Is Solar Worth It in Massachusetts? 2026 Rates & Payback
Is solar worth it in Massachusetts?
Strongly recommendedWith electricity at 30.5¢/kWh and a payback of just 7.9 years, solar is a strong deal in Massachusetts.
Electricity here is 58% more expensive than the national average (~19.3¢/kWh).
Rates in Massachusetts rose 39% from 2020 to 2025. If prices rise 3% a year, payback drops to about 7.2 years. Try other scenarios ↓
Get free quotes from local installersEstimates only. Actual results depend on your home, installer and local rules. Learn more: Is solar worth it in 2026? · What if electricity prices rise?
At 30.5¢/kWh, a home using 900 kWh a month pays about $274. A 6 kW rooftop system here produces roughly 7,500 kWh a year. At $3.00/W ($18,000, before incentives), the savings would pay off the system in about 7.9 years — faster than most states.
Estimate your savings
Enter your monthly bill to see your estimate.
Estimate based on average system size and current rates. Actual results vary.
What if electricity prices rise?
Many states have seen rates rise faster than 3% in recent years.
Do nothing: over 25 years you'd pay about $83,373 for the electricity a 6 kW system would otherwise produce — money that stays with the utility instead of paying off your panels.
Estimates only. Actual results depend on your home, installer and local rules.
Electricity rate trend
From 2020 to 2025, the average residential rate went from 22.0¢ to 30.5¢/kWh — +39% in 5 years.
If rates continue at a similar pace, solar payback shortens further.
Ready to see real quotes?
Get personalized quotes from local installers. Compare prices and financing options.
Get free quotesNo obligation. We don't sell solar — we help you compare.
Electricity price trend
Electricity in Massachusetts went up 54% since 2015 (about 4.4% per year).
Average residential price, ¢/kWh (EIA yearly data).
For a 6 kW system. Yearly price rise capped at 5% in this estimate. Future prices are not guaranteed.
Major utilities & net metering
- Eversource
- National Grid
SMART program adds incentives on top of net metering.
Net metering: Full retail credit — exported solar power is credited at (close to) the price you pay.
General guide — check your utility for current rates.
Solar installers in Massachusetts
See all →Bay State Sun (example)
VerifiedWorcester, MA · 7 yrs in business · NABCEP certified
Solar · Batteries
Serves: MA, RI, NH
Request a quoteFeatured Partners pay for placement. Listings are sample data. Are you an installer? Get listed.
Is your roof solar-ready?
Describe your roof and get a personalized explanation based on Massachusetts's rates and sunshine.
AI-generated estimate. Get a professional site assessment before buying.
Data based on EIA and NREL PVWatts (rates for 2026-07). Some figures are sample estimates because a data service was unavailable.