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Real-time status of Massachusetts SMART 3.0 solar incentive rates, program capacity, and adder values. Updated monthly.
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Massachusetts SMART 3.0 pays residential solar owners $0.03/kWh (flat rate, systems up to 25 kW) for 20 years. Low-income households receive $0.06/kWh. Adding a battery earns an extra $0.04/kWh. The PY2026 program cap is 600 MW, but residential systems under 25 kW are cap-exempt. All three investor-owned utilities participate: Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil.
Open
Accepting applications
$0.03/kWh
Flat rate, 20-year term
$0.06/kWh
2x base rate
600 MW
Res ≤25 kW: cap-exempt
SMART 3.0 allocates 600 MW of capacity for Program Year 2026 across all utility territories. Residential systems up to 25 kW and behind-the-meter commercial systems under 250 kW are cap-exempt, meaning homeowners can enroll even after the cap is reached.
Capacity estimates based on MassDOER filings. Exact figures updated when MassDOER publishes quarterly reports.
SMART 3.0 replaced the old declining-block system with flat rates. Residential homeowners receive a predictable $0.03/kWh regardless of how much total capacity has been claimed. All rates are fixed at enrollment for the full 20-year term.
| Category | Base Rate | Low-Income Rate | Term | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential (≤25 kW) | $0.03/kWh | $0.06/kWh | 20 years | Open |
| Small Commercial (25-250 kW) | ~$0.08-$0.10/kWh | N/A | 20 years | Open |
| Medium Commercial (250 kW-1 MW) | ~$0.06-$0.08/kWh | N/A | 20 years | Open |
| Large Commercial (1-5 MW) | ~$0.06-$0.07/kWh | N/A | 20 years | Open |
| Community Solar | Base + $0.07 adder | Base + $0.07 + $0.05 | 20 years | Open |
Commercial rates are formula-based (Base Compensation Rate - Value of Energy + Adders). Actual rates vary by utility territory and project specifics.
Adders stack on top of the base rate. Multiple adders can apply to the same project, significantly increasing your total SMART rate. The "Total Residential" column shows the combined rate for a residential system with that single adder.
| Adder | Rate | Total (Residential) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dual-Use Agriculture | +$0.09/kWh | $0.12/kWh | Agrivoltaics: solar with active farming |
| Canopy / Carport | +$0.08/kWh | $0.11/kWh | Solar on parking canopy structures |
| Community Shared Solar | +$0.07/kWh | $0.10/kWh | Multi-subscriber projects (3+ off-takers) |
| Landfill | +$0.06/kWh | $0.09/kWh | Solar installed on capped landfills |
| Low-Income | +$0.05/kWh | $0.11/kWh* | Income-eligible households / EJ communities |
| Battery Storage | +$0.04/kWh | $0.07/kWh | Co-located energy storage system |
| Brownfield | +$0.04/kWh | $0.07/kWh | Solar on contaminated site |
| Public Entity | +$0.04/kWh | $0.07/kWh | Municipal, school, or government project |
| Building-Mounted | +$0.03/kWh | $0.06/kWh | Rooftop or building-attached system |
| Floating Solar | +$0.04/kWh | $0.07/kWh | Solar on water (reservoirs, ponds) |
| Pollinator-Friendly | +$0.01/kWh | $0.04/kWh | Ground-mount with pollinator habitat |
* Low-Income total uses the $0.06/kWh low-income base rate plus the $0.05/kWh low-income adder = $0.11/kWh total. Adders can be combined (e.g., battery + building-mounted = $0.10/kWh total for a residential system).
How much SMART income can you expect? These projections use MA average solar production of 1,200 kWh/kW/year with 0.5% annual panel degradation over the 20-year SMART term.
| System Size | Base Rate ($0.03) | With Battery + Roof ($0.10) | Low-Income ($0.11) | 20-Year Total (Base) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 kW | $288/yr | $960/yr | $1,056/yr | $5,494 |
| 11 kW (avg) | $396/yr | $1,320/yr | $1,452/yr | $7,555 |
| 15 kW | $540/yr | $1,800/yr | $1,980/yr | $10,302 |
| 25 kW (max) | $900/yr | $3,000/yr | $3,300/yr | $17,170 |
SMART income is on top of net metering savings. A typical 11 kW system in MA saves approximately $2,700-$3,800/year through net metering credits alone. Adding SMART base payments ($396/yr) and ConnectedSolutions battery revenue ($2,750-$3,250/yr) creates one of the strongest solar economics in the country.
The SMART program has evolved significantly since its launch in 2018. Understanding the history helps contextualize current rates and predict future changes. Existing enrollees keep their locked-in rates for the full 20-year term.
| Version | Period | Rate Model | Residential Rate | Program Cap | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMART 1.0 | 2018-2021 | Declining blocks (8 blocks) | $0.14-$0.22/kWh (Block 1-4) | 1,600 MW | Closed |
| SMART 2.0 | 2021-2024 | Revised declining blocks | $0.06-$0.14/kWh (remaining blocks) | 3,200 MW (expanded) | Closed |
| SMART 3.0 | 2025-present | Flat rate (no blocks) | $0.03/kWh flat | 600 MW PY2026 cap | Active |
Key change in SMART 3.0: The declining-block system is gone. Under SMART 1.0/2.0, rates dropped as each capacity block filled (early adopters got $0.22/kWh in Block 1; late adopters got as low as $0.06/kWh in Block 8). SMART 3.0 uses a flat $0.03/kWh for all residential systems, eliminating the "rush to lock in before the block drops" dynamic. The trade-off is a lower rate, but combined with net metering and ConnectedSolutions, the total value stack remains strong.
SMART and net metering are two separate programs that work together. Understanding how they stack is critical for accurately projecting your solar economics.
SMART Income (base)
$396/yr
Net Metering Savings
~$3,200/yr
Total Annual Value
~$3,596/yr
All three Massachusetts investor-owned utilities (IOUs) participate in SMART 3.0. Your utility determines your electric rate, net metering credit value, and ConnectedSolutions eligibility.
Greater Boston, Western MA, Cape Cod
Central & Western MA, Worcester, Springfield
Fitchburg area (~11% of state)
The SMART enrollment process is handled by your solar installer. NuWatt manages the entire application on your behalf. Here is what to expect at each step.
NuWatt designs your system and prepares your contract. SMART enrollment is included as part of the installation process.
NuWatt submits your SMART Statement of Qualification (SQ) to MassDOER on your behalf. Residential systems (≤25 kW) are cap-exempt.
MassDOER reviews and approves your application. Residential systems typically receive approval within 2-4 weeks. Your rate is locked at approval.
System is installed, inspected, and interconnected to the grid. Your utility installs the production meter (required for SMART).
Monthly SMART payments begin automatically. Payments are calculated based on metered kWh production and your locked-in rate.
The Section 25D residential solar Investment Tax Credit expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners purchasing solar with cash or a loan receive $0 in federal tax credits. Third-party ownership models (PPA/lease) still benefit from the commercial Section 48 ITC, which the financing company claims and passes through as a lower rate.
With SMART payments, net metering at 1:1 retail rate (~$0.28-$0.33/kWh), ConnectedSolutions battery revenue, the MA state tax credit (15% up to $1,000), and property + sales tax exemptions, Massachusetts maintains one of the strongest solar value propositions in the country even without federal incentives.
Systems up to 25 kW (typical residential) and behind-the-meter commercial systems under 250 kW are exempt from the 600 MW program year cap. You can enroll at any time during PY2026 regardless of how much capacity has been claimed by larger projects.
Under SMART 3.0 (PY2026), residential solar systems up to 25 kW receive a flat rate of $0.03/kWh for 20 years. Low-income qualified households receive $0.06/kWh. These rates are fixed at enrollment and do not decline over time like the old block system.
The SMART 3.0 PY2026 cap is 600 MW AC. However, residential systems under 25 kW and behind-the-meter commercial systems under 250 kW are cap-exempt, meaning residential homeowners can enroll regardless of how much large-scale capacity has been claimed. NuWatt monitors capacity status monthly.
Yes. SMART payments and net metering credits are separate income streams that stack together. SMART pays you based on total kWh generated. Net metering credits offset your electric bill based on excess power sent to the grid. You receive both simultaneously, and they are calculated independently.
This tracker is updated monthly. We monitor MassDOER announcements, capacity filings, and rate adjustments. The "Last Updated" date at the top of the page reflects the most recent review. Subscribe to NuWatt updates or check back monthly for the latest program status.
Residential systems (25 kW and under) are cap-exempt under SMART 3.0, so capacity exhaustion does not affect typical homeowners. For larger commercial projects, once the 600 MW PY2026 cap is filled, new applications would need to wait for the next program year allocation. MassDOER has historically expanded capacity when caps approach exhaustion.
The SMART battery storage adder adds $0.04/kWh to your SMART rate, bringing the total to $0.07/kWh for a residential system. For an 11 kW system, this adds approximately $528/year in SMART income alone. Combined with ConnectedSolutions demand response payments ($2,750-$3,250/year for a Powerwall 3 on Eversource), batteries are highly valuable in Massachusetts.
SMART rates and adder values are sourced directly from MassDOER program filings, the SMART Guideline (225 CMR 20.00), and the MassCEC SMART Program Administrator's website. All rates reflect PY2026 values as published by MassDOER.
Capacity estimates are based on MassDOER quarterly capacity reports and interconnection queue data. Exact remaining capacity figures are published quarterly; monthly estimates are interpolated.
Income projections use MA average solar production of 1,200 kWh/kW/year (based on NREL PVWatts for central Massachusetts) with 0.5% annual panel degradation. Actual production varies by roof orientation, shading, and location within Massachusetts.
Utility rates are from EIA Form 861 (2025 data) and current published utility tariffs for Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. Rates include supply and delivery charges.
Update frequency: This tracker is reviewed and updated monthly. The data was last verified on February 15, 2026. Rate changes, capacity updates, and program modifications are reflected within 30 days of official publication by MassDOER.
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NuWatt handles SMART enrollment as part of every MA solar installation. Get a free quote with projected SMART income, net metering savings, and total payback period.