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Free, unbiased calculator updated for 2026 — no ITC, real MA incentives only. See your actual payback, savings, and revenue from SMART 3.0, net metering, and ConnectedSolutions.
Adjust the sliders to match your home. All calculations reflect the expired federal ITC ($0) and use real 2026 Massachusetts incentive data.
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.
Every input feeds real Massachusetts solar data. Here is what each setting means and how it affects your estimate.
Based on your roof size and electricity usage. A typical MA home needs 8-12 kW (19-27 panels). 1 kW produces approximately 1,200 kWh per year in Massachusetts.
The installed price per watt. Massachusetts range is $2.85-$3.50/W depending on panel tier: entry-level (Hyundai 440W) at the lower end, premium (REC 460W) at the higher end. State average is $3.16/W.
Your electric company determines your rate and ConnectedSolutions eligibility. Eversource ($0.2836/kWh) serves eastern and western MA. National Grid ($0.32/kWh) serves central MA. Unitil ($0.2833/kWh) serves a small area near Fitchburg.
Cash and loan purchases earn you all incentives directly. PPA and lease offer $0 down but the third-party system owner claims the 30% Section 48/48E ITC and SMART income. Community solar requires no installation.
Adding a battery unlocks ConnectedSolutions demand response revenue ($225-$275/kW per year from Eversource and National Grid) plus a $0.04/kWh SMART storage adder. Unitil does not participate.
This calculator factors in every active Massachusetts solar incentive and financial benefit available in 2026.
$0.03/kWh residential, 20-year term
Guaranteed payments from the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program. Locked at enrollment for 20 years.
1:1 retail credit
Every kWh you export to the grid earns a credit at your full retail rate. All three MA IOUs offer 1:1 retail net metering for residential systems.
$225-$275/kW/year (with battery)
Battery demand response revenue from Eversource ($275/kW summer + $50 winter) or National Grid ($225/kW + $50 winter). Unitil does not participate.
$1,000 (15% of cost, capped)
Massachusetts state income tax credit of 15% of net expenditure, capped at $1,000. Claimed on your state return.
20 years
Solar installations are 100% exempt from property tax increases for 20 years. Your property value goes up, your tax bill does not.
6.25% saved
All solar equipment and installation is exempt from Massachusetts 6.25% sales tax. Applied automatically at purchase.
We do not inflate your savings with expired or unavailable incentives. Here is what this calculator intentionally excludes.
The 30% residential solar tax credit is dead. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act eliminated Section 25D. Homeowners who buy with cash or a loan receive $0 federal credit.
Massachusetts phased out the Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) market and replaced it with the SMART program. New systems do not generate SRECs.
If you are served by a municipal utility (Braintree Electric, Wellesley MLP, etc.), you are not eligible for the SMART program or ConnectedSolutions. MLPs set their own solar rules.
If you select PPA or Lease financing in the calculator, the estimate reflects the benefit of the third-party system owner claiming the 30% commercial ITC under Section 48/48E. The savings are passed through to you as lower monthly rates. This is available for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026. The homeowner does not personally receive or claim this credit — the third-party financing company does.
Costs vary by location due to permitting, installer competition, and utility territory. All figures are for an 11 kW system with $0 federal credit.
| City | Utility | Cost/Watt | 11 kW System | Payback (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Eversource | $3.16/W | $34,760 | 7.6 yrs |
| Cambridge | Eversource | $3.18/W | $34,980 | 7.7 yrs |
| Worcester | National Grid | $3.08/W | $33,880 | 8.1 yrs |
| Springfield | Eversource | $2.98/W | $32,780 | 7.3 yrs |
| Cape Cod | Eversource | $3.22/W | $35,420 | 7.9 yrs |
| Newton | Eversource | $3.20/W | $35,200 | 7.8 yrs |
| Lowell | National Grid | $3.02/W | $33,220 | 8 yrs |
| New Bedford | Eversource | $2.95/W | $32,450 | 7.2 yrs |
| Framingham | Eversource | $3.10/W | $34,100 | 7.5 yrs |
| Wellesley | Eversource | $3.25/W | $35,750 | 7.9 yrs |
| Belmont | Eversource | $3.18/W | $34,980 | 7.7 yrs |
| Dedham | Eversource | $3.12/W | $34,320 | 7.6 yrs |
Payback assumes cash purchase, 1:1 net metering at full retail rate, SMART at $0.03/kWh, $1,000 state credit, 6.25% sales tax exemption, 20-year property tax exemption, and 5% annual rate increase. $0 federal ITC.
Common questions about this calculator and solar savings in Massachusetts.
This calculator uses real 2026 Massachusetts data: current utility rates from Eversource ($0.2836/kWh), National Grid ($0.32/kWh), and Unitil ($0.2833/kWh); SMART 3.0 flat rate of $0.03/kWh for 20 years; 1:1 retail net metering; 6.25% sales tax exemption; 20-year property tax exemption; and the $1,000 state tax credit. Results are estimates based on average production of 1,200 kWh per installed kW per year. Actual savings depend on your roof orientation, shading, energy usage, and specific installer pricing.
If you have a municipal light plant (MLP) such as Braintree Electric, Wellesley MLP, or Reading MLP, you are NOT eligible for the SMART program or ConnectedSolutions. Municipal utilities set their own net metering rules, which vary widely. Some offer 1:1 credits, others offer reduced rates. This calculator is designed for customers of the three investor-owned utilities: Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. Contact your MLP directly for their solar program details.
This calculator is designed for residential systems up to 25 kW. Commercial systems have different SMART rates (capacity-based tariffs), different net metering rules (facilities above 25 kW AC may receive different credit rates), and qualify for the Section 48/48E commercial ITC at 30% or more through July 4, 2026. For commercial estimates, see our dedicated commercial solar page.
Massachusetts average solar cost is $2.85-$3.50 per watt installed depending on the panel tier. Entry-level panels (Hyundai 440W) come in at the lower end. Mid-tier FEOC-compliant panels (Silfab 440W) are required for certain financing programs like Propel. Premium panels (REC 460W) cost more but offer higher efficiency and longer warranties. For most homeowners buying with cash or a loan, the entry-level tier offers the best dollar-per-kWh value. For PPA/lease, the third-party owner selects the panel.
With a cash purchase, you pay the full system cost upfront and keep all savings: SMART income, net metering credits, property and sales tax exemptions, and ConnectedSolutions revenue. Your payback is 7-9 years with 25-year savings exceeding $140,000. With a PPA or lease, a third-party financing company owns the system and claims the 30% Section 48/48E commercial ITC. They pass savings to you as a lower rate, typically 10-20% below your utility rate. You pay $0 upfront but earn less over 25 years because the owner retains SMART income.
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. The only way to indirectly benefit is through a PPA or lease, where the third-party system owner claims the 30% commercial ITC under Section 48/48E for projects beginning construction before July 4, 2026.
Adding a battery unlocks ConnectedSolutions demand response revenue: Eversource pays $275/kW in summer plus a $50/kW winter bonus; National Grid pays $225/kW plus $50/kW winter. For a typical 10 kW battery, that is $2,750-$3,250 per year in additional revenue on top of SMART income and net metering. Unitil does not participate in ConnectedSolutions. The battery also adds a $0.04/kWh storage adder to your SMART rate.
The average payback period for a cash-purchased solar system in Massachusetts is 7.5 to 8.5 years in 2026, depending on your utility, system size, and cost per watt. This factors in SMART 3.0 income, 1:1 net metering, the $1,000 state tax credit, 6.25% sales tax exemption, 20-year property tax exemption, and assumed 5% annual rate increases. There is no federal credit factored in because Section 25D expired.
Dive deeper into costs, panels, incentives, and financing options.
Full breakdown by system size, panel tier, and city.
Read guideNo sugarcoating: what you actually pay with $0 ITC.
Read guideHow SMART works, rates, adders, and enrollment.
Read guidePanel tier comparison: Hyundai vs Silfab vs REC.
Read guideSide-by-side financing comparison with real numbers.
Read guideThis calculator gives you an estimate. For an exact quote based on your specific roof, energy usage, and utility account, get a free solar design from NuWatt — priced at the real 2026 cost with $0 federal credit baked in.