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...
Size your solar system to charge your EV for free, get your Level 2 charger for $0 net cost, and ditch oil heat + gasoline in one project.
$1,000
30C Tax Credit
$500
Eff. Maine Rebate
~$0
Net Charger Cost
6/30/26
Credit Expires
Installing a solar system and EV charger together saves money three ways — and in Maine, ditching oil heat amplifies the savings further.
One electrician visit, one permit, one inspection. Bundled installation saves $500-$1,000 vs. separate projects. The charger circuit gets wired during the solar panel install.
Maine is the most oil-dependent state for heating (60%+ of homes). Switching from a gas car + oil furnace to an EV + heat pump + solar eliminates two fossil fuel bills at once.
Stack Section 30C ($1,000) + Efficiency Maine EV rebate ($500) + Efficiency Maine HP rebates ($1,000-$3,000/unit) + 1:1 net metering. The 30C credit expires June 30, 2026.
Select your EV, enter your annual miles, and choose your utility to see exactly how much extra solar you need and what it will cost.
Adjust inputs below to see your ME results
24.2 kWh/100mi · 310 mi range
$0.2700/kWh
Total Annual Savings
$784/yr
Solar offset savings · 9.4 yr payback
Annual EV Energy
2,904kWh
Extra Solar Needed
2.4kW
Additional Panels
~6panels
Solar Upgrade Cost
$7,381
You save $896/yr vs gas
$784/yr
Solar EV Offset
9.4 yrs
Payback Period
Based on CMP ($0.2700/kWh) ·1,200 kWh/kW/yr ME avg · $3.05/W installed · Gas: $3.50/gal at 25 MPG · 30C expires 6/30/26 · No residential ITC (25D expired 12/31/25)
Four steps from daily driving to panel count.
Start with your annual miles (US avg: 12,000) and your EV's efficiency rating (kWh per 100 miles). Maine drivers average slightly more due to rural distances.
12,000 mi/yrMultiply: (miles / 100) x efficiency. A Tesla Model Y at 24.2 kWh/100mi x 12,000 miles = 2,904 kWh/year. Add 15% for cold weather efficiency loss.
3,340 kWh/yrDivide by ME solar production: 3,340 kWh / 1,200 kWh/kW/yr = 2.8 kW of additional solar capacity.
2.8 kW extraDivide by panel wattage: 2,800W / 420W/panel = 7 additional panels on your roof.
~7 panels
Annual EV energy: (12,000 / 100) x 24.2 x 1.15 = 3,340 kWh
Additional solar: 3,340 / 1,200 = 2.8 kW
Extra panels: 2,800 / 420 = ~7 panels
Solar upgrade cost: 2.8 kW x $3,050/kW = $8,540
Charger net cost: $1,200 - $1,000 (30C) - $500 (Eff. Maine) = $0
Annual electricity savings (CMP): 3,340 kWh x $0.27 = $902/yr
The average Maine driver spends $2,400/yr on gasoline. Charging an EV from solar costs $0 in fuel. Add this to the $3,200/yr saved by switching from oil heat ($3.82/gal) to a heat pump, and a whole-home electrification project in Maine saves $3,300-$3,900/yr in combined energy costs.
Every dollar you can claim in 2026. No residential solar ITC (25D expired).
| Incentive | Amount | Type | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 30C (EV Charger) | Up to $1,000 | Federal tax credit | Active | Expires June 30, 2026. 30% of cost, max $1,000 residential. |
| Efficiency Maine EV Charger Rebate | Up to $500 | State rebate | Active | Available to all ME residential utility customers. |
| Efficiency Maine HP Rebate (Standard) | $1,000/unit | State rebate | Active | Standard income tier, max 3 units. Stack with solar + EV for whole-home. |
| Efficiency Maine HP Rebate (Moderate) | $2,000/unit | State rebate | Active | Moderate income tier, max 3 units. |
| Efficiency Maine HP Rebate (Low-Income) | $3,000/unit | State rebate | Active | Low-income tier, max 3 units. |
| Net Energy Billing (1:1) | Full retail rate | Bill credit | Active | 1:1 retail credit for rooftop solar. Excess rolls over monthly. |
| Property Tax Exemption | 100% exempt statewide | Tax exemption | Active | Solar does not increase property tax assessment. Statewide (not local option). |
| Sales Tax Status | Unverified | Tax exemption | Under Review | Sales tax exemption not confirmed from official statute. 5.5% may apply. |
| Section 25D (Residential Solar ITC) | $0 | Expired | Dead | Expired December 31, 2025. No federal credit for homeowner-owned solar. |
| Section 25C (Energy Efficiency) | $0 | Expired | Dead | Expired December 31, 2025. No federal credit for heat pumps, insulation, etc. |
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, set the final expiration for the Section 30C EV charger tax credit at June 30, 2026. There is no extension provision. Here is what qualifies — and what does not.
Timeline tip: Solar + EV charger installations in Maine typically take 8-14 weeks from contract to completion (permitting, utility interconnection, inspection). Rural locations may take longer. To meet the June 30, 2026 deadline, sign a contract by early April 2026 at the latest.
Level 2 is essential in Maine. Cold winters make Level 1 especially impractical.
Many older Maine homes have 100A or 150A panels. Adding solar + EV charger may require a 200A panel upgrade ($1,500-$3,000). Rural homes with long service runs may need additional wiring work.
Choose an EV charger rated for -30F operation (Zone 5-6). Mount in a garage or covered area when possible. Heated cable management prevents ice damage. Pre- conditioning your EV while plugged in preserves range.
Many Maine homes are in rural areas with longer driveways and outbuildings. Trenching for conduit to a detached garage adds $500-$2,000. Consider a charger with a longer cable (25 ft) for flexible positioning.
Your utility determines your charging cost and solar savings.
~70% of ME customers
Best for: Most Maine homeowners. Lower rate but still high enough for strong solar payback.
CMP is the largest utility in Maine, covering the southern and central portions of the state.
~30% of ME (Bangor area, northern ME)
Best for: Higher rate = faster solar payback. Versant customers save more per kWh with solar + EV.
Versant's higher rate makes solar even more attractive. Every kWh your EV uses from solar saves $0.32.
Charging a Tesla Model Y for 12,000 miles costs $784/yr with CMP ($0.27/kWh) vs. $928/yr with Versant ($0.32/kWh) — a $144/yr difference. But Versant customers save more from solar because every kWh offset is worth $0.32 instead of $0.27. With solar, both utilities effectively charge your EV for $0.
Maine has unique advantages for EV owners going solar.
Maine is the most oil-dependent state for heating. At $3.82/gal, the average household spends $3,200+/yr on heating oil. Add solar + EV + heat pump and eliminate both oil and gasoline — saving $3,300-$3,900/yr in combined energy costs.
Efficiency Maine offers $1,000-$3,000/unit for heat pumps (up to 3 units). Bundle with solar + EV charger for a complete whole-home electrification project. One contractor, one timeline, maximum savings.
Versant customers pay $0.32/kWh — the highest in New England outside of some MA utilities. This makes solar + EV especially compelling for Versant territory (Bangor area and northern Maine).
Maine spans climate zones 5 (Portland, -1F) to 6 (Caribou, -18F). Modern EVs with heat pump cabin heating (Tesla, Hyundai, Kia) lose only 15-20% range in cold. Level 2 charging ensures full overnight recovery.
Maine's Net Energy Billing provides 1:1 retail credits for rooftop solar. Your panels generate credits during sunny hours that fully offset nighttime EV charging — dollar for dollar at your full retail rate.
Maine exempts solar installations from property tax assessment statewide (not a local option like some states). Your solar + EV system adds zero to your property tax bill while increasing home value.
Everything homeowners ask about bundling solar with an EV charger.
Most EVs need 2,400-4,900 extra kWh per year (12,000 miles). In Maine, that translates to 2-4.1 kW of additional solar, or roughly 5-10 extra 420W panels. Maine averages 1,200 kWh/kW/year of solar production, comparable to Massachusetts.
Efficiency Maine offers up to $500 for Level 2 EV charger installation through its electric vehicle incentive program. This stacks with the federal Section 30C credit ($1,000), potentially covering your entire charger cost. Available to all Maine residential utility customers.
A typical Maine household spends $3,200/yr on heating oil (800 gal at $3.82/gal) and $2,400/yr on gasoline (12,000 miles at ~$3.50/gal). Switching to a heat pump + EV charged by solar can reduce combined energy costs by 60-70%, saving $3,300-$3,900 per year.
The Section 30C credit expires June 30, 2026. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, accelerated the expiration date. There is no extension mechanism. Charger must be placed in service by this date.
Yes. Maine has 1:1 retail net metering (NEB) for rooftop solar. Your solar panels generate credits during the day at full retail rate, which offset the electricity used to charge your EV overnight. Excess credits roll over monthly.
Level 2 (240V, 32-48 amp) is essential in Maine. Cold weather reduces EV efficiency by 20-30%, making Level 1 charging (3-5 mi/hr) especially impractical during winter. Level 2 adds 25-37 miles per hour, ensuring a full charge even during the coldest months.
A Level 2 charger unit costs $400-$800, and professional installation adds $400-$1,200, for a total of $800-$2,000. After the Section 30C credit ($1,000) and Efficiency Maine rebate ($500), most ME homeowners pay $0 net cost for their charger.
Yes, but cold climate models perform best. Modern EVs with heat pumps (Tesla, Hyundai, Kia) lose only 15-20% range in cold weather vs. 30-40% for older models with resistive heaters. Pre-conditioning while plugged in helps maintain range. Level 2 charging is critical in winter.
Only if you have a battery backup system with a solar+battery hybrid inverter that can island from the grid. Standard grid-tied solar systems shut down during outages for safety. Maine experiences ice storms and nor'easters regularly, making battery backup particularly valuable.
Versant customers benefit more from solar + EV because their rate ($0.32/kWh) is higher than CMP ($0.27/kWh). Higher rates mean faster solar payback and greater savings when charging your EV from solar instead of the grid. Both utilities offer 1:1 net metering.
Lock in the Section 30C credit before June 30, 2026. Our ME-licensed installers handle solar panels, EV charger, and all permitting in one project.
Free, no-obligation quote. Licensed ME electricians. Typical installation: 8-14 weeks.
Complete pricing by city and system size
How solar pencils out without 25D ITC
Compare ME utility rates for solar
1:1 NEB retail credit explained
Whole-home electrification in Maine
Oil-to-HP savings calculator
Compare financing options
National EV charger guide