Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Massachusetts
If you’ve been thinking about reducing your carbon footprint to help the planet, now is a great time to harness the power of the sun and switch to renewable energy. Converting in Massachusetts comes with several benefits, including solar property tax exemptions, state tax credits and lower electric bills. While severe weather affects households in the fall, winter and spring, high electricity prices and Attractive solar policy Already done solar panel Very popular in the Bay State.
Massachusetts joins top 10 States with the highest electricity pricesAccording to data, average 29.42 cents per kWh in August 2024 U.S. Energy Information Administration. this Average residential electricity bills in the state In 2023 it is $165.55 per month. Going solar can help you save money on your energy bill, insulate you from utility price fluctuations, and reduce your home’s carbon footprint.
While solar installation is still a considerable investment More affordable For average Americans, that’s significantly lower than it was a decade ago, largely due to federal and local incentives helping homeowners switch to clean energy. The largest federal incentive is Major tax credits included in Inflation reduction method. At the local level, Massachusetts offers residents state tax credits and property tax exemptions for solar panel systems.
If you want to take the first step into solar panel installation, here are some of our top picks Best Solar Power Company This serves Massachusetts.
Best National Solar Panel Companies in Massachusetts
Palm Solar
Best Overall
Solar panels are generally low-maintenance devices, but people are not familiar with them either. If you want to reap the benefits of solar energy, but have the added peace of mind of someone else making sure it’s working properly, the Palmetto may be right for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto monitoring services to your payback period calculations.
forever free
Best for cash customers
If you want the support of a national company that installs a variety of the most popular solar equipment, include Freedom Forever in your search. Freedom Forever also offers products that alleviate some of the pain and risk that come with going solar, such as production guarantees and escrow options for cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low lately, but the company says that’s changing.
Tesla Solar
Most affordable
Tesla’s solar division appears to be the least popular business owned by Elon Musk. Even Tesla’s solar roof seems to be getting more love.
If price is something you’re not willing to budge on, consider a Tesla. It’s no secret that Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.
You may miss out on customer service. Discussions online seem to suggest Tesla’s service is something of a gamble.
Momentum Solar
All in-house installers
Momentum is installed in 11 states without the use of subcontractors. While using the in-house installer doesn’t guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you’ll likely get a more unified experience from Momentum. The fact that Momentum offers a 25-year workmanship warranty on its installations suggests a strong belief in the abilities of its crews. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the anti-breach guarantees offered by other companies. The momentum is five years, which is not the best.
energy treasure
most versatile
EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It will handle your solar installation from start to finish while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries, and inverters, has extensive financing options, and offers responsive customer service support.
Local Massachusetts Solar Panel Companies
When looking for a solar company, you should also consider looking for local solar companies in your area. We’ve selected a few Massachusetts solar companies with the highest average Google ratings. It’s also important to do some research on local solar companies on your own or get recommendations from people you know. Here are some local solar companies in Massachusetts that might be worth a look.
Boston Solar Company is a solar energy company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. The company has installed more than 30 megawatts of residential solar in the Bay State since 2011. Boston Solar is responsible for the entire Solar installation process Produced in-house and backed by a 10-year quality work and 25-year product warranty. Solar financing Available through the company’s partnership with Sungage Financial.
big sky solar energy is an employee-owned solar cooperative located in the greater Boston area. The company is responsible for the entire customer lifecycle, including design, permitting, installation, interconnection and maintenance, and provides customers with solar financing and leasing options. While the company offers a warranty on the quality of its work, there is no mention of its duration, nor its performance and product guarantees.
How to determine which solar company in Massachusetts is best for me
You’ll want to find an installer who has experience working on the solar project you’re interested in. You’ll also want to make sure your installer has experience working with the type of roof you have, and the type of system you want installed, such as grid-tied or off-grid.
Ben DelmanThe director of communications for Solar United Neighbors, a clean energy nonprofit, advises homeowners to look for solar installers certified by the agency. North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Their work should also be properly licensed and guaranteed. Reading online reviews can help you get a better idea of ​​a solar company’s installation and service reputation. Google, Yelp, and Angie are a few places to look for reviews of solar companies. Delman recommends looking for solar companies with at least 20 to 30 reviews. Ask people you know if they also have recommendations for solar companies.
In addition to reviews and certifications, there are a few other things solar installers need to be aware of. Delman says a good installer will be able to:
- Provide good word-of-mouth references
- Clearly explain all project deadlines
- Easily define technical terms in an easy-to-understand way
- Show transparency on how pricing and system financing works
- Understand local permitting requirements and the process for interconnecting with local power company systems
- Learn about homeowners association restrictions and help with the process
A reputable solar company should be able to answer any questions you may have, no matter how difficult they may be. Please feel free to ask for clarification on any item and pricing details. To get the best price possible, make sure you shop around and get at least three quotes before choosing an installer.
Cost of Solar Panels in Massachusetts
There are many important variables that can affect the installation cost of a solar panel system. The size of your roof and the system you need to install to provide adequate power for all your appliances will determine how many solar panels you can install.
If your roof is in poor condition, you may need to repair it before installing a solar panel system, which can also be an expensive undertaking. If you want to install solar cell Along with a solar panel system, this can also significantly increase installation costs.
Here are the average cash prices for a 5-kilowatt system in Massachusetts before taking into account tax credit incentives, according to FindEnergy.com.
Average cost of solar panels in Massachusetts
| Typical system size (kW) | price per watt | total installed cost | Cost after 30% federal tax credit | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 5 | $4.02 | $20,108 | $14,076 |
| national average | 5 | $3.56 | $17,823 | $12,476 |
The following infographic provides average total price, cost per watt and system size for solar panel systems in the United States, according to FindEnergy.com. Prices shown do not take into account changes due to tax credits or state solar incentives. If FindEnergy does not have solar data for a particular state, it will appear gray on the map.
Massachusetts Solar Panel Incentives or Rebates
For New Englanders, solar systems don’t come cheap. Thankfully, you can lower the price through federal tax credits and state incentives.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (formerly known as the Investment Tax Credit) lets you Subtract 30% of solar system cost Get it from your federal tax return after purchasing your solar system. This means that after using the federal credit, the average solar system installed in Massachusetts will be $6,032 less. Most batteries will also be eligible for federal clean energy credits.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a landmark federal climate bill passed in August 2022. Thanks to IRAs, Americans can invest in residential solar through 2032 and take advantage of federal tax credits to lower its costs. The credit will decrease to 26% in 2033 and ’22. % in 2034. It is expected to expire in 2035. To earn clean energy points you can complete Form 5695 (PDF) and submit it to the IRS. this IRS Instructions can help you fill out the form. Upon approval by the IRS, you will receive a 30% credit on your federal tax return for that year.
Massachusetts also offers several residential incentive programs to reduce solar costs. this Renewable Energy and Efficiency National Incentives Database A complete list of all Bay State incentives is available. Here are the most important ones to note.
| program | describe |
|---|---|
| state tax credit | Massachusetts offers 15% Solar Tax Credit The maximum credit limit for the purchase of a solar system is $1,000. You can claim the tax credit when you file your income taxes for the current year. If you have excess credit, you can carry it over for three consecutive years. |
| Massachusetts Solar Renewable Goals | this Smart planning Eversource, National Grid and Unitil customers are paid a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated by residential solar panels. The SMART program allows projects with less than 25 kW of solar capacity to obtain Maximum basic compensation rate 0.21 cents to 0.31 cents per kWh in 10 years. The program expires during decrementing blocks. Rates depend on the three participating utilities – Eversource, National Grid and Unitil. |
| National tax exemption | Massachusetts offers property tax and 6.25% sales exemption For use in residential solar systems. You don’t have to pay tax Home value increase You can get these exemptions from purchasing and installing solar panels, and you can claim these exemptions on your income tax return. |
