- Massachusetts residential power runs about 30.21 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), among the highest in the country, so the bill Eversource solar offsets is large.
- Net metering credits exports at close to the retail rate, not a guaranteed one-for-one; a typical Eversource East residential credit has run around 27 cents per kWh (Mass.gov net-metering guide).
- Residential systems up to 25 kW are cap-exempt, so a normal home system always has room in the program, and credits roll forward month to month.
- The catch is the annual cash-out: once a year Eversource settles leftover credits at a lower rate, so sizing a system to your usage matters.
- SMART stacks on top: Eversource is one of the SMART program administrators, and SMART pays a per-kWh incentive for a 20-year term, recently around $0.03/kWh for many standard residential projects, to the system owner (Mass.gov SMART).
- To connect, you need Authorization to Connect from Eversource before switching the system on.
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025 (IRS).
If Eversource is your electric utility in eastern Massachusetts, this is how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026. Eversource credits the power you export under the state’s net-metering rules, and because it is one of the SMART program administrators, you also earn a separate per-kWh incentive on top. Massachusetts has some of the highest power prices in the country, which is what makes solar worth it. This page explains what Eversource pays, how to connect, and how to tell if your home is a good fit.
Eversource Massachusetts at a glance
Eversource is the largest electric utility in Massachusetts, and its eastern territory, sometimes called Eversource East, covers Greater Boston and much of eastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod communities like Falmouth, where homeowners can see how solar in Falmouth works on Eversource.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Service territory (East) | Greater Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod (the former NSTAR area) |
| Service territory (West) | Western Massachusetts (the former WMECo area) |
| Electric customers | About 1.4 million in Massachusetts, the largest in the state |
| Net metering | Class I systems up to 25 kW are cap-exempt; exports credited close to retail |
| Annual handling | Leftover credits cashed out once a year at a lower rate |
| SMART incentive | A per-kWh payment for 20 years, on top of net metering, paid to the owner |
| Before you switch on | Eversource must grant Authorization to Connect |
| Source | Mass.gov net-metering guide |
Two ways your Eversource solar pays. First, net metering offsets your bill by crediting the power you export at close to the retail rate. Second, the SMART program pays you a separate per-kWh incentive for everything your system produces, for a 20-year term. The two stack, which is why Massachusetts stays a strong solar state even now that the federal homeowner credit has ended. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since production drives both your bill credits and your SMART payments.
How Eversource credits the power you send back
Net metering in Massachusetts is close to retail, but not a flat one-for-one. The credit is built from several parts of Eversource’s tariff, the supply, transmission, and certain delivery charges, so it lands near the retail value of the power you export rather than an exact 1:1 swap; a Mass.gov example for an Eversource East residential customer worked out to about 27 cents per kWh (Mass.gov net-metering guide). Residential Class I systems up to 25 kW are cap-exempt, so a typical home system is never shut out of the program. Credits roll forward month to month and do not expire as bill credits, but once a year, around March for Eversource, any leftover banked credits are cashed out at a lower net-metering-rider rate and the balance resets. Because that annual rate is below retail, the smart move is to size a system close to your yearly usage. These rules are set by the state Department of Public Utilities, not by Eversource. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What you earn | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly net-metering credits | Close to the retail rate, built from tariff components | The account holder on the Eversource bill |
| Year-end leftover credits | A lower annual cash-out rate, below retail | The account holder |
| SMART payments | A per-kWh incentive for 20 years, version-dependent | The system owner |
To see how the bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it.
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The SMART program, and how it stacks with net metering
SMART is a separate payment, and Eversource is one of the administrators. Massachusetts runs the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target program through its three investor-owned utilities, Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil, so an Eversource solar customer enrolls in SMART through Eversource (Mass.gov SMART). SMART pays a per-kWh incentive on everything your system generates, whether you use it on-site or export it, for a 20-year term for residential systems. The headline rate has recently been around $0.03/kWh for many standard residential projects, but SMART is a declining-block program, so the exact rate depends on your block and system type and changes over time, and some projects land lower. The payment goes to the system owner, which matters on a lease or PPA, where the company that owns the panels collects it. SMART does not replace net metering; you get both.
How to connect solar to Eversource in Massachusetts
Connecting a home system to Eversource follows a set order, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until Eversource grants Authorization to Connect. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer submit an application through Eversource’s online Distributed Generation portal for your territory.
- Review and approval. Eversource reviews the system against the state interconnection standards; small residential systems usually qualify for the simplified or expedited path, and Eversource issues an interconnection agreement.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. Eversource installs or reprograms a bidirectional net meter; there is no separate charge for the net meter itself.
- Authorization to Connect. Eversource issues written Authorization to Connect, also called Permission to Operate. The system may not run in parallel with the grid before this.
- Enroll in SMART. You complete SMART enrollment through Eversource, which is a separate step tied to your interconnection.
A licensed installer normally manages this whole process for you, but knowing the order helps you spot a quote that promises an instant switch-on. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
What changed federally, and what it means for Eversource customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Massachusetts’ programs are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so an Eversource customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). Net metering and the SMART incentive were not affected, and neither were Massachusetts’ Residential Energy Credit or the state’s solar tax exemptions, and together they carry the payback. Massachusetts’ Residential Energy Credit (regulation 830 CMR 62.6.1) is a state income-tax credit worth 15% of your net expenditure (your purchase and installation cost minus any federal credits or rebates), capped at $1,000, claimed on Massachusetts Schedule EC (Solar and Wind Energy Credit). It is nonrefundable, and any unused amount carries forward up to three years. It applies only to a home you own or rent and occupy as your principal residence in Massachusetts. 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, and it runs for projects placed in service through 2027, with a begin-construction safe harbor by July 4, 2026 (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit; SEIA tax policy). For a leased system on an Eversource account 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.
How to choose a solar installer in Eversource territory
Most of eastern Massachusetts is Eversource territory, so you have a deep market of licensed installers. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer 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 Eversource interconnection and SMART enrollment, so the paperwork and Authorization to Connect go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that includes your expected SMART income. 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.
Looking at the specifics? See local solar guides for Cambridge, Newton, New Bedford, and Framingham in this service area.
Frequently asked questions
How does Eversource net metering work in Massachusetts?
Eversource credits the power you export at close to the retail rate, built from the supply, transmission, and certain delivery parts of its tariff, rather than a flat one-for-one swap; a Mass.gov example for an Eversource East residential customer came to about 27 cents per kWh (Mass.gov net-metering guide). Residential Class I systems up to 25 kW are cap-exempt, so a typical home always has room in the program. Credits roll forward month to month, and once a year, around March, Eversource cashes out any leftover credits at a lower rate. The rules are set by the state Department of Public Utilities, not by Eversource.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. An Eversource customer who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it. 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 and the SMART incentive were not affected. See our guide on what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
Does Eversource pay the SMART solar incentive?
Yes. Eversource is one of the three Massachusetts utilities that administer the SMART program, with National Grid and Unitil, so an Eversource customer enrolls in SMART through Eversource (Mass.gov SMART). SMART pays a per-kWh incentive on everything your system produces for a 20-year term, recently around $0.03/kWh for many standard residential projects, though the exact rate depends on the program block and changes over time. It is paid on top of net metering and goes to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels collects it instead.
How do I connect solar to Eversource in Massachusetts?
You or your installer submit an interconnection application through Eversource’s online portal, Eversource reviews and approves it, the system is installed and passes a local inspection, Eversource sets a bidirectional net meter, and then Eversource issues Authorization to Connect (Mass.gov interconnection). You cannot turn the system on until you have that authorization. Small residential systems usually qualify for a simplified review path, and a licensed installer normally manages the paperwork and the separate SMART enrollment for you.
How much does Eversource pay for the power I send back?
During the year, Eversource credits your exported power at close to the retail rate, which at Massachusetts prices is valuable, so each exported kilowatt-hour offsets close to one you would otherwise buy. The exception is the once-a-year cash-out, when any leftover banked credits are settled at a lower rate rather than the retail value (Mass.gov net-metering guide). On top of those bill credits, the SMART program pays you separately for production, which is why sizing the system to your usage and enrolling in SMART both matter.
Do I qualify for Eversource solar credit if I lease or sign a PPA?
Net-metering credits follow the Eversource account, so the account holder gets them whether you own, lease, or sign a PPA. The SMART payments and Massachusetts’ state credit and tax exemptions go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the third-party company keeps the SMART income, not you, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the SMART income in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures it.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked Massachusetts (Mass.gov / DOER / DPU, Eversource) and EIA and IRS sources as of June 2026; net-metering cash-out rates and the SMART incentive reset over time, so confirm current terms with Eversource 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 the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, 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 payments and tax benefits go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended 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.
