Solar Power in Massachusetts

Become one of the 200,000+ Massachusetts homes powered by solar.

Get Your Free Solar Quote

What is your zip code?

Are you looking for a commercial or residential solar solution?

What is your average electric bill per month?

  • By clicking above, you authorize Solar Power Authority and up to four Solar Companies to call you and send you pre-recorded messages and text messages at the number you entered above, using an autodialer, with offers about their products or services, even if your phone number is on any national or state “Do Not Call” list. Message and data rates may apply. Your consent here is not based on a condition of purchase.

Step 1 of 4

Read About:

Massachusetts has a bright future for solar capacity. In 2015, the state spent over $800 million to install 340 megawatts of solar electricity—the fourth most in the nation that year.

And by 2020, the Bay State hopes to have 1.6 gigawatts of solar capacity, which will power close to one million homes. Thanks to the support of lawmakers and recent legislation to keep utility rates low for solar owners, Massachusetts homeowners are in a great position to install solar and save big.

Average Massachusetts
electric bill: $94/mo See what you can save with solar

Massachusetts Solar Panel Pricing

Residents in Massachusetts pay $94 per month on average for electricity. Compared to the rest of the country, that’s actually pretty good; Massachusetts electric bills are 12 percent cheaper than the national average. The price per kilowatt is what skews things a bit, since Massachusetts homeowners pay the ninth most in the nation at 14 cents per kilowatt.

The good news here is that solar can help you save. On average, installations cost anywhere from $25,000–$35,000, but the price per kilowatt tops out at nine cents. That combined with the fact that photovoltaic cell prices have dropped 66 percent from 2010 means solar is a great way the people of Massachusetts can save on energy.

There’s great potential here, but the only way to be sure of the amount you can save on energy is to get a quote. Or, you can use Solar Power Authority’s solar energy cost calculator to estimate your potential savings.

How People in Massachusetts Can Save With Solar Incentives and Rebates

Massachusetts homeowners can save on solar with 100 local programs and more:

Federal Tax Credit

The federal government encourages homeowners to go solar with a 30 percent tax credit. This means that if you spend 30,000 on solar panels, you’ll recoup 30 percent of that cost in tax credits. Only people who own their solar panels can benefit from this tax credit, but in some cases, solar companies pass these incentives onto people who lease or finance.

Local Utility Incentives

Your community and state offer tax incentives and solar rebates. In fact, there are 100 programs throughout the state of Massachusetts. Browse by zip code to see how else you can save on solar.

Excess Energy Rebates

When solar panels produce too much energy, it goes back into the grid. Then, the utility company buys that energy from you! Again, this is mainly for those who own solar panels completely, but you can ask your solar company about policies surrounding this money-saving incentive.

Read more Massachusetts solar resources below

Massachusetts Top Solar Companies

Out of the 400+ solar companies in Massachusetts, we found the top five with the best products, services, and more. Let’s take a look at what they have to offer:

SunPower is one of the most innovative solar companies.

To date, it has over 600 patents for solar technology, a world record-setting solar-powered plane, Solar Impulse 2, and solar cells that produce 55 percent more energy than conventional panels. Plus, customers can buy, lease, finance, or get a solar PPA with SunPower.

Read more about SnunPower

Homeowners can save 20 percent and enjoy flexible payment options like leases, solar PPAs, financing, and buy-out options with Sunrun.

Headquartered in California, the company provides over 80,000 people with solar power in 15 states. With exemplary ratings from the Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List, Sunrun is a safe and smart choice for solar customers.

Read more about Sunrun

Vivint Solar is an offshoot of Vivint—a company that specializes in home automation and security.

Since Vivint Solar was founded in 2011, it’s been providing customers with money-saving sustainable energy and solar PPAs, leases, financing, and buy-out options. If you’re a homeowner who is interested in solar and home security, Vivint is a convenient option with great products.

Read more about Vivint Solar

Massachusetts is one of the 17 states where you can get service from NRG Home Solar.

This means you can tap into savings and solar contracts that require as little as $0 down. You won’t be able to get a solar PPA from NRG at this time, but you can enjoy its engineering, monitoring, permitting, and installation services that will save you money.

Read more about NRG Home Solar

Find out
how much
you can save

Get a free quote now

Solar Legislation in Massachusetts

In 2016, Governor Charlie Baker signed a solar net metering bill to lift the cap on how much utility companies have to pay solar energy producers. While it’s a short-term solution (caps are projected to top out again in 2017), this bill cuts rates by 40 percent. It’s also a good indicator of how seriously Massachusetts is taking the implementation of solar energy. Since the state wants to have 1.6 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2020, it’s doing all it can to make solar a viable and affordable energy solution for homeowners.

Solar Facts

By 2020, Massachusetts aims to have 1.6 gigawatts of solar capacity.

Over 15,000 people are employed by 448 solar companies in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts installed the fourth most solar capacity in 2015—340 megawatts.

The state spent over $800 million in 2015 on installing solar.

Massachusetts has the sixth most solar capacity in the country—1,199 megawatts—which is enough to power over 190,000 homes.

Resources

Find solar stats, contact information for state representatives, and more with these Massachusetts solar resources:

Department of Public Utilities

Massachusetts has its own regulation organization for utility companies. Visit the website to learn about electricity rates, read developing news, and more.

Department of Energy Resources

Learn about green initiatives in your community and rebates for electric cars and other green items.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Legislature

Track pending legislation affecting solar energy, locate and contact individual legislators, and stay up to date on current legislative issues in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Learn about the state agency dedicated solely to facilitating the development of the clean energy industry.

Massachusetts DSIRE Incentives Database

Explore every single incentive and solar rebate program in Massachusetts.

U.S. Energy Information Administration for Massachusetts

Look up energy statistics and see how solar is proliferating America.

Sources

Ready to save with solar?

Get a free quote