Key takeaway
In Massachusetts, when your solar panels make more electricity than you use, the extra goes back to the grid and you get a credit on your bill. Home systems of 25 kW AC or less get standard credits based on most of your per-kWh charges, and those credits roll over and don't expire. The rules are the same for Eversource and National Grid.
Who this guide is for: Massachusetts homeowners with solar, or thinking about it, who want to understand how net metering credits show up on their bill.
Net metering is the reason solar works so well in Massachusetts. It's how the extra power your panels make on a sunny June afternoon helps pay your bill in January.
Here's how it works, what your credits are worth, what happens to leftover credits, and what's being reviewed in 2026.
At a glance
| What it is | A bill credit for extra solar power you send to the grid |
| Typical home systems | 25 kW AC or less get standard net metering credits |
| Do credits expire? | No. They roll over month to month |
| Eversource vs. National Grid | Same statewide rules, different rates and bill labels |
| Not covered | Municipal light plant towns have their own rules |
| Under review | DPU is reviewing credit values. No change ordered yet |
How does net metering work in Massachusetts?
Your solar panels power your home first. When they make more than you're using, the extra flows back to the grid through your meter. Your utility tracks it and turns it into a dollar credit on your bill.
At night, or on cloudy days, you pull power from the grid like normal. Your credits help pay for it.
- Your panels make electricity.
- Your home uses what it needs.
- Extra power goes to the grid and becomes a credit.
- Credits are applied to your bill.
- Leftover credits roll over to next month.
What are net metering credits worth?
Home solar systems of 25 kW AC or less get what the utilities call standard net metering credits. The credit for each extra kWh is based on most of the per-kWh charges on your bill: basic service (supply), distribution, transmission and transition charges.
It doesn't include your fixed monthly customer charge or a few small program charges. That's why most homeowners still have a small electric bill with solar every month.
Under current rules, a solar system gets net metering credits for 25 years from when the utility approves it.
Do net metering credits expire?
For a typical home system, no. Credits roll over from month to month and don't expire. That's what makes the seasons work out.
In summer, long days mean your panels often make more than you use, so credits build up. In winter, short days mean you use more than you make, so you draw down those credits.
That's why figuring out how many solar panels you need starts with a full year of your usage.
Want to know how net metering would work on your bill?
Send your quote to Mark. He'll show you how the credits should line up with your actual usage.
Mark, review my quoteIs net metering different for Eversource and National Grid?
The rules are the same. Net metering in Massachusetts is set by the Department of Public Utilities, so Eversource, National Grid and Unitil follow the same regulation.
What's different is each utility's rates and how the credit appears on your bill. On an Eversource bill, look for a line like "Net Metering Credit."
If your town has its own municipal light plant, like some towns in Massachusetts do, state net metering doesn't apply. Check with your light plant about their solar rules.
What's the net metering cap, and is my system exempt?
Massachusetts limits how much solar can join net metering in each utility area. But since a 2022 state law raised the limit, home systems up to 25 kW AC are exempt from that cap. That covers almost every home solar system.
Can I send credits to another account?
Yes. Using a utility form called Schedule Z, you can allocate net metering credits to other accounts with the same utility, like a rental property or a family member's home. You can update the allocation a few times a year.
How do net metering and SMART work together?
They're two separate things, and you can get both. Net metering gives you bill credits for extra power you send to the grid. The SMART program pays a separate incentive for the electricity your system produces. One doesn't replace the other.
Is net metering changing in Massachusetts?
In December 2025, the Department of Public Utilities opened a review of utility charges, and the value of net metering credits is part of that review. As of October 2026, no change has been ordered.
Nobody knows yet what, if anything, will change, or how existing systems would be treated. If net metering comes up in your solar conversation, ask how your quote's savings estimate handles it.
When will I see credits after my system is on?
Usually within one or two billing cycles after the utility approves your system and installs your new meter. That's the last step of what happens after you sign a solar contract.
Got a solar quote?
Send it to Mark. He'll go through it line by line and tell you if it's a good deal for your home.
Mark, review my quoteFAQs About Net Metering in Massachusetts
Do net metering credits expire in Massachusetts?
For a typical home solar system, no. Net metering credits roll over from month to month and don't expire, so extra credits from summer help cover winter bills.
Is net metering different for Eversource and National Grid?
The rules are the same statewide because they're set by the Department of Public Utilities. What differs is each utility's rates and how the credits are labeled on your bill.
Does Massachusetts have full net metering?
Home solar systems of 25 kW AC or less get standard net metering credits, which are based on most of the per-kWh charges on your bill. They don't include your fixed monthly customer charge.
Is Massachusetts getting rid of net metering?
No. The Department of Public Utilities is reviewing utility charges, including the value of net metering credits, but no change has been ordered as of October 2026.
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.
This article is for general informational purposes only and isn't legal or tax advice. Every home, quote and contract is different, and production, savings, timelines and program rules vary and can change. Read your own contract carefully and talk with a qualified professional before making a decision.