Key takeaway
Going solar makes sense for plenty of Medway homes in 2026. Eversource raised its basic service supply rate to 17.32 cents per kWh (as of November 2026), and Massachusetts still offers a 15% state tax credit, SMART payments and net metering. Your best shot at strong savings is a roof with good sun and a long life left, plus a steady electric bill. Medway requires a building permit and a wiring permit for every system, and your installer handles both.
Who this is for: Medway homeowners curious about solar panels, sitting on a quote, or wondering if their house can actually make its own power.
Drive down Route 109 from Medway Village toward the Millis line and you'll spot more panels on more roofs every year. Medway is a town of family neighborhoods, a lot of them built from the 1970s on, and many of those homes have the kind of open, south-facing roofs solar loves. If you've been thinking about it, here's what solar panel installation in Medway really involves in 2026, start to finish.
Is a Residential Solar Panel System Worth It in Medway?
For most Medway homes with good sun, yes. Electricity is one of the biggest monthly bills in town, and it keeps climbing. Eversource delivers power to all of Medway, and its residential basic service rate jumped from about 15.63 cents per kWh to 17.32 cents (as of November 2026), before any delivery charges. Add it all up and energy takes a real bite out of the cost of living in Medway.
A rooftop system turns sunlight into electricity your house uses right away. The more of your own power you make, the less you buy at Eversource's price, year after year.
Why Medway Homeowners Go Solar
- Lower monthly bills. Your panels supply a big share of your household's electricity.
- Steadier costs. Basic service changes every February and August. Your solar production doesn't.
- Cleaner energy. More of your home's power comes from the sun on your own roof.
- Ready for what's next. A heat pump or an electric car is easier to add when the house already produces power.
How Net Metering Shows Up on Your Eversource Bill
Solar panels make the most power in the middle of the day, which is usually when a house uses the least. That surplus flows back to the grid, your meter records it, and Eversource credits it to your account. At night and on cloudy stretches, you draw down those credits. It works the same way whether your supply comes from Eversource or the town's Medway Community Choice program.
Massachusetts Solar Incentives for 2026
The federal residential solar credit no longer applies to systems installed after December 31, 2025. Solar incentives in Massachusetts still give Medway homeowners a lot to work with:
- a 15% state income tax credit, up to $1,000, for solar on your primary home
- no Massachusetts sales tax on qualifying residential solar equipment
- a 20-year exemption from local property tax on the value the system adds
- SMART payments based on the power your system produces
- net metering credits from Eversource
Is Your Medway Home a Good Fit for Solar?
A quick look at three things usually answers this question: the roof, the shade and your electric use. Even if one of them isn't perfect today, there's often a simple fix.
How Roof Age, Shade, and Roof Direction Affect Your Options
- The age of your roof. Solar systems stay up for a long time, so the shingles underneath need years left too. A roof that's close to done should be replaced first. Removing and reinstalling panels later is an expense nobody wants.
- Trees and shade. Medway's newer subdivisions often have open lots, but streets near the village and along the Charles have bigger, older trees. Shade cuts production, so a shade study matters. Trimming or using a different roof face can help.
- Roof direction. South-facing is best. East and west roofs still do well for most households. North-facing sections rarely pay off.
Most systems here go on the roof. If you have a large, sunny yard, a ground mount can work too, though it may need zoning review.
How Your Electric Bill Helps Determine the Right System Size
The right size starts with a full year of your Eversource bills. That shows how much power your family really uses across the seasons. If you're planning a heat pump, a pool or an electric car, say so early. Planning for home EV charging in Medway now is a lot easier than adding panels later.
Curious what solar could do for your Medway home?
Send Mark your address. He'll review your roof and your bills and give you a straight answer.
Mark, run my numbers!How Much Does Solar Installation Cost in Medway?
Every Medway house gets its own price, because every roof and every household is different. Two proposals for the same home can come in far apart, so the smart comparison is the total you'll pay over the life of the system, not just the first-year monthly number.
What Drives the Cost of a Solar Installation?
- How much power you need. A bigger system costs more up front but should match your usage for the best payback.
- Your roof. Steep or complicated roofs take more labor, and an old roof may need replacing first.
- The equipment. Panel and inverter choices, plus a battery if you want one.
- Your electrical service. Some homes need a panel upgrade to handle solar.
- Owning or not. Paying cash or using a loan means you own the system and keep the incentives. Leases and PPAs mean the solar company owns it, and many include yearly payment increases.
The Mass Save HEAT Loan can finance some upgrades at 0%, including batteries, and fits with other Medway home energy programs.
How Much Could Solar Save You on Your Electric Bill?
Your savings depend on how much your panels produce, how much your home uses and what Eversource would have charged you for that power. With a well-sized system, summer bills can drop to little more than the fixed monthly charge, and the credits you bank help carry you through winter.
The higher utility rates go, the more your own solar power is worth. When you review a proposal, read the production estimate and the savings math carefully. If a quote counts the federal tax credit on a system you'd own, it's using old information.
What Happens During a Solar Installation in Medway?
From the first look at your roof to the day you switch on, a Medway solar project follows a predictable path.
Site Assessment and System Design
An installer reviews your roof and property, in person or with detailed aerial imagery, along with your electrical panel and a year of usage. From that comes a system design, a production estimate and a written proposal.
Picking an Installer and Comparing Quotes
Get two or three proposals before you commit. Look for a company with solid residential experience in Massachusetts, a design that fits your house and clear answers on incentives. It helps to know how to choose the best solar company in Medway, and to have an advisor on your side who isn't the one selling the system.
Medway Permits and Utility Applications
The Medway Building Department at Town Hall, 155 Village Street (508-533-3253), handles solar permits. A home system needs a building permit and a wiring permit, both filed through the town's online permit system. Medway only lets licensed electricians pull wiring permits, so this is squarely the installer's job. At the same time, the installer applies to Eversource for interconnection.
Installation, Inspection, and Permission to Turn On Your System
On install day, the crew sets the mounting rails, attaches the panels, mounts the inverter and connects everything. The roof work usually wraps up in a day or two.
Medway's inspectors then check the building and electrical work. Once they sign off, Eversource reviews the project, updates your meter if needed and grants permission to operate. Then your system goes live. Timelines vary, so ask each installer how they'll keep you updated.
Should You Add a Battery When You Install Solar?
That comes down to what matters to you. A grid-tied system without a battery shuts down during a power outage in Medway, so line workers stay safe. With a battery, your key circuits, like the fridge, lights, internet and heating system, keep running.
A battery is worth considering if:
- your neighborhood loses power several times a year or for days after big storms
- you depend on a sump pump or well pump, or you work from home
- you want to earn money through Eversource's ConnectedSolutions program, which pays battery owners to share stored energy during a handful of peak summer events
Designing the battery in from the start is usually simpler than adding one later, though many systems can take one down the road.
Why is Mark Featherstone the Best Solar Consultant in Medway, MA?
Mark has family ties to Medway, so this is a town he knows well. Every one of his 14+ years in solar has been in Massachusetts, including time with some of the largest solar companies in the country before he co-founded Your World Solutions. He's helped more than 1,000 happy customers go solar.
What working with Mark looks like in Medway:
- He's in your corner. As your solar consultant, Mark looks out for you from the first conversation until your system is turned on.
- He knows the area. Medway's neighborhoods, the Building Department and Eversource's interconnection process are all familiar ground.
- He's straight with you. If your roof needs work first or solar isn't the right move yet, he'll tell you.
- He explains it all. System size, payments, incentives and any yearly increases, before you sign anything.
- He's there afterward. Questions after installation go right to Mark.
Ready to see your Medway solar numbers?
Start with your address, or send Mark a quote you've already received.
Mark, run my numbers! Mark, review my quoteFAQs About Solar Installation in Medway
How long does a Medway solar project take?
The installation itself is quick. Most of the time goes to town permits and Eversource's interconnection approval. Ask each installer for an honest timeline and how often they'll check in.
What permits does Medway require for solar panels?
A building permit and a wiring permit from the Medway Building Department. Only a licensed electrician can pull the wiring permit, and your installer typically files both.
Should I replace my roof before going solar in Medway?
If your roof is near the end of its life, yes. Replacing it first costs far less than taking the panels off and putting them back later.
Do solar panels work during a power outage?
Not by themselves. Grid-tied systems shut off when the grid goes down. With a battery, your essential circuits stay on.
Will Mark review a solar quote I already have?
Yes. Mark will check the system size, production estimate, payment terms and incentives, and point out anything that seems off.
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.