Utilities
Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil customers may qualify for Massachusetts net metering. Municipal utilities have their own rules.
Massachusetts Home Solar
Massachusetts Solar Guide
Understand what solar costs in Massachusetts, how incentives and net metering work, and what determines whether solar makes financial sense for your home.
Costs • Incentives • Net metering • Financing
Massachusetts snapshot
Key local details at a glance
The four local facts below have the biggest effect on a Massachusetts solar decision. Last reviewed August 2026.
SMART 3.0
For 2026, qualifying systems at or below 25 kW AC receive $0.03/kWh. Qualifying low-income systems receive $0.06/kWh.
Massachusetts tax credit
An eligible principal-residence installation may qualify for 15% of net expenditure, up to $1,000. Unused credit may carry forward for up to three following tax years.
Federal residential credit
The Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for new expenditures after December 31, 2025. Do not include the former 30% credit in a new 2026 project model.
Sources: Mass.gov net-metering eligibility, DOER SMART 3.0 details, Massachusetts residential property credits, and IRS Form 5695 instructions.
Start here
Understand the Massachusetts solar economics
These four Massachusetts topics cover the questions most homeowners have before comparing a solar proposal.
Solar costs
For a Massachusetts project, system size, equipment, roof work, electrical work, batteries, and financing all affect the total.
Explore costsIncentives
See how SMART 3.0, the Massachusetts residential credit, federal tax rules, and utility programs affect the numbers.
Review incentivesNet metering
Learn what generally happens under Massachusetts rules when your system produces more or less than your home is using.
Learn the flowFinancing
Compare cash, loans, leases, and PPAs for a Massachusetts project by total cost, ownership, payment, and home-sale implications.
Compare optionsA practical decision
Is solar worth it in Massachusetts?
Solar tends to work best when you have meaningful electricity use, good roof exposure, reasonable system pricing, and enough time to benefit.
ElectricityUsage and utility rates
Roof & sunlightUsable space, shade, and condition
System economicsPrice, production, financing, and incentives
Time horizonHow long you expect to benefit
Want to run the numbers?
Use your electric bill and solar assumptions to estimate production and first-year electricity value.
Massachusetts project economics
What actually determines your solar price?
System size, equipment, roof work, electrical upgrades, batteries, permitting, interconnection, and financing can all change the final cost. When comparing quotes, look at both the upfront price and the assumptions behind production and savings.
See what solar costs in MassachusettsCompare the full scope
- System design and expected annual production
- Roof, electrical, permitting, and interconnection work
- Massachusetts utility and incentive assumptions
- Cash price, financing terms, and total paid
Electricity flow
How solar and the grid work together
Your home uses solar electricity as it is produced. When the system produces more than the home is using, eligible excess electricity can flow to the grid. When solar production is lower than usage, the grid supplies the difference.
Solar panelsGenerate electricity
Solar serves the home first
Your homeUses solar as it is produced
When solar > usageExcess solar → grid
Meter / gridTracks imports and exports
When solar < usageGrid → home when needed
Eligible exports can create bill credits under Massachusetts net-metering rules. The value depends on the project and applicable utility rules.
Common questions
Massachusetts solar FAQ
Is solar worth it in Massachusetts?
Solar tends to make more sense when the home uses a meaningful amount of electricity, the roof has good usable sunlight, the system is priced reasonably, and you expect to stay long enough to benefit. Shade, roof condition, financing, utility rules, incentives, and the time horizon can change the answer substantially.
Does solar work in Massachusetts winters?
Yes. Panels produce electricity in winter, but shorter days, snow cover, and weather can reduce output. A useful estimate models the roof, orientation, shade, equipment, and local weather across the full year instead of assuming the same production every month.
How does net metering work in Massachusetts?
Solar serves the home as it is produced. When eligible production exceeds household use, electricity can flow to the grid and create bill credits under the applicable rules. Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil customers may qualify after interconnection and other requirements are met. Credit treatment, caps, allocations, and account rules depend on the project.
What is SMART 3.0?
SMART 3.0 is Massachusetts’ production-based solar incentive. For Program Year 2026, qualifying systems at or below 25 kW AC receive $0.03 per kWh, and qualifying low-income systems receive $0.06 per kWh. Larger systems use different base rates and may receive adders. The project must qualify under the program, and SMART payments are separate from net-metering credits.
What solar tax credits are available for a new Massachusetts project in 2026?
An eligible Massachusetts principal-residence installation may qualify for the state residential energy credit, generally the lesser of 15% of net expenditure or $1,000, with unused credit carried forward for up to three following tax years. The former federal Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for new expenditures after December 31, 2025, so do not include the former 30% federal credit in a 2026 project model.
What happens during a Massachusetts power outage?
A standard grid-tied system generally shuts off during an outage for safety. Solar panels alone do not provide whole-home backup. Backup requires equipment designed and configured to isolate the home from the grid.
What if I sell my Massachusetts home?
The process depends on whether the system is owned with cash, financed with a loan, leased, or covered by a power purchase agreement. Review payoff, transfer, warranty, maintenance, and buyer-assumption terms before signing.
Does roof direction matter in Massachusetts?
Yes. Roof direction, tilt, shade, age, usable area, and winter conditions affect production and cost. South-facing roofs can work well, but east- and west-facing roofs may also produce useful energy. A site-specific production design matters more than a simple direction rule.
Compare Massachusetts solar options
Read the guide, then share a few details about your Massachusetts home to compare options.