Key takeaway
Almost every EV owner in Holliston does most of their charging in the driveway or garage, and rooftop solar is one of the smartest ways to cover it. Your panels make power during the day, Eversource credits the extra through net metering, and those credits pay for the electricity your car draws overnight. For charging away from home, Holliston now has DC fast chargers downtown on Church Street plus Level 2 stations around town.
Who this is for: Holliston homeowners who drive an electric car, are about to buy one, or want their roof to cover the cost of charging.
Solar and Your EV: Charging on Your Own Power
An electric car is basically a new appliance that uses as much power as a few big ones combined. Plug it in every night, and your Eversource bill shows it. At 17.32 cents per kWh for basic service supply (as of November 2026), plus delivery, those home charging sessions add up over a year.
Solar changes where that power comes from. While you're at work or out on the Upper Charles Trail, your panels are producing. Whatever the house doesn't use right then goes out to the grid, and Eversource credits it to your account through net metering. When the car charges at 11 p.m., those credits cover it. You don't have to charge in daylight or be home at noon. The math happens on the bill.
For plenty of Holliston households, buying an EV is what makes going solar in Holliston click, because there's suddenly a big, steady new electric load for the panels to cover.
Size Your System for the Car You'll Drive
A common mistake: someone sizes their solar off last year's bills, buys an EV the next spring and finds the system is already too small. If an electric car is anywhere on your radar, even a couple of years out, mention it at the start so the design covers the house and the driveway.
The Power Solar Doesn't Cover
Any electricity your panels don't offset still comes through your supply, whether that's Eversource basic service or the town's Holliston Community Choice program. The bigger the share of your charging that solar handles, the less you notice when supply rates jump.
How Much Solar Does an Electric Car Need?
A typical EV travels about 3 to 4 miles per kWh. At 12,000 miles a year, that's roughly 3,000 to 4,000 kWh of extra electricity. A kilowatt of solar on a sunny Massachusetts roof produces about 1,100 to 1,300 kWh a year, so the extra system size is smaller than most people guess.
| Miles you drive each year | Extra electricity (rough) | Added solar to match it (rough) |
|---|---|---|
| 8,000 | 2,000 to 2,700 kWh | Around 2 kW |
| 12,000 | 3,000 to 4,000 kWh | Around 3 kW |
| 15,000 | 3,750 to 5,000 kWh | Around 3.5 to 4 kW |
Estimates only. Your car's efficiency, the shade on your roof and how you drive all change the real numbers.
So covering a daily commute up Route 16 or out the Mass Pike usually takes just a few extra panels. On shaded Holliston lots, a proper shade study tells you how many.
Level 1 or Level 2 Charging?
| Level 1 | Level 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | Standard 120-volt household outlet | Dedicated 240-volt circuit |
| Speed | A few miles of range per hour | Enough for a full overnight charge for most drivers |
| Installation | Usually none | Licensed electrician, new circuit and a permit |
| Works well for | Plug-in hybrids and light driving | Most fully electric cars |
A smart Level 2 charger also lets you set a charging schedule from your phone. If someone's home during the day, you can line up charging with the hours your panels are producing.
Installing a Level 2 Charger in Holliston
- Have your panel checked. An electrician confirms there's room for a new 240-volt circuit. Older Holliston homes sometimes need a panel upgrade. If solar is coming too, plan both together so the electrical work happens once.
- Choose the charger. To qualify for Eversource's rebate, pick a Wi-Fi-connected smart charger from its approved list.
- Get the permit. A new charger circuit needs an electrical permit from the Holliston Building Department at Town Hall. Your electrician usually files it.
- Install and inspect. The electrician wires the charger, and the town's inspector signs off.
- Claim your rebate. Send Eversource the rebate paperwork once the charger is in.
Eversource EV Charger Rebates and Other Help
Since Eversource delivers power in Holliston, its EV programs are the ones that apply here, along with other Holliston home energy programs:
- Charger and wiring rebates. Eversource pays homeowners back for part of a qualifying smart Level 2 charger and the wiring behind it. Under current rules you'll need to enroll the charger in Eversource's managed charging program, which shifts charging into off-peak hours.
- MOR-EV. Run by the state, MOR-EV gives a rebate when you buy or lease a qualifying electric vehicle. It has nothing to do with the charger rebate, so you can get both.
- Solar incentives. Net metering and the Massachusetts solar tax credit of 15% up to $1,000 stack on top of the EV programs.
Programs and amounts change often, so check Eversource's Massachusetts EV pages and the MOR-EV site before you buy. The federal tax credit for home chargers has ended.
Where to Charge in Public Around Holliston
With solar at home, public charging is mostly a backup. Still, it's good to know where to plug in:
- Church Street, downtown. A DC fast charging site opened in June 2026 at 110 Church Street, by the Depot Package Store, with four fast chargers rated up to 120 kW. It's the quickest top-off in town.
- Green Street. The town runs a public Level 2 station at 9 Green Street.
- Washington Street and Lowland Street. Public Level 2 chargers are listed at 140 Washington Street and at the office campus on Lowland Street.
- Next door in Sherborn and Ashland. Sherborn Town Hall on Washington Street has a fast charger, and MassBay Community College's Ashland campus on Eliot Street has Level 2 charging.
- Milford, down Route 16. The shopping centers on Fortune Boulevard in Milford have some of the closest high-speed charging if you're heading toward I-495.
Stations come and go and sometimes go offline. Before you drive over, check PlugShare or the U.S. Department of Energy's station locator for status, plug type and cost.
Let your Holliston roof fuel your car
Mark Featherstone lives here in Holliston and has helped more than 1,000 happy customers go solar. Send him your address and he'll show you how solar could cover your home and your EV.
Mark, run my numbers!FAQs About EV Charging at Home in Holliston
Can solar cover my EV if I only charge at night?
Yes. Net metering credits the extra power your panels make during the day to your Eversource account, and those credits pay for the electricity your car uses overnight.
How much solar do I need to add for an electric car?
About 3 kW of extra solar covers a driver going roughly 12,000 miles a year. Your car, your roof's shade and your driving habits change the real number.
Does a home EV charger need a permit in Holliston?
Yes. The Holliston Building Department issues an electrical permit for a Level 2 charger circuit, and your licensed electrician normally takes care of it.
Does Eversource offer an EV charger rebate in Holliston?
Yes. Eversource helps pay for a qualifying smart Level 2 charger and its wiring. Read the current rules first, since the rebate comes with managed charging enrollment.
Where is the fastest public EV charger in Holliston?
The DC fast charging site at 110 Church Street downtown, which opened in June 2026 with four chargers rated up to 120 kW.
About Mark Featherstone
Mark has been in solar for 14+ years, working at some of the biggest solar companies in the country, before co-founding Your World Solutions. His goal is simple: help homeowners get into solar deals that actually work for them, and make sure they understand every part of it before they sign.