Massachusetts solar guide
Solar Panels in Massachusetts:A 2026 Homeowner’s Guide
Massachusetts has some of the highest electric rates in the country. Going solar puts you back in control of your bill. This guide covers what you need to know before you go solar: electric rates, costs, incentives, net metering, ways to pay and who to trust with the process.
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PartnerKey takeaways
- For a lot of Massachusetts homeowners, solar panels are still worth it in 2026. It comes down to your roof, shade, electric use, utility and contract.
- Massachusetts electric rates are among the highest in the country, and they’ve more than doubled in the last 20 years.
- The federal solar tax credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Massachusetts still has solar incentives of its own.
- Net metering credits your bill for the extra solar power your panels send to the grid.
- How you pay matters. Buy with cash or a solar loan and the incentives are yours. With a solar lease or PPA, they usually aren’t.
Who this guide is for
- Massachusetts homeowners considering solar panels for their home
- Anyone holding a solar proposal and wondering if it’s a good deal
- Homeowners tired of watching their energy bills climb
Is Solar Worth It in Massachusetts?
For a lot of Massachusetts homes, yes. Electricity in the Bay State costs far more than the national average, and state incentives still reward residents who make their own solar energy. The federal solar tax credit is gone, but that alone doesn’t decide whether solar panels are worth it for your home.
Whether going solar in Massachusetts makes sense for you comes down to a few things: your roof, how much shade it gets, how much electricity you use, which utility serves your house, and the terms of the contract you sign. A great house with a bad contract can still be a bad solar investment.
Shade matters more than most people expect. A big tree that blocks the afternoon sun can cut into what your solar panel system makes all year. Some shade is fine. A lot of it can make solar a weak choice, and an honest consultant will tell you that.
Why Are Massachusetts Homeowners Going Solar?
The benefits of going solar go beyond a smaller electric bill. For a lot of families, making clean, renewable energy on their own roof matters too.
Lower energy bills
Massachusetts has some of the highest electric rates in the country. When your panels make your power, you buy less of it from your utility. That’s where the energy savings come from.
More control over your bill
Utility supply prices reset every six months. With a home solar system making part of your electricity, less of your bill rides on those changes.
Solar incentives still pay
Net metering, the SMART program and state tax breaks still reward Massachusetts residents who install solar panels.
Backup power
Pair your panels with solar batteries set up for backup, and home solar and battery together can keep your essentials running when the grid goes down.
What Are the Massachusetts Electric Rates?
Massachusetts homes pay about two-thirds more per kilowatt-hour for electricity than the national average, and the state ranks among the most expensive in the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. And it keeps climbing. The average residential rate has more than doubled over the last 20 years.
Your rate isn’t one statewide number, though. It depends on your utility, where your supply comes from, and how much you use. If you’re on your utility’s basic service, the supply price resets twice a year, in February and August. Many towns also run municipal aggregation programs that buy supply for residents in bulk.
That’s a big reason solar energy in Massachusetts keeps growing. Solar helps by making some of that electricity on your own roof, so you buy less of it. It won’t make your utility go away, but residential solar power can take a real bite out of what you pay them.
Massachusetts electric rates, 2005 to 2025
Average residential price per kilowatt-hour, supply and delivery combined
+126%in 20 years
See the numbers
| Year | Average rate |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 13.4¢ |
| 2006 | 16.6¢ |
| 2007 | 16.2¢ |
| 2008 | 17.6¢ |
| 2009 | 16.9¢ |
| 2010 | 14.6¢ |
| 2011 | 14.7¢ |
| 2012 | 14.9¢ |
| 2013 | 15.8¢ |
| 2014 | 17.4¢ |
| 2015 | 19.8¢ |
| 2016 | 19.0¢ |
| 2017 | 20.1¢ |
| 2018 | 21.6¢ |
| 2019 | 21.9¢ |
| 2020 | 22.0¢ |
| 2021 | 22.9¢ |
| 2022 | 26.0¢ |
| 2023 | 29.6¢ |
| 2024 | 29.4¢ |
| 2025 | 30.4¢ |
How Much Does It Cost to Go Solar in Massachusetts?
There’s no one-size-fits-all price of solar panels. Two houses on the same street can get very different numbers, which is why the average solar panel cost you see online rarely matches a real proposal.
The cost of solar panels in Massachusetts comes down to your home. A residential solar system is sized in kilowatts (kW) to match how much electricity you use, so a bigger kW solar panel system costs more than a smaller one. Your roof, your equipment and whether you add a battery all change the system cost too.
What matters most is what solar costs for your home and what it saves you. When you compare proposals from solar companies, make sure each one shows its math. How much electricity will the solar array produce in a year? What electric rate did they assume? What charges will still be on your utility bill? A savings estimate is only as good as the numbers behind it.
The fastest way to a real number is a look at your actual roof and your actual bills. That’s what Mark does.
What Are the Massachusetts Solar Incentives in 2026?
Here’s where solar incentives stand for 2026.
The federal solar tax credit has ended. The 30% federal residential clean energy credit doesn’t apply to systems installed after December 31, 2025. If a proposal you received still counts it as a savings, ask about it before you go any further.
Massachusetts still has state incentives of its own:
Solar batteries can earn money too
Through ConnectedSolutions, the Mass Save program that pays homeowners when their battery helps the grid during peak demand, enrolled battery owners get paid for their battery’s contribution in the summer.
What Is Net Metering in Massachusetts?
Net metering is how you get credit for the solar power you don’t use right away. During the day, your house uses what your panels make first. When the panels make more than you need, the extra goes out to the grid, and your utility credits your bill for it. At night or on cloudy days, you pull power from the grid like you always have.
If Eversource, National Grid or Unitil serves your home, you can net meter. The credit shows up on your bill as a dollar amount, and unused credits roll over to the next month, so sunny summer months help cover darker winter ones. Most home-sized systems qualify.
Net metering doesn’t wipe out every line on your bill. Fixed charges like the monthly customer charge stay.
If your town runs its own electric company
Massachusetts has 41 municipal light plants, serving all or part of 50 communities. They set their own solar rules. They aren’t required to offer net metering the same way, and their customers can’t join the SMART program. Solar can still work in these towns. It just needs a closer look at the local rules.
What Are the Solar Financing Options in Massachusetts?
There are four common ways to finance your solar. The big difference is who owns the system, because the owner is the one who gets the incentives.
With cash or a solar loan, you own the solar panel system, and the Massachusetts state tax credit and SMART payments come to you if you qualify. Cash means a bigger upfront cost, and a loan spreads it out over time. With a solar lease or PPA, the company that owns the system usually keeps those incentives, so read the contract to see what you’re actually getting.
| Option | Who owns the system | What you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | You | The full cost up front |
| Solar loan | You | A loan payment over time |
| Solar lease | A solar company | A monthly payment for the equipment |
| Power purchase agreement (PPA) | A solar company | A set price for each unit of power the panels make |
Why Mark Featherstone Is the Best Solar Consultant in Massachusetts
Who you go solar with matters as much as the panels on your home. Mark Featherstone has served Massachusetts homeowners for over 14 years and has helped more than 1,000 families lower their electric bills. He gets people into good solar situations, and he’ll tell you plainly when solar isn’t right for your house.
Mark is a solar consultant, not an installer. He works with you from the first look at your roof through the decision, explains every number in your proposal, and makes sure you know exactly what you’re paying and for how long.
Why work with Mark
- 14+ years in solar
- 1,000+ happy customers
- Partners with GivePower
- A trusted local consultant who has your best interests in mind
FAQs About Solar Panels in Massachusetts
Do solar panels work in a Massachusetts winter?
Yes. Your panels make less solar energy in winter because the days are shorter and snow can cover them for a bit. Summer production makes up for it, and net metering credits from sunny months carry over to cover the darker ones.
Is there a solar tax credit in Massachusetts in 2026?
Yes, at the state level. The federal solar tax credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, but Massachusetts residents who install solar on their main home can still claim a state credit of 15% of the cost, up to $1,000.
What is the SMART program in Massachusetts?
SMART stands for Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target. It pays eligible solar owners based on how much electricity their system produces. It’s open to customers of Eversource, National Grid and Unitil, and its terms are set year by year.
Can I go solar in Massachusetts if my town has its own electric company?
Yes. Towns with a municipal light plant set their own solar rules and credits, and their customers can’t join the SMART program. Solar can still be worth it there, but the numbers need to be checked against your local utility.
Does Massachusetts pay you to have a solar battery?
It can. Through ConnectedSolutions, the Mass Save program, enrolled battery owners get paid when their battery helps the grid during peak summer demand. A battery also keeps your essentials running when the power goes out.
Go solar with confidence
Mark will look at your roof, your bills and your options, and tell you straight whether solar panels are worth it for your home.