Updated for 2026.
Framingham sits in the sweet spot for rooftop solar: high Massachusetts electricity prices, a strong MetroWest sun resource, and a city that has already wired up nearly 2,000 solar homes. The deciding factors here are local, not national. Who delivers your power (Eversource), how the city’s own Framingham Community Electricity program fits in, what your suburban roof and tree canopy can support, and which permits the Division of Inspectional Services needs. This page walks through what solar actually costs in Framingham in 2026, how Eversource net metering credits you, the Massachusetts incentives that still apply, and the local permitting to plan around, then you can check your address in about a minute.
Framingham solar at a glance, updated for 2026
- Framingham is already a solar town. The city counts about 1,963 solar energy systems producing roughly 40,214,488 kWh a year, near 7% of its electricity (City of Framingham, as of 2026), so installers, permitting, and Eversource interconnection here are well-worn paths.
- Your utility is Eversource, Eastern Massachusetts. Framingham is in Eversource’s eastern (former NSTAR) electric territory, so your net metering runs through Eversource (City of Framingham Guide to Going Solar; Eversource Eastern MA rates, as of 2026).
- High rates are what make it pay. Massachusetts residential power averages about 30.21 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026), close to double the national average.
- A typical Framingham roof makes real power. A 6 kW system at this ZIP is modeled near 7,713 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, ZIP 01701, as of 2026), worth about $2,330 a year against that rate.
- Net metering plus SMART still stack. Residential systems up to 25 kW are cap-exempt and earn near full retail credit (Mass.gov net-metering guide, as of 2026), and SMART adds a per-kWh payment to the owner.
- The 30% federal homeowner credit (Section 25D) ended after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of 2026), so a Framingham homeowner buying in 2026 cannot claim it.
Why Framingham’s electric rates make solar worth it
The case for solar in Framingham starts with 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 country, and Eversource’s eastern Massachusetts customers sit in that expensive band. Every kilowatt-hour your roof makes offsets one you would otherwise buy near that rate. A Framingham home running $150 or more a month on electricity is a strong candidate. For the exact cents behind your own bill, read the supply and delivery lines on your Eversource statement, because the two move on separate schedules.
Your production is what turns that high rate into savings. MetroWest gets a solar resource typical of eastern Massachusetts, and a well-placed Framingham roof offsets a large share of a normal home’s use. NREL’s PVWatts models a 6 kW system at ZIP 01701 near 7,713 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026). Because output swings with pitch, orientation, and shade, and Framingham has a lot of mature tree canopy in neighborhoods like Saxonville and Nobscot, estimate your own roof with the free PVWatts calculator before you size a system. Your production drives both your net-metering credits and your SMART payments, so it pays to get it right.
See what solar programs are available in your Framingham ZIP code
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What solar actually costs in Framingham: our payback estimate
Here is the math worked for Framingham, using the local rate and production, not a national average. We take the PVWatts production for this ZIP, value it at the Massachusetts rate, then net out a typical installed price and the state credit. The federal homeowner credit is zero because Section 25D ended after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of 2026), so it is left out on purpose. Treat the result as an estimate: your real number depends on your roof, your usage, and your installer’s price.
| Input or step | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW system, annual production in Framingham (ZIP 01701) | 7,713 kWh per year | NREL PVWatts, as of 2026 |
| Massachusetts residential electricity rate | 30.21 cents per kWh | EIA, as of March 2026 |
| Year-one electricity offset (production times rate) | about $2,330 | our estimate |
| Typical installed cost before incentives (about $3 per watt) | about $18,000 | EnergySage Massachusetts, as of 2026 |
| Massachusetts Schedule EC state tax credit | minus $1,000 | Mass.gov, as of 2026 |
| Federal Section 25D credit (ended December 31, 2025) | $0 | IRS, as of 2026 |
| Estimated net cost after the state credit | about $17,000 | our estimate |
| Estimated simple payback, cash purchase | about 7 to 8 years | our estimate |
SMART makes that payback shorter, and we left it out of the base case on purpose. The state’s SMART per-kWh incentive, reported near 3 cents per kWh for standard residential, would add roughly $230 a year on 7,713 kWh and pull the payback in further (EnergySage Massachusetts incentives, as of 2026). Because SMART is set by the state and steps down over time, ask your installer for the current value for your block rather than budgeting on an old figure. A loan changes the cash flow but not the underlying savings, and a lease or PPA trades the up-front cost for a monthly payment while the system owner keeps the incentives. For the long-run picture, see whether solar is worth it in 2026.
Your Framingham utility is Eversource, Eastern Massachusetts
Framingham is Eversource territory for electricity, specifically the eastern Massachusetts zone, not the western one. Massachusetts gives each utility an exclusive electric territory, and Framingham sits in Eversource’s eastern (former NSTAR) footprint, the same zone as Boston, Cambridge, and nearby Newton, not the western Massachusetts zone that serves the Springfield area (Eversource Summary of Electric Rates in Eastern Massachusetts, as of 2026). The City of Framingham’s own going-solar guide confirms it, noting that your installer will coordinate with Eversource on interconnection (City of Framingham, as of 2026). So your net metering and your Permission to Operate run through Eversource. For the full territory and rate detail, see our Eversource Massachusetts net metering page and the Massachusetts solar guide.
How Eversource credits the power your Framingham roof sends back
Net metering is the engine of your savings, and in Framingham it credits a normal home near full retail value. Massachusetts net metering is set by state law and regulation, not by the utility, and a residential system of 25 kW or less is cap-exempt after the state raised the residential threshold from 10 kW to 25 kW AC in 2025 (Mass.gov net-metering guide, as of 2026). So a typical Framingham home is never shut out, and its credit is valued near the full bundled retail rate rather than the reduced credit that applies to much larger systems. When your panels make more than you use, the excess flows to the grid and you bank net-metering credits in dollars that roll forward month to month. For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What you earn | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly net-metering credits | Near full retail value, tracked in dollars and rolled forward | The Eversource account holder |
| Year-end leftover balance | A lower tariff rate, below retail | The account holder |
| SMART payments | A per-kWh incentive over a multi-year term | The system owner |
Massachusetts solar incentives on a Framingham account
Beyond net metering, a Framingham homeowner stacks the same statewide Massachusetts benefits as the rest of the state. These go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps the incentive, while the net-metering credit still follows your Eversource account.
- SMART (Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target), the state’s per-kWh incentive, now running as the SMART redesign the state approved in 2026. It pays the system owner a per-kWh payment over a multi-year residential term, reported near 3 cents per kWh for standard residential and more for income-eligible customers, with an added value for pairing a battery (EnergySage Massachusetts incentives, as of 2026). The value resets over time, so ask your installer for the current figure.
- A state income-tax credit (Schedule EC) worth 15% of the net system cost, capped at $1,000 (Mass.gov Schedule EC, as of 2026).
- A 100% sales-tax exemption on qualifying solar equipment, off the state’s 6.25% rate (EnergySage Massachusetts incentives, as of 2026).
- A 20-year property-tax exemption on the added home value from a qualifying solar system, under Clause 45 (M.G.L. c.59 s.5, Clause Forty-fifth, as of 2026).
These benefits are the same in Framingham as anywhere in the state, including nearby cities like Worcester, which is why we keep the full statewide detail on our Massachusetts solar guide rather than repeating it here.
What the federal tax-credit change means for Framingham
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 a Framingham homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit; SEIA, as of 2026). You will still see installer pages asking whether the 30% credit is going away; 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 Framingham’s high rates the bill offset alone is substantial. 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, never 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 Section 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
Going solar on a Framingham roof: permits and site checks
Framingham’s solar projects are mostly straightforward suburban installs, with a couple of local steps to plan for. Most MetroWest homes have pitched asphalt-shingle roofs that take a standard mounting system, and because the city already has nearly 2,000 solar homes, local installers know the route. The City of Framingham requires both a building permit and an electrical permit before work starts, with building and electrical inspections during and after the job, all run through the Division of Inspectional Services under a published Solar Permitting Checklist for residential and commercial systems (City of Framingham Guide to Going Solar, as of 2026). An experienced installer files both permits and schedules the inspections for you.
| Framingham roof or site factor | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Pitched asphalt-shingle roof (most MetroWest homes) | Standard mounting; confirm the roof’s age and remaining life first |
| Mature tree canopy (Saxonville, Nobscot, leafy side streets) | A shade study; output can swing a lot between a clear and a shaded roof |
| Older home near downtown or the south side | A panel and service check; some may need an electrical service upgrade for solar plus a battery |
| Property in a Framingham historic district | Possible Historic District Commission review before install |
| Building plus electrical permit (Inspectional Services) | Two permits and two inspections; an experienced installer files them |
Paying for solar in Framingham: 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 keep the state incentives yourself, or avoid an up-front cost. 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. To weigh the long-run numbers, see whether solar panels are worth it.
| Path | Up-front cost | Who keeps SMART plus the state credit | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash purchase | Full system cost | You, the owner | You want the fastest payback and the most lifetime savings |
| Solar loan | Little to none, financed | You, the owner | You want ownership without paying cash up front |
| Lease or PPA | $0-up-front where eligible | The third-party owner | You prefer no up-front cost and a simpler, fixed monthly bill |
How to choose a solar installer in Framingham
Framingham has a deep market of licensed installers, from local Massachusetts companies to national brands, 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 Eversource interconnection and Framingham permitting, including the building and electrical permits and any Historic District Commission step, so the paperwork and your Permission to Operate go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a transparent quote that uses today’s SMART value, not an old one. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve Framingham so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. See how MySolarFY works for the way we research and match.
Frequently asked questions
Is solar worth it in Framingham in 2026? For most owner-occupied Framingham 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, and a 6 kW roof here is modeled near 7,713 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts, as of 2026), worth roughly $2,330 against that rate. Net metering credits a typical home near full retail value and SMART adds a per-kWh payment on top. Savings are not guaranteed and depend on your roof, usage, and how you pay, but the high local rate is what makes Framingham a strong solar market.
Who is my electric utility for solar in Framingham? Eversource, in its eastern Massachusetts (former NSTAR) territory. Massachusetts electric territories do not overlap, and Framingham sits in the same eastern zone as Boston, Cambridge, and Newton, so your net metering is administered by Eversource (Eversource Eastern MA rates; City of Framingham, as of 2026). If you are enrolled in Framingham Community Electricity, that only sets your supply rate; Eversource still delivers your power and handles your solar credits.
What permits do I need for solar in Framingham? Both a building permit and an electrical permit, filed with the City of Framingham’s Division of Inspectional Services, with building and electrical inspections during and after the install, following the city’s Solar Permitting Checklist for residential and commercial systems (City of Framingham, as of 2026). If your home is in a Framingham historic district you may also need Historic District Commission approval, though most homes are not. An experienced local installer normally pulls both permits and schedules the inspections for you.
How does net metering work with Eversource in Framingham? When your panels produce more than you use, the extra flows to the grid and Eversource credits your account in dollars near the full retail rate, and those credits roll forward month to month (Mass.gov net-metering guide, as of 2026). Residential systems of 25 kW or less are cap-exempt, after the state raised the residential threshold from 10 kW to 25 kW AC in 2025, so a typical home always qualifies for the standard credit. Sizing your system close to your annual usage is the smart move, since a large year-end surplus is trued up at a lower rate.
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. 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 a Framingham homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). 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, so at Framingham’s high rates the local payback case still holds.
Can I get solar with no up-front cost in Framingham? 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. If you want to own the system and capture those incentives yourself, a cash purchase or solar loan is the path that keeps them. Check what you qualify for before deciding.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked City of Framingham, Eversource, Mass.gov, EIA, NREL, and IRS sources as of June 2026; net-metering true-up rates, the SMART value and term, and Framingham permitting can change, so confirm current terms with Eversource, the City of Framingham, 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 payment 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.
