Solar by State / Massachusetts
Data last verified: August 2026Is Solar Worth It in Massachusetts in 2026?
The honest answer depends on four numbers that are unique to Massachusetts: your electricity rate, your solar production, your net metering policy, and your state incentives. Here are the real figures, with sources and dates.
Massachusetts Solar Snapshot (2026)
| Residential electricity rate | 30.1¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May) |
| Solar production | ~1302 kWh per kW installed per year (NREL PVWatts v8) |
| Net metering | Full retail 1:1 |
| State tax credit | 15% (cap $1,000) |
| Rebates / performance | SMART ~$0.03/kWh × 20yr (income-eligible ~$0.06) |
| SREC market | Active — ~$30/MWh (2026 market) |
| Property tax exemption | Yes |
| Sales tax exemption | Yes |
Estimate Your Own Payback in Massachusetts
The table above is a 6 kW benchmark. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with Massachusetts pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.
Massachusetts FAQ
Does Massachusetts have a solar tax credit in 2026?
Massachusetts offers 15% (cap $1,000). The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.
What is net metering like in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts uses full retail net metering. This means every exported kWh is credited at your retail rate — the most favorable setup for solar.
Is solar worth it in Massachusetts after the federal credit ended?
At a typical 3.10/W installed cost and 30.1¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Massachusetts has an estimated payback of about 6.8 years (rank #5 of 51 states). That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.
Compare Massachusetts with Another State
See how Massachusetts stacks up against Maryland — or use the state comparison tool for a side-by-side of any two or three states.
Popular guides
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