DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ANNUAL REPORT 2018 SUBMITTED TO THE GENERAL COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS PURSUANT TO G.L. c. 25, sec. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................. 6 CONSUMER DIVISION........................................................................................................................................ 7 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................................... 7 Investigation and Resolution of Customer Complaints .................................................................................. 7 Utility Monitoring ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Storms ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Distributed Generation/Interconnection Dispute Resolution .......................................................................... 8 Municipal Aggregation ................................................................................................................................... 8 ELECTRIC POWER DIVISION ............................................................................................................................ 8 Overview ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 Energy Efficiency ............................................................................................................................................... 8 Renewable Energy Resources ............................................................................................................................. 9 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 Net Metering ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Long-Term Contracts ...................................................................................................................................... 9 Interconnection ............................................................................................................................................. 10 Grid Modernization or Smart Grid ............................................................................................................... 10 Retail Power Supply Markets ........................................................................................................................... 11 Competitive Power Supply ........................................................................................................................... 11 Basic Service ................................................................................................................................................. 12 Distribution Service Quality and Reliability..................................................................................................... 12 Reporting Requirements ................................................................................................................................... 12 Annual Planning and Reliability Report ....................................................................................................... 13 Annual Storm and Emergency Restoration Report ....................................................................................... 13 Quarterly Outage Report ............................................................................................................................... 13 Quarterly Stray Voltage and Manhole Safety Report ................................................................................... 13 Semi-Annual Double Pole Reports ............................................................................................................... 13 Reporting of Outage Events .............................................................................................................................. 13 Service Quality Standards ................................................................................................................................. 14 Regional and Federal Affairs ............................................................................................................................ 14 Legal Proceedings ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Energy Security ............................................................................................................................................. 15 Renewable Energy Procurement ....................................................................................................................... 16 ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD AND DEPARTMENT SITING DIVISION .................................... 16 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 Siting Board Responsibilities ............................................................................................................................ 17 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................... 17 Enforcement .................................................................................................................................................. 18 Siting Board Regulations .............................................................................................................................. 18 Department Siting Division Responsibilities .................................................................................................... 18 Electric Transmission Facilities .................................................................................................................... 18 Zoning Exemption Review ........................................................................................................................... 18 Eminent Domain and Survey Access ............................................................................................................ 19 Assistance to Other Department Divisions ....................................................................................................... 19 LEGAL DIVISION ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 19 Legal Division Responsibilities ........................................................................................................................ 19 Formal Adjudications.................................................................................................................................... 19 Other Types of Proceedings .............................................................................................................................. 21 Requests for Advisory Rulings ..................................................................................................................... 21 Notice of Inquiry Proceedings ...................................................................................................................... 21 Rulemakings ................................................................................................................................................. 21 Public Records .............................................................................................................................................. 22 NATURAL GAS DIVISION ................................................................................................................................ 22 Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 Forecast and Supply Plans ................................................................................................................................ 22 Substance of Forecast and Supply Plans Filed ................................................................................................. 23 Reliability of Gas Supply .................................................................................................................................. 23 Diversity of Gas Supplies ................................................................................................................................. 23 Long-Term Gas Supply Contracts ...................................................................................................................