Massachusetts Solar Guide 2026
Everything Massachusetts homeowners need to know: costs, incentives, net metering policy, and what makes this state unique for solar.
Key fact about Massachusetts solar
Massachusetts has some of the highest electricity rates in the continental US, making solar economics compelling despite below-average sunshine. The SMART program provides an additional per-kWh incentive on top of net metering.
Peak sun hours
4.1
hrs/day avg
Avg electricity rate
24.0¢
per kWh
Median install cost
$3.3/W
before incentives
Typical payback
9 yrs
8 kW system, avg usage
Typical 8 kW system in Massachusetts
Annual production
11,972 kWh
Year-1 savings
$2,873
System cost (est.)
$26,400
No federal tax credit — Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Massachusetts Net Metering Policy
Full retail net metering
Massachusetts offers full retail net metering for residential customers under 25 kW. The SMART program for larger systems uses a fixed compensation rate rather than retail net metering.
Massachusetts Solar Incentives
Available in addition to any utility rebates. Federal 25D credit is $0 for homeowner-owned systems from 2026.
- ✓SMART incentive program for systems <25kW ($0.06–$0.15/kWh generated)
- ✓State income tax credit (15%, up to $1,000)
- ✓Sales tax exemption
- ✓Property tax exemption
Top Utilities in Massachusetts
Interconnection timeline: 6–14 weeks
Calculate your Massachusetts solar economics
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