What Are System Benefit Charges

Massachusetts’ 1997 electric utility restructuring legislation created separate public benefits funds to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency for all customer classes.
 

Funds were significantly revised by The Green Communities Act legislation enacted July 2008. The electricity restructuring legislation includes a non-by passable systems benefit charge imposed on all customers of investor-owned electric utilities and competitive municipal utilities in MA. 

The public benefit funding was augmented, starting in 2009, by Massachusetts’ proceeds from the Independent System Operator New England Inc. (ISO-NE) Forward Capacity Market and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). 

Electric and gas energy efficiency programs supported by these funds are administered by MassSave, with further incentives offered by the Gas Networks consortium, Mass DOER, through the Green Communities Program, and MassCEC, a quasi-public research and development entity, with oversight and planning assistance from the DOER and an advisory board.

The Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund is also funded by system benefit charges as well as participating municipal utilities. It supports clean energy programs administered by MassCEC. 

Source: https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/732