Written by Dean Mahmoud, CEO, and checked by Trevor Guilday, founder.September 2026 Cost Index prices. Export credits in effect October 2026. Updated October 19, 2026.
A typical Massachusetts system is 8.74 kW and costs about $26,395 in cash at $3.02 per watt. Its simple payback before incentives is about 7.5 years statewide and 5.9 to 8.1 years by utility: 8.1 years at Eversource, the largest. A town light plant sets its own credit, so ask yours before you get quotes.
Not ready for quotes? Check your roof with our savings calculator
Free for you. Solar providers pay us when you ask for quotes. How we make money
Each kWh you send to the grid earns a different credit depending on the name on your bill. These are the credits for power left over after monthly netting, at October 2026 rates.
Power you send out is credited close to the price you pay, under its net metering tariff, in Eastern and Western Massachusetts.
Also: SMART, and the ConnectedSolutions battery payment.
Power you send out is credited close to the price you pay, under its net metering tariff.
Also: SMART, and the ConnectedSolutions battery payment.
Power you send out is credited close to the price you pay, under its net metering tariff, on Rate R1.
Also: SMART. No ConnectedSolutions battery payment.
Belmont, Hingham, Holyoke, Ipswich, Reading, Taunton and Wakefield are among the towns with their own electric utility. SMART and the state net metering rules do not apply there. Each light plant sets its own credit, and some pay a rebate.
Credits all the power your panels make at about 6.3¢ per kWh (May 2026 rate). No net metering.
Per watt AC up to 10 kW, $6,000 per account for life: $3,000 for a 5 kW system.
Up to this rate for systems up to 10 kW DC, capped at 50% of the cost, while the yearly fund lasts.
Per watt, up to $3,000.
Ask your light plant for its credit in writing before you get quotes, because it decides how big your system should be. The state tax credit and both tax exemptions still apply to you.
The same 8.74 kW roof on each large utility. Massachusetts as a whole: about 7.5 years, weighted by how many homes each utility serves.
| Your utility | Yearly savings | Simple payback |
|---|---|---|
| Eversource, Eastern or Western Massachusetts (the largest) | $3,270 | 8.1 years |
| National Grid | $3,787 | 7.0 years |
| Nantucket Electric (National Grid) | $4,296 | 6.1 years |
| Unitil (Fitchburg Gas and Electric) | $4,509 | 5.9 years |
The state is reviewing the credit (D.P.U. 25-200). Ask each installer to show your savings at today’s credit and at a lower one.
Net metering credits power you send out. SMART pays for every kWh the panels make, including what you use. It is not counted in the payback above.
| SMART rate, 2026 | Year one | Over 20 years |
|---|---|---|
| $0.03 per kWh | about $354 | about $6,750 |
| $0.06 per kWh, lower-income | about $707 | about $13,500 |
At the September 2026 benchmark of $3.02 per watt, tied 38th lowest of 51. These are modeled cash prices, not quotes we collected.
Size | kWh a year | Cash price | After credit |
|---|---|---|---|
6 kW | 8,094 | $18,120 | $17,120 |
8.74 kW (typical) | 11,790 | $26,395 | $25,395 |
10 kW | 13,490 | $30,200 | $29,200 |
12 kW | 16,188 | $36,240 | $35,240 |
No upfront state rebate. The state helps through a tax credit, two tax exemptions and a yearly battery payment.
15% of the cost, up to $1,000, for a system you own on your main home.
The 6.25% sales tax does not apply to equipment for your main home.
For systems of 25 kW or less, or that can produce no more than 125% of the property’s yearly electricity needs.
A year, per kW your battery delivers in summer events: $1,375 for 5 kW. National Grid and Eversource customers.
Tax wording reviewed and approved by Layton Smith Sr., EA (October 16, 2026).
| Way to pay | Who owns the panels | SMART goes to | $1,000 state credit | Check before you sign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | You | You | Yes | No sales tax on the equipment |
| Loan | You | You | Yes | Total financed vs. cash price; dealer fee |
| Lease | The company | The company | No | How much of SMART lowers your payment; transfer if you sell |
| PPA | The company | The company | No | Price per kWh vs. your utility’s rate; transfer if you sell |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
Massachusetts incentives guideWho gets SMART in a $0-down deal
Nine companies, A to Z, not ranked. Six hold active Massachusetts home improvement and electrical registrations, checked October 12 and 13, 2026 (Palmetto on September 9). For EMT Solar & Roofing we read only its electrical license, and for All Energy Solar and ReVision Energy the license was not checked by us.
Momentum Solar and Venture Solar buy homeowner leads from EcoGen America. That does not change their facts or their place in this A to Z list. How we make money. What the Verified badge means.
Ask each installer to show net metering and SMART as separate lines.
Get free Massachusetts solar quotesEcoGen America does not sell or install solar. When you request quotes, we pass your request to solar providers serving your area, and they pay us for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. You never pay us. This is not an application to the SMART program. Privacy policy
CEO of EcoGen America. Since 2021 he has connected homeowners with residential solar installers in all 50 states.
About Dean
Founder of EcoGen America. He has worked in residential solar since 2016 and maintains the EcoGen Solar Cost Index.
About TrevorEditorial standardsCost Index methodologyVerified Installer methodology