Net Metering in Massachusetts: Why You May Not Need a Solar Battery
Net metering is one of the main reasons solar pays off for Massachusetts homeowners. It lets the grid act like a bank for the extra power your panels make, which is why many homes here don't need a battery to get the full savings from solar. This page explains how it works in 2026, how it fits with the state's SMART 3.0 incentive, and when a battery is still worth considering.
Net Metering 101: How It Works
Net metering is one of the solar incentives available in Massachusetts. When your panels produce more electricity than your home is using, usually in the middle of a sunny day, the extra power flows into the grid and your utility credits your bill. At night or on cloudy days, when your panels produce less than you use, those credits cover the power you draw from the grid.
Credits that you don't use in a month roll over to future bills. Net metering is offered by the state's investor-owned utilities: Eversource, National Grid and Unitil.
How much are net metering credits worth?
For most home systems, net metering credits are worth close to what you pay for electricity. Under state rules, systems of 10 kilowatts or less on single-phase service (the kind most homes have), or 25 kilowatts or less on three-phase service, receive full-value credits. Larger systems that came online after 2016 receive a reduced credit.
A full-value credit covers the main parts of your rate, including supply, distribution and transmission, though a few small charges on your bill aren't credited. The Eversource net metering FAQ lists exactly which charges count.
How does net metering work with SMART 3.0?
Net metering and SMART 3.0 are separate programs that pay you for different things, and a home system can earn both. Net metering credits you for the extra power you send to the grid. SMART 3.0 pays you for every kilowatt-hour your system produces, whether you use it at home or send it to the grid.
For home systems enrolled in 2026, SMART 3.0 pays a flat $0.03 per kWh ($0.06 for low-income customers) for up to 20 years, on top of your net metering credits. See our SMART 3.0 guide for the details.
Net Metering vs. Solar Battery: Which Do You Need?
Because full-value net metering already lets you bank your extra solar power, a battery doesn't add much bill savings for most Massachusetts homes. The grid stores your surplus for you, at no extra cost.
That's why many homeowners here go solar without a battery. If saving on your electric bill is your main goal and outages are rare where you live, net metering alone usually does the job.
When a Battery Makes Sense
A battery is still worth a look in a few situations. The biggest is power outages. When the grid goes down, a standard solar system shuts off for safety, even on a sunny day. A home battery keeps your essentials running, and it recharges from your panels during the day.
A battery can also earn money. Through the ConnectedSolutions program, Massachusetts utilities pay battery owners for letting the utility draw on their stored power during a limited number of peak-demand events each summer. And the Mass Save HEAT Loan, which doesn't cover solar panels, can cover a battery enrolled in ConnectedSolutions.
One change to know: SMART 3.0 no longer pays an extra storage adder to home systems of 25 kilowatts or less, as earlier versions of SMART did. If a quote counts on a battery adder for your home, ask the installer to show where it comes from.
Now You Know
For most Massachusetts homeowners, net metering plus SMART 3.0 captures most of the value of solar without a battery. A battery is a good fit if you want backup power during outages or want to earn from a battery program like ConnectedSolutions.
We design systems both ways and can show you the numbers with and without a battery. Get a free solar quote to see what makes sense for your home.