Mass Save Designated Equity Communities Going Live; Billions for Decarbonization and Utility Savings Available
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At the August 11 meeting of the Equity Working Group for the state Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, we learned that certain “designated equity communities” (DECs) are now eligible for intake in the 2025-27 Mass Save three-year plan. In a DEC, properties that are more than 50% rented can receive the following covered at 100% of cost, on the basis of renters having paid in for years but not benefited:
The cover of the Mass Save 2025 – 2027 three-year plan shows how Mass Save is now being used as a decarbonization tool. It’s a collaborative effort, required by statute, between six major utilities in Massachusetts and all stakeholders, including MassLandlords.
- Barrier remediation, with emphasis on removing knob and tube and vermiculite.
- Weatherization, including weatherstripping and insulation (attic, walls and basement sills).
- Heat pumps for heating and air conditioning, with emphasis on replacing electric resistance, oil, propane and wood pellet.
Unlike previous plans, this new program uses the “turnkey” model: All steps are managed by one single vendor, from energy assessment through to installation. This eliminates shopping around, so make sure you are comfortable with the vendor you first select for the assessment.
When the program is fully rolled out, there will be 21 designated equity communities. These are: Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Fitchburg, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, New Bedford, Oak Bluffs, Pittsfield, Quincy, Revere, Salem, Springfield, Tisbury, Woburn and Worcester. In the case of Boston, only select zip codes will be included (02215, 02119, 02120, 02121, 02122, 02124, 02125, 02126, 02128, 02134, 02135 and 02136).
At time of publishing, the DECs taking enrollments (and participating utilities) were: Brockton (National Grid), Everett (National Grid), Fall River (Liberty and National Grid), Fitchburg (Unitil), Lawrence (National Grid), Lynn (National Grid), Oak Bluffs (Cape Light Compact), Pittsfield (Berkshire Gas), Quincy (National Grid) and Tisbury (Cape Light Compact). The remaining DEC-utility combinations were expected to begin before the end of 2026.
