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A resident-owned, municipally-run electric utility established to provide low cost (approximately $0.165/kWh as of Apr 2026), safe, reliable electricity to Hingham residents. This guide covers solar costs, incentives, net metering policies, and savings projections specifically for HMLP ratepayers in Hingham.
$0.24/kWh
Estimated residential rate. About 14% below the state IOU average of $0.28/kWh.
Available
Full retail rate net metering for residential solar up to 10 kW AC.
Hingham
Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant provides electricity to the town of Hingham in Massachusetts.
$0.60/watt AC
Max: $6,000 (10 kW AC lifetime cap). One-time rebate for grid-connected residential solar installations. Lifetime cap of 10 kW AC per service address.
Free Audit Available
Schedule a free home energy audit to identify savings opportunities before going solar.
Municipal utilities typically offer lower electricity rates because they operate as non-profit, community-owned entities. There are no shareholders to pay, and local governance keeps costs in check. Here is how HMLP’s estimated rates compare to Massachusetts’s investor-owned utility (IOU) average.
| Metric | HMLP | MA IOU Average |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Rate (est.) | $0.24/kWh | $0.28/kWh |
| Annual Cost (900 kWh/mo) | $2,592 | $3,024 |
| Ownership | Community-owned, non-profit | Shareholder-owned, for-profit |
| Rate Setting | Local board/town meeting | State PUC regulated |
| Savings vs. IOU | ~14% lower rate = ~$432/yr savings | |
Rates shown are estimates based on publicly available data. Municipal utility rates can change based on local board decisions. Even with lower rates, solar panels still provide significant savings by reducing or eliminating your electric bill. Contact HMLP for your exact current rate.
Understanding available incentives is key to maximizing your solar investment. Here is what HMLP customers can access in 2026.
The federal residential solar ITC expired on December 31, 2025. Homeowners who purchase solar panels with cash or a loan no longer receive a federal tax credit. However, third-party owned systems (solar leases and PPAs) may still qualify under Section 48/48E, with the financing company claiming the credit. This makes local utility rebates more valuable than ever.
HMLP
$0.60/watt AC
Max: $6,000 (10 kW AC lifetime cap)
One-time rebate for grid-connected residential solar installations. Lifetime cap of 10 kW AC per service address.
Learn moreheat pump
$750/ton
$750/ton base rebate with $500 weatherization adder and $1,000 whole-home adder available. Gas customers are NOT eligible.
Must not be a gas heating customer. Pre-approval required.
Detailsev charger
Up to $600
Rebate up to $600 through the EV Scheduled Charging Program for Level 2 networked EV chargers.
Charging station must be networked and enrolled in scheduled charging.
demand response
$5 - $30/month per device
Monthly credits: battery $30/mo, EV $10/mo, EV charger $10/mo, hot water $5/mo, mini-split controller $5/mo, thermostat $5/mo.
Must connect eligible devices to NextZero platform.
water heater
Available through NextZero
HPWH rebate available through the NextZero program. Contact HMLP for current amount.
Must be an HMLP customer.
appliance
Varies
Induction stove, heat pump dryer, and other electrification rebates available through the NextZero program.
Must be an HMLP residential customer.
Here is what a typical 8 kW residential solar installation looks like for HMLP customers, including available incentives and projected savings over 25 years.
Projection assumes $0.24/kWh rate with no annual increase (conservative estimate). Actual savings may be higher as rates typically increase 2-4% per year.
With a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), a third-party company owns the system on your roof. The system owner can still claim the 30% federal ITC under Section 48/48E, which often results in lower monthly payments for you. You pay a fixed monthly rate or per-kWh price that is typically lower than your utility rate, with no upfront cost.
Customize your system size to see estimated costs and savings based on HMLP’s rates and available incentives.
Estimate your solar costs and savings with HMLP
19 panels at 430W each
Annual Production
10,000 kWh
Year 1 Savings
$2,400/yr
Payback Period
~9 years
25-Year Net Profit
$37,105
Estimates based on 1250 kWh/kW annual production, 0.24/kWh utility rate, and 0.5% annual panel degradation. Federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025. Actual results vary by roof orientation, shading, and usage patterns.
Full retail rate net metering for residential solar up to 10 kW AC.
Net metering is the billing mechanism that makes rooftop solar financially attractive. When your solar panels produce more electricity than your home uses, the excess flows back to the grid and your meter effectively “runs backwards.” Here is the typical process with HMLP:
Monthly credits for connected devices: battery $30, EV $10, EV charger $10, hot water $5, mini-split controller $5, thermostat $5.
Incentive: $5-$30/month per device
HMLP customers are NOT eligible for Mass Save. However, natural gas customers may qualify for Mass Save heat pump rebates separately.
Mass Save is funded by investor-owned utilities (Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, etc.) and their ratepayers. Municipal utilities operate independently and offer their own programs. This is a common point of confusion for homeowners in MLP towns.
The utility offers its own rebate programs for solar, heat pumps, and other efficiency upgrades (see incentives above).
Municipal utilities typically charge lower rates than IOUs, partially offsetting the loss of Mass Save rebates.
HMLP offers free energy audits to help identify savings opportunities.
Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant is a municipal utility, also known as a publicly owned utility or municipal light plant (MLP). Unlike investor-owned utilities (IOUs) such as Eversource and National Grid, municipal utilities are owned and operated by the local community.
Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant customers pay approximately $0.24/kWh, which is roughly 14% less than the state average for investor-owned utilities ($0.28/kWh). As a municipal utility, HMLP sets rates locally, and revenue stays in the community rather than going to shareholders.
Yes. Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant offers a solar rebate of $0.60/watt AC (max $6,000 (10 kW AC lifetime cap)). One-time rebate for grid-connected residential solar installations. Lifetime cap of 10 kW AC per service address. Note: The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired on December 31, 2025, so this local rebate is now one of the most important incentives available to homeowners.
Yes. Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant offers net metering for solar customers. Full retail rate net metering for residential solar up to 10 kW AC.
No. Massachusetts municipal utilities (MLPs) are NOT eligible for Mass Save programs. Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant operates its own rebate and efficiency programs independently. HMLP customers are NOT eligible for Mass Save. However, natural gas customers may qualify for Mass Save heat pump rebates separately.
To install solar panels as a Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant customer: (1) Get a free solar estimate to determine your optimal system size. (2) Contact HMLP about interconnection requirements and any pre-approval needed. (3) Choose a NABCEP-certified installer. (4) After installation, apply for any available utility rebates. (5) Your system connects to the grid and you begin saving. The process typically takes 2-4 months from signing to activation.
Get a free, personalized solar estimate tailored to HMLP’s rates and incentives. Our NABCEP-certified team handles everything from design to permitting to interconnection.
Serving Hingham and all of Massachusetts. Free consultation, no obligation.