Key takeaway
After you sign, there are about seven steps: site survey, final design, permits and utility application, install, town inspection, utility approval and turn-on. Install day only takes one to three days. The whole process usually takes about three to five months in Massachusetts, mostly waiting on permits and Eversource or National Grid.
Who this guide is for: Massachusetts homeowners who just signed a solar contract, or are about to, and want to know what happens next.
You signed. Now what? For a lot of homeowners, the months between signing and turning the system on are the most confusing part of going solar.
Here's every step, in order, with typical Massachusetts timelines and what you'll need to do along the way.
At a glance
| Site survey | About 1 week |
| Final design | 1 to 3 weeks |
| Permits and utility application | 2 to 7 weeks |
| Equipment and scheduling | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Install day | 1 to 3 days |
| Town inspection | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Utility approval and turn-on | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Total | About 3 to 5 months |
Typical ranges. Timelines vary by town, utility, season and whether your roof or electrical panel needs work first.
What happens right after I sign a solar contract?
First, you'll usually get a copy of your signed contract and a welcome call or email from the company. Read your contract again while it's fresh, including the cancellation section. If something doesn't feel right, it's easiest to cancel a solar contract early, before work on your home starts.
Step 1: Site survey
A technician visits your home to measure the roof, check its condition, look at the attic framing and inspect your electrical panel. This is where roof or electrical upgrades usually come up.
What you do: be home, or make sure they can get into the attic and to the electrical panel.
Step 2: Final design
The design team uses the survey to finalize the layout. Sometimes the panel count or system size changes a little. If it does, you should get an updated document showing the change.
What you do: review and approve the final design. Make sure the size and production still match what you agreed to.
Step 3: Permits and the utility application
Two things happen here, usually at the same time:
- Town permits: a building permit and an electrical permit through your town's wiring inspector. Some towns have extra steps for historic districts.
- Utility application: the company files an interconnection application with Eversource or National Grid. Most home systems go through a simplified review.
What you do: sign any utility forms they send you. That's often an e-signature.
Step 4: Equipment and scheduling
Once the permits and utility approval to build are in, the company orders equipment and books your install date. If your roof needs replacing first, that work happens before this step.
Planning a new roof? For Massachusetts homes that qualify, you can get a new roof with solar panels as part of the same project.
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 quoteStep 5: Install day
Most home installs take one to three days. The crew mounts the racking, installs the panels and inverter equipment, and runs the wiring to your electrical panel.
What you do: clear the driveway, keep pets inside, and expect the power to be off for a short time while they connect to your panel.
Step 6: Town inspection
Your town's wiring inspector, and sometimes the building inspector, checks the finished work. Once it passes, the inspector signs off so the paperwork can go to the utility.
What you do: you may need to be home or give access to the electrical panel.
Step 7: Utility approval and turn-on
This is the last stretch, and often the longest wait. In Massachusetts it usually looks like this:
- The completion paperwork goes to Eversource or National Grid.
- The utility may send someone to do a witness test, or it may waive it.
- The utility installs a new net meter.
- The utility issues permission to operate, usually by email to the company.
- The company tells you it's time to turn the system on.
Don't turn the system on before you get permission to operate. Eversource says its interconnection process averages about 120 days from application, so this part can take a while.
When will I see savings on my bill?
Usually within one or two billing cycles after the system is on and your new meter is in. Your first few bills may look a little different while the utility switches you to net metering in Massachusetts. And you'll likely still have a small electric bill with solar from the fixed monthly charges.
If your system is in the SMART program, there's a separate setup for that incentive.
What can slow things down?
- Roof or electrical panel work that has to happen first
- Busy permit offices, especially in spring
- Utility backlogs
- Snow and ice during winter installs
- Missing signatures or paperwork
The best thing you can do is answer emails and sign forms quickly. If it's been a while and you haven't heard anything, call the company you signed with and ask which step you're on.
Haven't signed yet? Go through these questions to ask before signing a solar contract first.
Haven't signed yet?
Send your quote to Mark first. He'll tell you if it's a good deal and what to expect after you sign.
Mark, review my quoteFAQs About After You Sign
How long does it take to get solar panels installed in Massachusetts?
From signing to turning the system on usually takes about three to five months in Massachusetts. Install day itself is short, usually one to three days. Most of the time goes to design, permits and utility approval.
What is permission to operate (PTO)?
Permission to operate is the utility's written approval to turn your solar system on. In Massachusetts, it comes from Eversource or National Grid after the town inspection and the meter work are done.
Can I turn on my solar panels before PTO?
No. You shouldn't turn the system on until the utility gives permission to operate. The company you signed with will let you know when it's approved.
When will I see net metering credits on my bill?
Usually within one or two billing cycles after your system is turned on and your new meter is in place.
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.