Massachusetts Solar Utility Finder: Check Your Utility's Solar Programs

Check your electric bill header — it will show Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. You can also check your town's website or call the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities at (617) 305-3500. Eversource covers eastern MA (Boston, Cape Cod, MetroWest, Western MA), National Grid covers central and southeast MA (Worcester, Brockton, New Bedford), and Unitil serves a small area around Fitchburg and Lunenburg. About 40 towns have municipal utilities that are not Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil.

All three MA investor-owned utilities offer the same 1:1 retail net metering for systems up to 25 kW and the same SMART 3.0 incentive rate ($0.03/kWh for 20 years). The main differences are your electric rate (which determines net metering credit value), ConnectedSolutions eligibility (Unitil does not participate), true-up month (April for Eversource, March for National Grid and Unitil), and interconnection timelines. Higher-rate utilities like Eversource ($0.28/kWh) provide more net metering value than lower-rate Unitil ($0.24/kWh).

Massachusetts net metering gives you a 1:1 retail credit for every kWh your solar panels send to the grid, for systems up to 25 kW (Class I). This means if your utility charges $0.28/kWh, you get a $0.28 credit for each kWh exported. Credits roll over monthly and are settled at annual true-up (April for Eversource, March for National Grid and Unitil). Excess credits at true-up are paid at the avoided-cost rate, which is much lower. All three IOUs follow the same DPU net metering rules.

SMART 3.0 (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target) pays residential solar owners $0.03/kWh for 20 years, with a $0.06/kWh rate for income-eligible households. Additional adders include $0.04/kWh for battery storage and $0.02/kWh for building-mounted systems. SMART 3.0 rates are the same regardless of whether you have Eversource, National Grid, or Unitil. The program cap is 3,200 MW statewide. Municipal utility customers are NOT eligible for SMART.

ConnectedSolutions is a demand response program where battery owners discharge during peak grid events in exchange for payments. Eversource pays $275/kW in summer and $50/kW in winter. National Grid pays $225/kW in summer and $50/kW in winter. A typical 10 kW battery can earn $2,750-$3,250/year with Eversource or $2,250-$2,750/year with National Grid. Unitil does NOT participate in ConnectedSolutions. Municipal utility customers are also not eligible.

About 40 Massachusetts towns have municipal utilities (MLPs), including Wellesley, Braintree, Holyoke, Taunton, Reading, Peabody, and others. Municipal customers are NOT eligible for SMART 3.0 incentives or ConnectedSolutions battery payments. Net metering rules and rates vary by municipality — some are generous, others are not. Municipal customers are still eligible for the MA state tax credit (15%, max $1,000), property tax exemption (20 years), and sales tax exemption (6.25%). Check with your municipal utility directly for their solar interconnection rules.

No. The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired on December 31, 2025. Massachusetts homeowners who purchase solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. However, solar leases and PPAs can still benefit from the Section 48 commercial ITC (claimed by the third-party system owner, not the homeowner). Massachusetts' SMART 3.0, net metering, state tax credit ($1,000), solar loans (5.5-8% APR), and tax exemptions still make solar financially viable without 25D.

Interconnection timelines are similar across MA utilities: Eversource typically processes applications in 2-4 weeks, National Grid in 2-4 weeks, and Unitil in 2-3 weeks. These are estimates and can vary based on system size, grid capacity, and application volume. Your installer handles the interconnection paperwork. Choosing an installer experienced with your specific utility can reduce delays significantly.