Enforcement and Penalties
Effective Feb 28, 2025Mass. Register #1542MGL c. 25A, § 6 MGL c. 25A, § 20Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources
(1) Distribution Companies. If a Distribution Company fails to provide Energy Usage required under 225 CMR 27.04(1) for one or more Covered Buildings, the Department may take the following enforcement measures:
- (a) The Department provides notice to the Distribution Company of all Buildings for which it is missing Energy Usage data.
- (b) A Distribution Company shall respond to the notice in 225 CMR 27.11(1)(a) within 30 days of receipt, or at a later date approved by the Department, with a plan detailing how it intends to provide the missing Energy Usage data.
(c) If a Distribution Company:
- 1. fails to comply with 225 CMR 27.11(1)(b); or
- 2. within 90 days of the issuance of the written notification in 225 CMR 27.11(1)(a), fails to make a good faith effort to progress its plan provided pursuant to 225 CMR 27.11(1)(b), the Department may issue a fine of up to $150.00 per Covered Building per day that the missing Energy Usage information is not provided.
(2) Municipal Utilities. If a Municipal Utility fails to provide Energy Usage required under 225 CMR 27.04(2) for one or more Covered Buildings, the Department may take the following enforcement measures:
- (a) The Department shall provide notice to the Municipal Utility of all Buildings for which it is missing Energy Usage data.
- (b) A Municipal Utility shall respond to the notice in 225 CMR 27.11(2)(a) within 30 days of receipt, or at a later date approved by the Department, with a plan detailing how it intends to provide the missing Energy Usage data.
(c) If a Municipal Utility:
- 1. fails to comply with 225 CMR 27.11(2)(b); or
- 2. within 90 days of the issuance of the written notification in 225 CMR 27.11(2)(a), fails to make a good faith effort to progress its plan provided pursuant to 225 CMR 27.11(2)(b), the Department may issue a fine of up to $150.00 per Covered Building per day that the missing Energy Usage information is not provided.
(3) Building Owners. If a Building Owner fails to provide Energy Usage information required under 225 CMR 27.04(3), the Department may take the following enforcement measures:
- (a) The Department shall provide notice to the Building Owner of their failure to provide Energy Usage information.
- (b) If, after 30 days from the issuance of the written notification in 225 CMR 27.11(3)(a), the Building Owner does not submit the missing Energy Usage Information, the Department may issue a fine of up to $150.00 per day that the missing Energy Usage information is not provided.
- (c) A Building Owner may not pass through a fine assessed pursuant to 225 CMR 27.11(3)(a)2. to a lessee of a unit within a Covered Building that comprises less than 5% of the total Gross Floor Area of the Building.
(4) Lessees. If a lessee that comprises greater than 5% of the total gross floor area of a Covered Building fails to respond within 30 days to a written request for Energy Usage information submitted by a Building Owner pursuant to 225 CMR 27.04(3)(a), the Department may take the following enforcement actions:
- (a) The Department shall provide notice to the lessee of their failure to provide Energy Usage information.
- (b) If, after 30 days from the issuance of the written notification in 225 CMR 27.11(4)(a), the lessee does not submit the missing Energy Usage information, the Department may issue a fine of up to $150.00 per day that the missing Energy Usage information is not provided.