Solar in Andover, MA: National Grid Net Metering, the SMART Rate, and Real 2026 Costs

Updated for 2026.

Yes, solar is generally worth it in Andover: at about 30.21 cents per kWh, a typical 6 kW roof produces roughly 7,520 kWh a year and pays back in about 6.5 to 7.5 years, with a tree-shade study the deciding local factor. Andover homeowners pay some of the highest electricity prices in the country, which is exactly what makes rooftop solar pay off in this Merrimack Valley town. The details that decide your numbers are local: your utility is National Grid, not Eversource; Andover’s larger single-family homes tend to fit bigger systems that keep the SMART incentive and net-metering credits in your own pocket; and the town’s heavy tree cover means a shade study, not a generic estimate, decides whether a given roof is worth it. This page, updated for 2026, covers what solar actually costs in Andover, the Massachusetts incentives you may qualify for, how net metering works with National Grid, and the local roof and permitting factors to plan around, then you can check your address in about a minute.

What does solar cost and save in Andover?

A typical 6 kW system in Andover runs roughly $17,100 to $19,200 before incentives and pays back in about 6.5 to 7.5 years for a standard household. That estimate uses Essex County installed pricing of about $2.85 to $3.20 per watt (EnergySage Andover cost data, as of 2026), the EIA state electricity rate, and NREL production for ZIP 01810, with the Massachusetts $1,000 income-tax credit applied. Many Andover homes are larger and size a bigger system, which raises both the cost and the annual savings. The full math is in the table below.

Because installed cost, roof output, and your own electricity use all move the number, treat this as an illustrative estimate, not a quote. For statewide cost benchmarks, see our guide on how much solar panels cost, and run your own address for a real figure.

Why Andover’s electric rates make solar worth it

The reason solar pays in Andover is the price of the power it replaces. Massachusetts residential electricity averages about 30.21 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), one of the highest rates in the nation, and National Grid delivery plus supply in the Merrimack Valley sits in that expensive range. So every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets an expensive grid one. An Andover household spending $175 or more a month on electricity, common in a larger single-family home, is a strong solar candidate. The EIA figure is a statewide average, so for your exact cents read the supply and delivery lines on your own National Grid bill, since both reset on a schedule.

Your production is what turns that high rate into savings. Andover gets a solar resource typical of northeastern Massachusetts, and NREL models a 6 kW system at about 7,520 kWh a year in ZIP 01810 (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026). Because output depends on your roof’s pitch, shading, and orientation, and Andover’s heavy tree cover can take a real bite out of a shaded roof, estimate your specific roof with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator rather than a generic number. Your production drives both your net-metering credits and your SMART payments, so it is worth getting right before you size a system.

Source: NREL PVWatts v8, 6 kW system, as of 2026. Larger systems scale up roughly in proportion.

Your Andover utility is National Grid, not Eversource

A lot of Merrimack Valley homeowners assume they might be on Eversource, but Andover is National Grid for electricity. Massachusetts gives each utility an exclusive electric territory, so there is no overlap at a given address, and Andover sits in National Grid’s Massachusetts electric distribution territory, the same one that covers nearby Merrimack Valley communities such as Lawrence, Methuen, and North Andover (MA DPU Electricity Providers by Municipality, as of 2026). You can confirm your own address on the state’s Find My Electric Company tool (Mass.gov, as of June 2026). Because National Grid administers your net metering and interconnection, its rules are the ones that shape your solar credits. For the utility-wide detail, see our National Grid Massachusetts solar guide, and for the statewide rules behind all of this, the Massachusetts solar guide.

How National Grid credits the power your Andover roof sends back

Net metering is the engine of your savings, and in Massachusetts the rules are set by the state, not the utility. A residential system of 25 kW AC or smaller is a nameplate cap-exempt facility, meaning it can net meter even when the program caps are full, after the state raised the cap-exempt threshold from 10 kW to 25 kW AC (Mass.gov net-metering guide, as of July 2026; DPU order D.P.U. 23-140-A, as of November 2024). So a typical Andover home is never shut out. When your panels make more than you use, the excess flows to the grid and National Grid credits your account under Massachusetts’ net-metering rules (220 CMR 18.00), and unused credits carry forward on your bill (Mass.gov net-metering laws and regulations, as of July 2026). Because Andover’s larger homes can support a bigger array, sizing the system close to your yearly usage keeps the most value on your own bill instead of overbuilding. For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports, and our Massachusetts net metering and SMART guide.

Massachusetts solar incentives on an Andover account

Beyond net metering, an Andover homeowner stacks the same statewide Massachusetts programs as the rest of the state. These incentives go to the system owner, so if you buy with cash or a loan you keep them, while on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps them and the net-metering bill credit still follows your National Grid account.

• SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target), the state’s per-kWh incentive, now running as SMART 3.0. For a residential system of 25 kW AC or smaller it pays the system owner a flat $0.03 per kWh, locked for a 20-year term, and $0.06 per kWh, double, for a qualifying low-income household (Mass.gov SMART 3.0 Program Details, as of June 2026). There is also an optional energy-storage adder set by a $0.04 storage multiplier, with the actual per-kWh value calculated by formula and varying by system, so ask your installer to model it for your battery.
• A state income-tax credit (Schedule EC) worth 15% of the net system cost, capped at $1,000, claimed on your Massachusetts return for a principal residence (Mass.gov residential energy credits, as of 2026). It is a one-time credit with a three-year carryforward.
• A 100% sales-tax exemption on qualifying solar equipment, off the state’s 6.25% rate, claimed with a Form ST-12 exempt-use certificate (Mass.gov sales and use tax; DSIRE, as of 2026).
• A property-tax exemption of at least 20 years on a qualifying solar system, extendable by agreement with the town, under M.G.L. c.59 s.5 Clause 45 (DSIRE, as of 2026). This matters more in Andover than in many towns, because the property-tax bill on a higher-assessed home would otherwise rise with the value a solar system adds.

These statewide benefits are detailed in full on our Massachusetts solar guide rather than repeated here, which keeps this page focused on what is specific to Andover.

Your estimated payback in Andover, step by step

Here is the original math for a typical Andover roof, so you can see where the payback number comes from. The table below computes estimates for two systems, a standard 6 kW array and a larger 9 kW array of the kind an Andover home with high usage and plenty of roof area often installs, using the figures gathered above: NREL production for ZIP 01810, the EIA state electricity rate, Essex County installed pricing, and the Massachusetts $1,000 credit. It is an illustrative estimate to show the method, not a quote or a guarantee.

Assumptions: production from NREL PVWatts (6 kW, ZIP 01810, as of 2026), with the 9 kW figure scaled proportionally from the same model; electricity value from the EIA Massachusetts average of 30.21 cents/kWh (as of March 2026); installed cost from EnergySage Andover data (as of 2026); SMART from Mass.gov (as of June 2026); Massachusetts Schedule EC credit of $1,000. The savings line values your full production at the retail rate, which assumes you use most of it on site or bank the rest as net-metering credit; a home that exports a large share may see a slightly lower effective value. Payback ignores financing cost and any bill escalation, and no federal credit is included because Section 25D ended after December 31, 2025. A qualifying low-income household on the doubled $0.06/kWh SMART rate would earn more and pay back somewhat faster, though that applies to fewer Andover households. Your result depends on your roof, usage, and pricing. To weigh the long-run numbers, see whether solar panels are worth it.

What the federal tax-credit change means for Andover

The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Massachusetts’ programs are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so an Andover homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit; IRS OBBB FAQ, as of 2026). You will still see installer pages, and even Google’s own AI answers, saying the 30% credit is available; the accurate answer for 2026 is that the homeowner version already ended. Net metering, SMART, and the state’s tax benefits were not affected, and at Andover’s high rates the bill offset plus SMART still carry the payback. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.

One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit, as of 2026). On a leased system you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.

Going solar on an Andover single-family home

Andover’s housing and tree cover are what make its solar projects distinct. This is an affluent, established Essex County town of about 37,014 people, with a median household income around $172,600, a roughly 79.9% owner-occupied rate, and a median home value near $855,600 (U.S. Census QuickFacts, Andover town, ACS 2020 to 2024). In plain terms, most homes here are larger owner-occupied single-family houses, which usually means more roof area for a bigger system and a homeowner who can own the array and keep the SMART payment and state credit, rather than the dense multi-family stock of a nearby mill city. The trade-off is that a bigger, higher-usage home is worth sizing carefully so you neither overbuild nor leave savings on the table.

The single most important Andover-specific step is a shade study, because this is a heavily wooded town. Andover values its tree cover enough to run a “Deep Roots: Important Trees of Andover” program (Town of Andover, as of 2026) and to manage a 233-acre town forest at West Parish. Mature oaks and maples are lovely, but tall trees to the south of a roof can cut solar output sharply, since even partial shade on part of an array drags down production. So on an Andover roof, a modeled shade study, not a generic per-roof average, is what decides whether the numbers work, and it is the first thing to ask any installer to run.

Permits run through the Town of Andover, and one local district adds a step. A residential solar install needs an electrical permit from the Town of Andover Building Division, filed through the town’s Online Permit Center (Town of Andover Building Division, as of 2026), plus National Grid interconnection approval before your system can switch on. If your home sits in the Ballardvale Historic District, Andover’s one local historic district under M.G.L. c.40C, exterior changes visible from a public way are reviewed by the Historic District Commission (Town of Andover, as of 2026), so plan panel placement and timeline around that review. A local installer who knows the Andover process handles this paperwork routinely.

Andover has a real local track record with solar. The town has been a designated Massachusetts Green Community since 2010, a 2014 “Solarize Andover” campaign was credited with more than 300 residential installations, and the volunteer group Andover WeCAN keeps clean-energy on the local agenda (Town of Andover Awards & Recognition, as of 2026). That history means plenty of Andover roofs already carry panels, and installers who know the town’s permitting and its tree-shaded lots are easy to find.

Paying for solar in Andover: cash, loan, lease, or PPA

There is no single right way to pay for solar; the best fit depends on whether you want to own the system and claim the state incentives yourself, or avoid an up-front cost. In a higher-income town like Andover, more homeowners pay cash or use a solar loan and keep the SMART payment and state credit themselves, but a lease or PPA is still an option. The table below compares the common paths. A lease or PPA can mean no up-front cost for eligible homeowners, but it is a long-term agreement with monthly payments, not free solar, and the system owner, not you, collects the SMART payment and the state tax credit.

How to choose a solar installer in Andover

Andover is served by a competitive market of licensed installers, many based in the surrounding Merrimack Valley towns such as North Andover and Methuen, which is good for you because it means real competition on price and service. Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria:

• NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
• A valid Massachusetts Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration and electrical licensing.
• A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
• Real experience with National Grid interconnection and Town of Andover permitting, so the paperwork and Permission to Operate go smoothly, and with a proper shade study for Andover’s tree cover.
• A written production estimate and a transparent quote that uses today’s SMART value, not an old federal-credit assumption. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.

MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. You can also see how nearby Merrimack Valley and Essex County cities compare on our Lawrence solar, Lowell solar, Lynn solar, and Boston solar pages, and read how MySolarFY works and our data and methodology.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar worth it in Andover in 2026?

For most owner-occupied Andover homes with decent sun, yes. Massachusetts residential electricity averages about 30.21 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the highest in the country, so every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets an expensive grid one. A typical 6 kW roof here models about 7,520 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026), net metering credits your extra power, and the SMART incentive adds a per-kWh payment on top. The main Andover-specific catch is tree shade, so a proper shade study decides whether a given roof is worth it. Savings are not guaranteed and depend on your roof, usage, and how you pay.

Who is my electric utility for solar in Andover?

National Grid. Andover sits in National Grid’s Massachusetts electric distribution territory in the Merrimack Valley, and Massachusetts utility territories do not overlap, so net metering and interconnection for an Andover home run through National Grid, not Eversource (MA DPU Electricity Providers by Municipality, as of 2026). You can confirm your own address on the state’s Find My Electric Company tool. You may buy gas from a different company, but your electricity and your solar credits go through National Grid.

How much does a solar system cost in Andover?

A typical 6 kW system runs roughly $17,100 to $19,200 before incentives at Essex County pricing of about $2.85 to $3.20 per watt (EnergySage Andover data, as of 2026). After the Massachusetts $1,000 income-tax credit and with the SMART incentive and net-metering savings, we estimate simple payback around 6.5 to 7.5 years for a standard household. Many Andover homes are larger and install a bigger system, which raises both the cost and the annual savings. This is an illustrative estimate, not a quote; your cost depends on system size, roof, and equipment. Run your address for a real figure.

Does Andover’s tree cover really affect solar?

Yes, more than most local factors. Andover is a heavily wooded town, and shade from tall trees can cut a roof’s output sharply, because even partial shading on part of an array reduces production. That is why a modeled shade study matters more here than a generic estimate, and why some Andover roofs pencil out well while a neighbor’s shaded roof does not. NREL’s PVWatts calculator gives a first estimate, but a good installer will model your actual tree lines and roof planes before quoting a system size.

How does net metering work with National Grid in Andover?

When your panels produce more than you use, the extra flows to the grid and National Grid credits your account under Massachusetts’ net-metering rules, and unused credits carry forward on your bill (Mass.gov net-metering guide, as of July 2026). A residential system of 25 kW AC or smaller is cap-exempt and net meters even when the program caps are full, after the state raised the residential threshold from 10 kW to 25 kW AC. The smart move is to size your system close to your annual usage so you keep the most value on your own bill.

What happened to the federal solar tax credit?

The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so an Andover homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). Some search results and AI answers still say the 30% credit is available; that is out of date for homeowner purchases. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Massachusetts net metering, SMART, and the state tax benefits were not affected.

Can I get solar with no up-front cost in Andover?

Some homeowners can, through a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) where eligible, which can mean no out-of-pocket cost at installation in exchange for monthly payments. This is not free solar; it is a long-term agreement, typically 20 to 25 years, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. On a lease or PPA the third-party owner, not you, collects the SMART payment and the state tax credit, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price. In a higher-income town like Andover many owners instead buy with cash or a loan to keep those incentives. Check what you qualify for before deciding.

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Reviewed by the SolarFY Editorial Team. Figures were verified against the linked Mass.gov / DOER, MA DPU, EIA, IRS, DSIRE, and NREL sources as of July 2026; net-metering tariff terms, the SMART 3.0 value and term, and Andover-area pricing can change, so confirm current terms with National Grid and Mass.gov before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about how MySolarFY works and our data and methodology.

MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, tax advisor, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the SMART payment and tax benefits go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit (Section 25D) that ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.