Loading NuWatt Energy...
We use your location to provide localized solar offers and incentives.
We serve MA, NH, CT, RI, ME, VT, NJ, PA, and TX
Loading NuWatt Energy...
Comprehensive solar data for the Commonwealth — pricing by city, utility rate comparisons, incentive stacks, production estimates, and panel tier analysis. Updated March 2026.
Built for journalists, researchers, bloggers, and anyone who needs accurate, cited Massachusetts solar data. Please link back when referencing.
~5.2 GW
Total Residential Capacity
Installed as of Q1 2026
$2.85-3.50/W
Average Cost
Varies by panel tier & city
10-12 kW
Average System Size
23-27 panels typical
7-9 years
Average Payback
IOU territories (Eversource/NGrid)
165,000+
Residential Installations
Cumulative through 2025
600 MW
SMART 3.0 Cap
PY2026 program capacity
Cost-per-watt ranges, average system sizes, and utility assignments for every tracked city and town in Massachusetts. Municipal Light Plant (MLP) towns are highlighted — they have lower rates but no SMART or ConnectedSolutions access.
| City / Town | Utility | Low $/W | High $/W | Avg kW | Est. Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amherst | Eversource (Western MA) | $2.90 | $3.25 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Arlington | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| BelmontMLP | Belmont Light (Municipal) | $3.10 | $3.45 | 11.0 | 12-16 yrs |
| Beverly | National Grid | $3.00 | $3.35 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Boston | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.50 | 9.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| BraintreeMLP | BELD (Municipal) | $3.00 | $3.35 | 11.5 | 12-16 yrs |
| Brookline | Eversource | $3.15 | $3.50 | 10.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Cambridge | Eversource | $3.15 | $3.50 | 9.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Cape Cod | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.55 | 10.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| ConcordMLP | CMLP (Municipal) | $3.15 | $3.50 | 12.0 | 12-16 yrs |
| DanversMLP | DEMEC (Municipal) | $2.95 | $3.30 | 12.0 | 12-16 yrs |
| Dedham | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Dover | Eversource | $3.25 | $3.60 | 14.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Falmouth | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.45 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Fitchburg | Unitil | $2.85 | $3.20 | 11.5 | 9-11 yrs |
| Framingham | Eversource | $3.00 | $3.35 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Gloucester | National Grid | $3.00 | $3.40 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Greenfield | Eversource (Western MA) | $2.85 | $3.20 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| HinghamMLP | HMLP (Municipal) | $3.10 | $3.45 | 12.5 | 12-16 yrs |
| Lawrence | National Grid | $2.85 | $3.20 | 10.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Leominster | Unitil | $2.85 | $3.20 | 12.0 | 9-11 yrs |
| Lexington | Eversource | $3.15 | $3.50 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Lincoln | Eversource | $3.20 | $3.55 | 13.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Lowell | National Grid | $2.90 | $3.25 | 10.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| MarbleheadMLP | MMLP (Municipal) | $3.10 | $3.50 | 11.0 | 12-16 yrs |
| Marlborough | Eversource | $2.95 | $3.30 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Marshfield | Eversource | $3.00 | $3.35 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Medford | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 10.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Milton | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Natick | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Needham | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| New Bedford | Eversource | $2.85 | $3.20 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Newburyport | National Grid | $3.05 | $3.40 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Newton | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Northampton | Eversource (Western MA) | $2.90 | $3.25 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| PeabodyMLP | PMLP (Municipal) | $2.95 | $3.30 | 11.5 | 12-16 yrs |
| Pittsfield | Eversource (Western MA) | $2.85 | $3.20 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Plymouth | Eversource | $2.95 | $3.30 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Quincy | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 10.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Salem | National Grid | $3.05 | $3.40 | 10.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Sandwich | Eversource | $3.00 | $3.40 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Scituate | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| ShrewsburyMLP | SELP (Municipal) | $2.90 | $3.25 | 12.5 | 12-16 yrs |
| Somerville | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 8.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Springfield | Eversource (Western MA) | $2.85 | $3.25 | 11.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| Waltham | Eversource | $3.05 | $3.40 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Watertown | Eversource | $3.10 | $3.45 | 9.5 | 7-9 yrs |
| WellesleyMLP | WMLP (Municipal) | $3.15 | $3.50 | 12.5 | 12-16 yrs |
| Weston | Eversource | $3.20 | $3.55 | 13.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Winchester | Eversource | $3.15 | $3.50 | 11.0 | 7-9 yrs |
| Worcester | National Grid | $2.90 | $3.30 | 12.0 | 7-9 yrs |
Sources: EnergySage marketplace data, installer quotes, MassCEC/MassDOER filings. Cost ranges reflect Hyundai 440W (low) to REC 460W (high) panel tiers. Payback estimates assume current utility rates with 3% annual escalation, SMART 3.0 base rate, 1:1 net metering, and applicable tax exemptions. MLP payback is longer due to lower retail rates and no SMART/ConnectedSolutions.
Massachusetts has three investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and over 40 municipal light plants. IOU customers benefit from SMART 3.0 and ConnectedSolutions; MLP customers generally do not.
| Utility | Avg Rate | Market Share | ConnectedSolutions | SMART | Territory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eversource Energy | $0.2836/kWh | ~71% | $275/kW summer + $50/kW winter | Yes | Eastern MA, Cape Cod, Western MA |
| National Grid | $0.32/kWh | ~22% | $225/kW summer + $50/kW winter | Yes | Central & Southeast MA |
| Unitil Energy | $0.2833/kWh | ~4% | Not participating | Yes | Fitchburg, Lunenburg area |
| Municipal Light Plants (MLPs) | $0.14-0.20/kWh | ~3% | Not participating | No | 40+ towns (Wellesley, Concord, Braintree, etc.) |
Eversource Basic Service
$0.15629/kWh
Supply portion only (Feb 2026)
National Grid Basic Service
$0.15372/kWh
Supply portion only (Feb-Jul 2026)
Unitil Basic Service
$0.20433/kWh
Supply portion only (current)
Note: Rates shown are total all-in residential rates (supply + delivery + charges). Basic service rates are the supply-only portion and change every 6 months. Net metering credits offset the full retail rate.
Every available Massachusetts solar incentive for residential systems in 2026. The federal residential ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 — state and utility incentives now carry the economics.
$0.03/kWh (standard) / $0.06/kWh (LMI)
Flat rate locked at enrollment. Adders available for battery, canopy, community.
1:1 retail credit
Class I (residential <=25 kW). Monthly rollover, annual true-up at avoided cost.
$225-275/kW/yr (summer) + $50/kW (winter)
Eversource & National Grid only. Battery demand response revenue.
15% of cost, max $1,000
Claimed on Form 1 Schedule EC. Non-refundable.
6.25% saved
All solar equipment + installation labor exempt.
100% exempt for 20 years
Solar adds ~4% to home value but $0 to property tax.
$0 — EXPIRED
Expired Dec 31, 2025 under OBBBA. No residential solar tax credit available.
Annual SMART income
$396/yr
Annual net metering savings
$3744/yr
Annual property tax saved
$396/yr
NuWatt offers three panel tiers. FEOC (Foreign Entity of Concern) compliance is required for certain financing programs (Propel). Price per watt includes full installation.
Entry Tier
~$2.85/W
Budget-friendly. South Korean manufacturing. Good efficiency.
FEOC Tier
~$2.92/W
Made in USA (Washington state). Required for Propel financing.
Premium Tier
~$3.11/W
Norwegian-designed. Highest efficiency. 25-year product warranty.
Pricing context: These are installed prices (equipment + labor + permitting + interconnection). Actual cost depends on roof complexity, system size, and location. The city table above shows local price ranges that reflect these tiers.
Annual solar energy production varies across Massachusetts based on coastal geography, elevation, and urban density. Cape Cod and the Islands have the highest solar resource in the state.
| Region | kWh/kW/year | Solar Irradiance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Metro | 1,200-1,350 | 4.1-4.4 kWh/m²/day | Slight urban heat island benefit; some shading from density. |
| Western MA | 1,100-1,250 | 4.0-4.2 kWh/m²/day | Berkshire hills reduce afternoon sun. Higher snow load. |
| Cape Cod & Islands | 1,250-1,400 | 4.2-4.5 kWh/m²/day | Best solar resource in MA. Coastal clarity, maritime breeze cooling. |
| North Shore | 1,200-1,350 | 4.1-4.3 kWh/m²/day | Coastal exposure; salt-air considerations for equipment. |
| Central MA | 1,150-1,300 | 4.0-4.3 kWh/m²/day | Inland; slightly lower production than coast. Less salt/wind. |
| South Shore | 1,200-1,350 | 4.1-4.4 kWh/m²/day | Good coastal irradiance. Mix of suburban and shorefront. |
This metric shows how much energy (kWh) each kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity produces per year. A 10 kW system in the Boston metro area producing 1,275 kWh/kW would generate about 12,750 kWh annually — enough to offset most household electricity use.
Solar irradiance (kWh/m²/day) measures the average daily solar energy hitting a surface. Massachusetts receives 4.0-4.5 kWh/m²/day on average, which is moderate compared to the US Southwest (5.5-6.5) but sufficient for strong financial returns due to high electricity rates.
Massachusetts has been a national solar leader since 2008. The state transitioned from SREC-based incentives to the performance-based SMART program, which remains the primary incentive alongside net metering.
SREC program launched (Solar Renewable Energy Credits)
SREC-II replaces SREC with declining block structure
Mass Solar Loan program launches (0% buy-down)
SMART 1.0 replaces SREC-II as primary incentive program
Mass Solar Loan program ends; standard market-rate loans take over
SMART 2.0 with revised blocks and expanded cap
2050 Clean Energy and Climate Plan sets 100% clean electricity goal
SMART 3.0 launches: flat $0.03/kWh residential, expanded adders
OBBBA signed: Section 25D residential ITC expires Dec 31, 2025
No federal residential solar credit. State incentives carry the value.
Model your own solar economics using current MA data. Select your utility, financing type, and system size to see projected costs, savings, and payback.
Estimate your solar return on investment with SMART income, net metering credits, ConnectedSolutions, and MA tax benefits.
Federal Residential Solar Tax Credit (Section 25D) Expired
Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025.
Eastern MA (Boston, South Shore, Cape Cod, MetroWest, Western MA)
Electric Rate
$0.28/kWh
Net Metering
1:1 retail credit (Class I ≤25 kW)
SMART 3.0 Rate
$0.03/kWh
Interconnection
2-4 weeks typical
20-year exemption — solar adds $0 to your property tax
Payback Period
7
years
25-Year Savings
$114,687
total
Monthly Benefit
$378
per month
Estimates based on average 2026 MA solar pricing, SMART 3.0 $0.03/kWh residential flat rate, 1:1 retail net metering, 6.25% sales tax exemption, 20-year property tax exemption, and 15% state tax credit (max $1,000). Section 25D residential ITC expired Dec 31, 2025 — $0 federal tax credit for cash/loan purchases.
MA Solar Guide
Complete overview of going solar in Massachusetts.
Solar Panel Cost 2026
Detailed cost breakdown by system size and financing.
SMART Program 2026
Deep dive into SMART 3.0 rates, adders, and enrollment.
Eversource vs. National Grid
Head-to-head utility rate and solar economics comparison.
Net Metering Guide
How 1:1 retail credits work and when true-up happens.
ConnectedSolutions Battery
Earn $225-275/kW/yr from battery demand response.
Please cite as: “NuWatt Energy, Massachusetts Solar Data & Statistics 2026, nuwattenergy.com/massachusetts/solar-data-massachusetts-2026, accessed [date].”
Sources: MassDOER, MassCEC, EIA Form 861, Eversource/NGrid/Unitil tariff filings, EnergySage marketplace data, installer pricing data. Last updated March 2026.