[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6053884,"mediaKeyId","3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b","parentId",3340064,"title","Votes at a glance: Concord Municipal Light Plant board approves March minutes, adjourns meeting","audioSeconds",6229,"startMs",54000,"endMs",6283000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b&start=54&end=6283","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b/thumbnail_54000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053884/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Concord-Municipal-Light-Plant-board-approves-March-minutes-adjourns-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053884-e4dd7ebfb15597e43032400a897b0406/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833497&Signature=YQrB~f~CwxzS~GnvX~kVFIHrhbk0aUq4RgELL9~QGlUgGWA-2flqDy1Gti55-zKc8Ugy-ScbfIxrjjwKS4aJZEGAp-0ZlwHe3eV1mFffO6oHGFxvdFRuABjsxTnxzgeK0wh4ZNjW53qyvdIA1Gf7GrDxSNjHlehUBpGkXvhuSLDchsH6kSHdA-k9Wm~~f75sfx6S9FMQvwzcWnJ5~ekKsfoHhwuMXb7c2~ycWsh-9SdFgNMUjqsqqtXChS0z2h5OEI77N-PptrCnYbtV26GD1aAASTDK0KtLTHZkegVBykIOGiY12K0gaTBUXF-tF0D06wHtDIkudGZpQj8lNJ7z~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Concord, MA","date","2025-04-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Concord Municipal Light Plant board took two formal procedural votes during its April meeting:

1) Approval of March 12 meeting minutes — Motion to approve the minutes carried. John (Light Board member) moved to approve the March 12 minutes (he noted he had made a modest change indicating he had not participated in a prior PPA vote); a second was recorded and a roll-call produced affirmative votes from Bridal, John, Bianca, Chris and others. The board approved the minutes.

2) Adjournment — A motion to adjourn was moved and seconded later in the meeting and the board voted to adjourn; recorded votes included Chris, Bridal, John, Bianca and Brian voting \"yes.\" No substantive policy items were adopted during the adjournment vote.

These procedural votes were the only motions recorded as formal actions in the transcript provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Concord: Municipal Light Board April 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The light board approved the March 12 meeting minutes and later moved to adjourn; both motions passed by voice/roll-call during the April meeting.","taxTitle","Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts","taxId",68746,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053889,"Concord energy-management staff highlight heat-pump coaching, rebates and heat-pump adoption map",282,2033000,2315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b&start=2033&end=2315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b/thumbnail_2033000.jpg","/articles/6053889/Massachusetts/Concord-energy-management-staff-highlight-heat-pump-coaching-rebates-and-heat-pump-adoption-map","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053889-4fc321dbd7da969b316c9f6facddb5dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833497&Signature=CT3IB99~vDI5VkiCjPrccfCC2D8i-T2TvB~ysC4fMkZtFC3Y4QjKBPev1-PXApEh9h4skXTSOIfWIG~o6lQZ3Gdo5qODV5DO3TVtJijTSt8ouPTluevWEuIluL0y7ITOTb45xw80VpuxCG1QzkXx52-DR9WK46bxrRPVwcQFfWBYi9oGausOQSKQuFGzg7F0CRWrxsauot3NGy3T~hY8WGzu22HdXK4nwxnjl9YcEZJj~Dc0tTkYj2gnz9SjUPP7EBoz4YuUPCuxm7p~E0T~uhSkdvS54BwrHSG-Xhg0pkHqS57A5XzQmp2gKk3riVLBspdbnLJ-Z7uTri36Xz7wnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Energy Management staff at the Concord Municipal Light Plant presented the division’s programs to the board, highlighting rebates, coaching services and a new GIS story map that visualizes heat-pump adoption across town.

Laura introduced the Energy Management team and said the division offers more than 10 residential rebates (including for heat pumps, heat-pump water heaters, electric lawn equipment and EV chargers), EV and commercial rebates, and home energy assessments through Energy New England. \"Our mission is to help our customers manage their energy costs and reduce their carbon emissions through electrification, improved efficiency, and the generation of carbon-free solar power,\" she said.

Janice Sethi, identified as CMLP’s energy efficiency and electrification coordinator, previewed a story map developed with the town GIS team that shows cumulative heat‑pump adoption since the utility began tracking in 2012, and includes case studies and answers to common customer questions. Janice said staff will update the map with the 2024 tally compiled by Pamela Katie.

Pamela Katie, the energy-efficiency and electrification specialist, described daily customer interactions, technical preapproval for solar and battery installations, and the role staff play compiling participation data used for budgeting and greenhouse-gas reporting. She told the board she has worked at CMLP about a decade.

Jason and several board members praised the heat-pump coaching program and the story map. One board member said a one-on-one coach gave them the confidence to choose a heat-pump system during home upgrades. Staff said the 2024 tally was presented inconsistently in the meeting — Jason initially referenced \"64\" new heat pumps for 2024, and staff later clarified Jan’s tally reflects 164 households in 2024; staff said they would confirm and publish the corrected number in materials.

Staff also told the board they are preparing to onboard MWEC’s Connected Homes program (a demand-management program for devices such as thermostats and EV chargers) to give customers automated load-management tools that can earn bill credits once TOU rates are in place.

Board members urged staff to consider tracking residential batteries on the adoption map and to evaluate whether incentives for batteries should be added because batteries can enable customers to respond to TOU signals.","CMLP energy-management staff presented a customer-facing GIS story map showing heat-pump adoption and described rebate, coaching and EV programs designed to support electrification and efficiency ahead of TOU rates.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053894,"Study: Concord’s voluntary peak-alert messages reduced midday load by roughly 0.7 MW, saving thousands on capacity charges",653,2302000,2955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b&start=2302&end=2955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b/thumbnail_2302000.jpg","/articles/6053894/Massachusetts/Study-Concords-voluntary-peak-alert-messages-reduced-midday-load-by-roughly-07-MW-saving-thousands-on-capacity-charges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053894-80ccc3257b93bb282a8244b1df51e64a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833497&Signature=HS~Si9fw2hB5pEeRR0YgF0hnqB-QF-bNpgRE8X-bvXhFmOUuq~U5EWawSMdg1Y2Uedj9OMXC2OzDW2wvWDOw6CWZuTebauOLwo8VGZpsU-Quui8Znj~Rc0H7P5XQ4pftd0XlkKMrB4wFGcmAA2nHJrhfXwYs4fY3asln-xdili40r3ph8vVbanf4nxZMM9AyUC0Iy5TFIbTuUGLWVB6LLmq5Eebp5fTfrbAhEGRtcnvkdttzckSg0vTrjdrlaFRuzvCPburfFAWNscWJdS-9NltZWbdvfYQkkFoiXC~QbBiqUIXrzKldaI81LCoqXvnp7Jrzrr6-2FNrptejZBuShw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An independent analysis presented to the Concord Municipal Light Plant board found that the utility’s voluntary peak‑alert messages — emails or notices asking subscribers to cut usage during forecasted high-demand hours — are associated with an average midday load reduction of roughly 0.7 megawatts during alert hours.

Professor Gilbert Metcalfe, an energy economist, told the board he analyzed CMLP aggregate hourly data from the summer months and used statistical controls including ISO New England load forecasts and local weather to account for the fact that staff call alerts on days they already expect higher demand. \"When the peak alert is called... I find that load does in fact go down,\" Metcalfe said, reporting an estimated reduction of about 700 kilowatts per alert hour.

The analysis estimated the dollar value of that reduction primarily through avoided capacity charges in the ISO New England market. Metcalfe presented a range of annualized savings that vary with ISO capacity prices; in earlier years a megawatt of avoided peak reduced costs by much more than in 2023–24, when capacity prices were lower. Based on the modeled 0.714 MW reduction and recent price levels, the analysis estimated the program’s capacity cost savings in recent years at roughly $22,000–$32,000 per year. Metcalfe noted those savings can rise or fall substantially if ISO capacity prices change.

Metcalfe also quantified smaller avoided energy and pollution costs and stressed two caveats: (1) the alerts are infrequent (a small number of hours each summer), which limits statistical precision; and (2) some of the observed load reduction could be shifting to other hours rather than representing net energy savings, which would reduce avoided energy and emissions benefits though capacity benefits can still accrue if the annual peak hour is affected.

Board members asked how widely messages reach customers and whether the list could expand. Laura (CMLP staff) said roughly several hundred email addresses are signed up for the alert list and that staff routinely promote the service when customers enroll in rebate programs. Metcalfe said that with the ongoing AMI smart meter rollout, future analyses could use household-level hourly data and support more precise evaluation and targeted experiments.

Board members praised the study and recommended repeating the evaluation after TOU implementation and as smart-meter data become available to see how price signals interact with voluntary alerts. \"Once we put a financial aspect where people are paying on-peak pricing, how does that change behavior?\" one board member asked; others suggested the utility consider critical-peak pricing if capacity costs rise again.","An analysis presented to the Concord Municipal Light Plant found that voluntary peak-alert messages sent to subscribers produced an average load reduction of about 700 kilowatts during alert hours, yielding capacity-charge savings estimated in recent years at roughly $20,000–$35,000 annually.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053899,"Concord light board gives staff flexibility to waive battery requirement for large solar projects, favoring automated curtailment",899,2954000,3853000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b&start=2954&end=3853","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b/thumbnail_2954000.jpg","/articles/6053899/Massachusetts/Concord-light-board-gives-staff-flexibility-to-waive-battery-requirement-for-large-solar-projects-favoring-automated-curtailment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053899-243d18a47aff17279d706785a459ba38/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833497&Signature=UsUcglGUMMh9EQrWHqhB-VPGwlHGW3XTLIcq88wk9Z-MNCKXfoxFT9UyqYVFg38pyiu7bqqpiMHlThX6R2yOWxiu9RRPRgZXEJbaV6c9NEJeaw~JQiY0WZ1vpfu6eMf0q54poNSv77bnjOzcUKnusB~MU3rE1DFnhXp7q7uvpCuqS87wuJJKcweZ-4Oz-s5vYiyctlg1SfTDLO~buAuddlxqIDpm-gwg6EGV33Fu1qNwToMPCF-Wxv6~cD-l6ZALwTjU3dCa-M4MiEfRB7dZC6Lmd2wCdqIyNXwZ~sOQ~C5ogVoX474gu-P5SAeThXdv-64imBmsnO-lmooDvnLwMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Concord Municipal Light Plant board members signaled support at their April meeting for loosening a 50-kilowatt threshold in the utility's net metering policy that has required batteries for larger behind-the-meter solar installations.

Jason (CMLP director) described the current policy as an operational requirement put in place to limit solar \"pushback\" into the distribution system and to avoid negative loading at the substation. He said the requirement has discouraged some potential large installations. \"One of the findings of the solar task force…was to explore alternatives to the battery requirement,\" Jason said, noting curtailment — an inverter-level device that prevents exported solar from flowing back onto the feeder — as the chief alternative.

Staff said curtailment devices would automatically prevent reverse flow by limiting solar output to a customer’s own onsite consumption; they emphasized this is an automated control at or before the meter rather than a manual switch. \"It's just looking for electricity going, you know, hitting a certain voltage. And when it does, it... sends a message to the inverter and says, turn off some or all of your solar,\" Jason explained.

Board members expressed concerns about treating residential and commercial customers the same. One member said the 50 kW threshold \"seems a bit arbitrary\" and recommended exempting typical residential systems by setting a higher threshold so homeowners are not deterred. Another suggested curtailment installations include wiring or provisions that allow adding a battery later. Counsel has reviewed the concept, Jason said, and staff will develop internal procedures to apply the flexibility consistently.

Board members agreed, without a formal roll-call vote, to give staff discretion to review large solar projects on a case-by-case basis and to pursue curtailment where appropriate so projects that lack funds for batteries can proceed.

Jason also noted that SCADA deployment and improved metering are expected to give staff more visibility into feeder-level solar production in the coming year; until that visibility exists, curtailment is the preferred lower-cost option to permit some large arrays to proceed without mandatory batteries.

No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting; the board provided direction to staff to draft procedures and bring back recommended language for the net-metering policy and implementation protocols.","The Concord light board directed staff to adopt a more flexible approach to the utility's rule that installations over 50 kilowatts must include batteries, allowing curtailment devices or case-by-case review instead of an automatic battery requirement.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6053904,"Concord light board to prioritize time-of-use education, delays wider public meeting on power supply",993,121000,1114000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b&start=121&end=1114","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3340064-37c04ab739b9365988df90768874af3b/thumbnail_121000.jpg","/articles/6053904/Massachusetts/Concord-light-board-to-prioritize-time-of-use-education-delays-wider-public-meeting-on-power-supply","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053904-28a56116ab24e91943bc3e427abfa5c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833497&Signature=J2gU9n-rdQYEwVn4r2UOzuuixSDmYuJmTMFYQ6emdAZVC04l5P0U3No749KvquPkdroekMnb9Qb342vSGjWPuIp0KFwos~sqT~~P7mfhIAQh~A2XeGcEHEd97nmvQlg7yKNVTD8EzhMvOvNxajzi5FYDeD8m6f8iE~tg0ltpVOlR2F8yUFsDcUNq~V0aLGplz554b0Hpp5ayLpKFe5Umz2niZRv5YgSjsUYs0d81mjC68Udc9hnkswozqt2qpWe98~A-gko17cbaKEWKjmTa8oVQqQO278plaPnFVMpBu96UaRlLA2G9kEEo-T~73QkivxJm5-~sYPrEJG~ljKU1iA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Concord Municipal Light Plant board decided at its April meeting to delay a planned public meeting focused on power-supply choices and instead concentrate public outreach this year on the proposed time-of-use rate structure.

Board Chair Brian (Light Board member) said the board recently extended a contract related to power supply and therefore will not make dramatic short-term decisions about what contracts the utility holds. \"Our big public education push this year needs to be around time of use rate,\" he said, adding that staff should explain TOU to customers before any broader public meeting on supply.

Director Jason (CMLP director) told the board staff is preparing tools and materials to help customers compare current bills with modeled TOU bills, including online calculators that let a household enter typical appliances or uses such as electric vehicles and heat pumps. He also said the board will host a second meeting later in April with a speaker from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District to share experience implementing TOU rates.

Jason said the utility has selected Utility Financial Solutions to perform a cost-of-service study; the study team held onboarding meetings and staff expect to keep to the previously announced timeline. He said the study, along with the calculators, will inform public outreach and rate design.

Board members said they support focusing outreach on TOU first. \"I agree with the public meeting not being relevant\" at this time and that TOU messaging \"will be more than the community can digest,\" one member said. Another member added that TOU will be particularly helpful for encouraging off‑peak electric vehicle charging.

Jason and staff also flagged federal-level developments that could affect state energy policy and grant programs, noting that funding streams tied to the Inflation Reduction Act are being reviewed and that some federal actions could complicate implementation of local initiatives. He said the light plant is monitoring grant availability and staying in contact with stakeholders and lobbyists.

The board asked staff to prepare an agenda topic in the coming months that dives deeper into battery and solar options tied to TOU implementation and to provide the public-facing calculators and outreach materials before broader town meetings.

The board did not take a formal, roll-call vote to change policy at this meeting; members expressed informal consensus to postpone the larger supply meeting and prioritize TOU outreach.","The Concord Municipal Light Plant board agreed to postpone a broad public meeting about power-supply choices and instead focus outreach this year on educating customers about proposed time-of-use (TOU) rates, board and staff members said at their April meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Concord Municipal Light Plant board approves March minutes, adjourns meeting

Concord energy-management staff highlight heat-pump coaching, rebates and heat-pump adoption map

Study: Concord’s voluntary peak-alert messages reduced midday load by roughly 0.7 MW, saving thousands on capacity charges

Concord light board gives staff flexibility to waive battery requirement for large solar projects, favoring automated curtailment

Concord light board to prioritize time-of-use education, delays wider public meeting on power supply