Maine Net Energy Billing: How CMP and Versant Pay You for Solar in 2026

Maine has some of the highest electricity prices in the country, which is what makes rooftop solar worth it here even though the state’s cash incentives are thin. But “how solar pays you back” in Maine is not net metering in the classic sense. It is Net Energy Billing, it comes in two separate tracks that most pages conflate, and the version a homeowner uses has a 12-month expiry rule that changes how you size a system. This guide covers both tracks, what CMP and Versant pay in 2026, the current standard-offer rates, and what the 2025 reform laws did and did not change.

What Maine net energy billing pays in 2026, at a glance

In 2026, Maine credits rooftop solar one-for-one through Net Energy Billing at both Central Maine Power and Versant Power, and because the state’s electricity is among the most expensive in the country, each credited kilowatt-hour is worth a lot. Here is the short version, with every figure sourced and dated:

• Rooftop solar is credited through Net Energy Billing, one-for-one. On the residential kWh-credit track, each kWh you export earns a one-to-one bill credit worth roughly retail, offsetting supply and delivery (Maine PUC Net Energy Billing, as of July 2026).
• Maine’s electricity is expensive, so each credit is worth a lot. The statewide residential average is about 28.32 cents per kWh (EIA, as of March 2026).
• CMP’s 2026 standard-offer supply rate is 12.72 cents per kWh, and its all-in residential rate is about 24.58 cents per kWh (Maine PUC standard offer; Maine PUC delivery rates, as of July 1, 2026).
• Versant’s 2026 standard-offer supply rate is 12.95 cents per kWh in the Bangor Hydro District and 14.87 cents in the Maine Public District (Maine DOE electricity prices, as of July 2026).
• Unused NEB credits roll forward but expire after 12 months with no cash payout to you, so system sizing matters (Maine PUC, as of July 2026).
• The 30% federal homeowner credit is gone. Section 25D ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025 (IRS, as of January 1, 2026).

Maine net energy billing numbers, dated

• Maine statewide residential electricity rate: about 28.32 cents per kWh, as of March 2026 (EIA).
• CMP standard-offer supply rate: 12.72 cents per kWh for the 2026 calendar year, Maine PUC Docket 2025-00157 (Maine PUC).
• CMP all-in residential rate: about 24.58 cents per kWh, as of July 1, 2026 (Maine PUC delivery rates).
• Versant standard-offer supply rate: 12.95 cents per kWh (Bangor Hydro District) and 14.87 cents per kWh (Maine Public District), 2026 (Maine DOE).
• Typical Portland production: a 6 kW system makes about 7,911 kWh a year, roughly 1,320 kWh per kW (NREL PVWatts, as of July 2026).

This is a 2026 guide. Standard-offer rates reset each January and the NEB rules are being reshaped by 2025 legislation, so every figure carries its source and date. Confirm the current numbers with your utility and the Maine PUC before you decide.

What is net energy billing in Maine, and how is it different from net metering?

Net Energy Billing is Maine’s version of net metering, and the name matters because the rules differ from a classic net-metering state. When your panels make more electricity than your home is using, the surplus flows to the grid and your utility credits your account. On the residential track, that credit is a one-for-one kilowatt-hour credit valued at roughly the full retail rate, so it offsets both the supply and the delivery parts of your bill (Maine PUC Net Energy Billing, as of July 2026). The program is set by the Maine Public Utilities Commission under its rules in Chapter 313, and you enter it through a Customer Net Energy Billing agreement that your installer files with CMP or Versant. For the plain-English mechanics of how an export credit is created and applied, see how net metering credits your solar exports.

Two things separate Maine from a standard net-metering state. First, Maine runs two different NEB tracks, and the one you use depends on whether you are a residential or a non-residential customer, not on your system size (the next section breaks this down). Second, unlike states where a year-end surplus is cashed out or rolled indefinitely, Maine credits expire on a rolling 12-month basis. Both details change how you should plan a system, and both are covered below.

What are the two net energy billing options in Maine?

Maine NEB has two tracks, and a homeowner only ever uses one of them. This is the single most conflated point in Maine solar guides. The split is by customer class, not by system size (Maine PUC Net Energy Billing, as of July 2026).

• The kWh-credit program gives you a one-for-one kilowatt-hour credit for every kWh you export, valued at roughly retail. It is open to all utility customers and is the only track a residential rooftop customer can use. This is what almost every homeowner is on.
• The tariff-rate program, sometimes called the dollar-credit program, gives dollar credits at a rate the Maine PUC sets, rather than kWh credits. It is limited to non-residential customers, which is why it is the track used by commercial, institutional, and community-solar projects. A homeowner cannot elect it.

Both tracks are set by the Maine PUC (Chapter 313 / Title 35-A, as of July 2026). Because a residential rooftop customer is limited to the kWh-credit program, the rest of this page focuses on that track.

How much do CMP and Versant pay for solar under net energy billing in 2026?

Both utilities credit residential exports the same way, one-for-one at roughly retail, so what changes between them is the retail rate your credit is measured against. The kWh credit offsets the per-kilowatt-hour charges on your bill, which means a higher-rate utility makes each exported kWh worth more. Versant’s Maine Public District has the highest supply rate in the state, so a credited kilowatt-hour there is worth more than the same kilowatt-hour in CMP territory. The fixed monthly customer charge on each account is not offset by NEB credits, so it stays on your bill regardless.

Standard-offer supply rates are for customers on standard-offer service and apply for the 2026 calendar year; customers who chose a competitive supplier pay that supplier’s price (Maine PUC standard offer; Maine DOE electricity prices, as of July 2026). CMP’s all-in residential rate of about 24.58 cents per kWh is from the Maine PUC delivery rates page (as of July 1, 2026). Versant’s all-in rates run higher than CMP’s because its delivery charges are higher.

For the full utility-level detail, see our guides to Central Maine Power solar and net energy billing and Versant Power solar and net energy billing.

Do Maine net energy billing credits expire?

Yes, and this is the trap that catches Maine solar owners: unused NEB credits roll forward month to month but expire after 12 months, with no cash payout to you (Maine PUC Net Energy Billing; Maine Office of the Public Advocate, Solar and Your Bill, as of 2026). Maine’s sun is seasonal, so a well-placed system banks a surplus of credits over the long summer days and draws them down through the dark winter. That rolling bank is exactly what NEB is built for. The problem only appears if you oversize your array: build far more production than you use in a year and the extra credits simply expire at the 12-month mark instead of being paid out.

Since January 1, 2024, the dollar value of expired kWh credits does not vanish into the utility; it is remitted to the Maine PUC for low-income energy assistance (Maine PUC Net Energy Billing, as of July 2026). That is good public policy, but it does not put money back in your pocket, so the practical takeaway is unchanged: size the system to your own annual usage, not above it.

Note: Size your system close to your yearly electricity use, not far above it. NEB credits roll forward for up to 12 months, so summer surplus can cover winter draw, but any credits still unused at the 12-month mark expire with no payout to you. A good installer sizes to your usage and shows you the seasonal math, not a headline production number. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator before you size a system.

What are net energy billing credits worth on a typical Maine home?

On a typical Central Maine Power home, a year of NEB credits is worth roughly $1,900 to $3,200 depending on system size, almost all of it from offsetting expensive grid power. The table below is our own estimate for three common sizes, built from the PVWatts production for Portland and CMP’s all-in residential rate. It assumes about 1,320 kWh of production per kilowatt of system each year, which is typical for southern Maine; your roof will differ with pitch, shading, and snow, so estimate yours with PVWatts before you size a system.

Estimate only, computed by MySolarFY (July 2026). Inputs: PVWatts production for Portland (04101) of about 1,320 kWh per kW per year (NREL PVWatts, as of July 2026); CMP all-in residential rate of 24.58 cents per kWh (Maine PUC delivery rates, as of July 1, 2026). The “credit value” is the retail value of the electricity a system this size can offset through NEB, not a guarantee of your bill savings; actual savings depend on how much you use versus export, and the fixed monthly customer charge stays on your bill. A Versant customer would see a somewhat higher value because Versant’s rates run higher than CMP’s.

Against a typical Maine system price, that points to a payback in the range of 9 to 12 years. A representative Maine install runs about $2.95 per watt, so an 8 kW system is near $23,600 before any incentives (EnergySage Maine solar data, as of 2026). Divide that by the roughly $2,590 a year of NEB value on a CMP account and the simple payback lands near 9 years, a little faster on a higher-rate Versant account and slower if you finance. Because the 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, there is nothing federal to subtract from a 2026 purchase, so this payback rests on Net Energy Billing and the high rate you avoid. Your own price depends on your roof and your quotes, so check what you qualify for at your address.

A Versant customer sees more, because Versant’s rates are higher. In Versant’s Maine Public District, where the all-in residential rate runs near 31 to 32 cents per kWh (Maine DOE electricity prices, as of July 2026), that same 8 kW system’s first-year NEB credits would be worth closer to $3,300, which shortens the payback accordingly. The Bangor Hydro District sits between CMP and the Maine Public District. The methodology is the same for each: the CMP figure above uses the Maine PUC delivery rates average and the Versant figure uses the Maine DOE price table, both primary sources and both dated to July 2026.

See what a system this size would cost at your address →

Did LD 1777 change net energy billing for homeowners in 2026?

The 2025 reform laws reshaped Maine’s NEB program, but the residential rooftop kWh-credit option stayed open in 2026. In June 2025, Maine enacted LD 1777 and LD 1792, which restructured Net Energy Billing after years of debate over its cost to ratepayers (pv magazine, June 30, 2025). Two points matter for a homeowner. First, the laws created a new NEB “project charge,” but that charge is set to zero for resources under 1 MW, so a typical home system does not pay it (Maine Legislature, Title 35-A, as of 2025). Second, after December 31, 2025 the Maine PUC may no longer approve new NEB agreements for generation interconnected on the utility side of the meter, which means community solar and larger tariff-rate projects, not the behind-the-meter rooftop system on your own house.

The reforms are not cost-free for homeowners, though, and honest guides should say so. LD 1777 and LD 1792 also changed how the program’s costs are recovered, aggregating NEB and power-purchase costs statewide and shifting a larger share onto residential, small, and medium customers, an increase the Maine Office of the Public Advocate put near 10% (Maine OPA memo, September 16, 2025). A group of community-solar companies has also sued over the changes (Central Maine, November 24, 2025). The net picture for a rooftop homeowner in 2026 is that the kWh-credit program is still available and the small-system project charge is zero, while the broader reform is still settling. Because the terms are set by the PUC and are actively changing, confirm your crediting terms with your utility and installer before you sign, rather than assuming a rate is locked for the life of the system.

What Maine does not have for solar, and why the rate still makes it work

Maine is a place where being honest about what is gone matters, because several widely-listed “Maine solar incentives” do not apply. The value here comes from Net Energy Billing and the high rate you stop paying, not from state cash. In 2026:

• Maine has no solar sales-tax exemption, so the state’s 5.5% sales tax applies to the equipment (Maine Revenue Services, as of 2026).
• Maine does exempt qualifying solar from local property tax under the Renewable Energy Investment Exemption, if you apply with your town, so the panels should not raise your assessment (DSIRE Maine, as of 2026). That statute was revised in 2025, so confirm the current terms with your municipality.
• Efficiency Maine does not offer a residential solar rebate; its rebates are for heat pumps, weatherization, and EVs (Efficiency Maine, as of 2026).
• Maine has no state solar income-tax credit, and the federal Solar for All program was terminated in 2025.

For how these fit with programs elsewhere, see the solar incentives that still apply in 2026 and our Maine solar guide, or start with your city in Portland.

Does Maine still have the 30% federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Maine homeowner who buys solar in 2026 with cash or a loan cannot claim it (IRS; SEIA, as of 2026). Older installer pages and search results still describe a 30% homeowner credit running for years; that reflects the pre-2026 rule, and the homeowner version has already ended. What did not change is the Maine side: Net Energy Billing, the property-tax exemption, and above all the high electricity rate you avoid all continue, so the in-state case for solar still holds. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.

The only federal solar credit left in 2026 is a commercial one, and it is not the homeowner’s to claim. Section 48E can apply to a leased or PPA system, but the business that owns the equipment claims it, not the resident, and the value shows up as a lower lease or PPA price rather than a credit on your own return (IRS Clean Electricity Investment Credit, as of 2026). This is separate from the residential Section 25D credit, which ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; consult a tax professional about your own situation.

How to choose a solar installer in Maine

Both CMP and Versant territories have a solid 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.
• Proper Maine licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
• A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
• Real experience with CMP or Versant interconnection and Maine Net Energy Billing, so the paperwork and permission to connect go smoothly.
• A written production estimate and a transparent quote you can compare against your own NEB math.

MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation. For how we research each page, see our data sources and methodology and how MySolarFY works and how we choose installers.

Frequently asked questions

What is net energy billing in Maine, and how is it different from net metering? Net Energy Billing is Maine’s version of net metering. When your panels make more power than your home uses, the surplus goes to the grid and your utility credits your account. On the residential kWh-credit track, that is a one-for-one kilowatt-hour credit worth roughly the full retail rate, offsetting both supply and delivery (Maine PUC, as of July 2026). Two things set Maine apart from a classic net-metering state: it runs two separate NEB tracks split by customer class, and credits expire on a rolling 12-month basis rather than being cashed out or banked forever. The program is governed by the Maine PUC under Chapter 313.

How much do CMP and Versant pay for solar in 2026? Both credit residential exports one-for-one under Net Energy Billing, so what differs is the retail rate the credit is measured against. CMP’s 2026 standard-offer supply rate is 12.72 cents per kWh and its all-in residential rate is about 24.58 cents per kWh (Maine PUC, as of July 1, 2026). Versant’s standard-offer supply rate is 12.95 cents per kWh in the Bangor Hydro District and 14.87 cents in the Maine Public District (Maine DOE, as of July 2026). Because Versant’s rates run higher, an exported kilowatt-hour is worth a little more in Versant territory.

Do Maine net energy billing credits expire? Yes. NEB credits roll forward month to month but expire after 12 months, and there is no cash payout to you for unused credits (Maine PUC, as of July 2026). Maine’s seasonal sun means a system banks summer credits to draw down in winter, which is exactly how the rolling bank is meant to work. The trap is oversizing: build far more than you use in a year and the extra credits simply expire. Since January 1, 2024, the value of expired credits is remitted to the PUC for low-income assistance rather than kept by the utility, but it still does not come back to you, so size the system to your annual usage.

What are the two net energy billing options in Maine? Maine NEB has a kWh-credit program and a tariff-rate (dollar-credit) program, and the split is by customer class, not system size (Maine PUC, as of July 2026). The kWh-credit program gives a one-for-one kilowatt-hour credit near retail value; it is open to all customers and is the only track a residential rooftop customer can use. The tariff-rate program gives dollar credits at a Maine PUC-set rate and is limited to non-residential customers, which is why commercial, institutional, and community-solar projects use it. A homeowner cannot elect the tariff track, so almost every rooftop system is on the kWh-credit program.

Did LD 1777 change net energy billing for homeowners in 2026? The 2025 reform laws LD 1777 and LD 1792, signed in June 2025, restructured NEB, but the residential rooftop kWh-credit option stayed open in 2026 (pv magazine, 2025). The new NEB project charge is set to zero for resources under 1 MW, so a home system does not pay it, and the post-2025 bar on new NEB agreements applies to utility-side projects like community solar, not rooftop (Maine Legislature, as of 2025). The reforms did shift more program cost onto residential and small customers, near 10% by the Public Advocate’s estimate, so homeowners are affected through rates. Confirm your terms with your utility before signing.

Does Maine still have the 30% federal solar tax credit in 2026? No. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a Maine 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 company that owns the system claims it, not you. Maine’s Net Energy Billing and property-tax exemption were not affected, and the state’s high electricity rates still make the local case for solar. MySolarFY does not provide tax advice; consult a tax professional about your own situation.

Can I get solar in Maine with no up-front cost? 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, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase. On a lease or PPA the third-party owner keeps any tax benefit tied to owning the equipment, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price, and the Net Energy Billing credit still follows your utility account. If you want to own the system outright, a cash purchase or solar loan keeps the full benefit with you. Check what you qualify for before deciding.

Reviewed by the SolarFY Editor on July 11, 2026. Figures were verified against the linked Maine PUC, Maine Department of Energy Resources, Maine Office of the Public Advocate, Maine Legislature, EIA, and IRS sources as of July 2026. Standard-offer rates reset each January and Maine’s Net Energy Billing rules are being reshaped by the 2025 reform laws, so confirm current terms with Central Maine Power, Versant Power, and the Maine PUC before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY editorial 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 are long-term agreements, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA any federal tax benefit goes to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit (Section 25D) 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.