter, stronger and cleaner energy future. It has also allowed us to incorporate customer feedback into our approach and identify community concerns, as well as ensure that we are aligned with state priorities.
The first ESMP term will begin and investments will commence on July 1, 2025.