Solar Panel Cost in Massachusetts (2023 Local Savings Guide)
By Dan Simms /
In this guide to the best solar companies in Massachusetts, you’ll learn:
Homeowners in Massachusetts are adopting solar now more than ever. Solar is growing in popularity not only because of the many incentives available to bring down costs but also because of the rising electricity rates in Massachusetts, which are already some of the highest in the country.1
With over 150 installers operating within the Bay State, choosing one to handle your solar project is usually an intimidating and time-consuming process.2 To help you narrow down your options, we’ve reviewed the best solar panel companies in Massachusetts and gathered information that will help you decide.
Pros
Cons
SunPower is one of the largest national providers of solar equipment in the country, so it serves all of Massachusetts.
It’s one of the few companies that manufactures its own panels, and the equipment is some of the most efficient in the industry. High-efficiency panels are ideal in MA because they’re more likely to offset the well-above-average electricity bills, thereby saving you more over time.
SunPower also provides one of the best and most reliable warranty packages in the country: 25 years of all-inclusive coverage. Few companies can match this and have the reputation to provide the peace of mind many property owners look for through the extreme weather in Massachusetts.
SunPower is more expensive than many competitors, but we believe it is worth the investment based on the quality and customer service you get.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
5 |
A+ |
1985 |
$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring |
SunPower |
25-year all-inclusive warranty |
Pros
Cons
We chose Green Power Energy primarily because the company is reliable and reputable, and the employees are knowledgeable and focused on helping promote renewable energy rather than profit alone.
The company goes above and beyond to educate solar customers, which not only helps push renewable energy but also helps you save money with your solar energy solution. This is especially important in an area like Massachusetts, where energy rates are nearly double the national average.
Green Power Energy also provides outstanding customer service and offers a 25-year warranty for the equipment installed.
It is a relatively young installer with minimal company history, but it has already established a name for itself in terms of reliability and expertise in the solar industry. This is something that’s less common in high-demand areas like Massachusetts, where companies pop up all the time just to take advantage of the demand.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Solar Roof Shingles, EV Chargers |
Pros
Cons
Trinity Solar has been in business for nearly 30 years and has around 15 years of experience in Massachusetts alone. In an area like Massachusetts, where newer companies pop up and go out of business frequently, Trinity Solar provides some peace of mind that your installer won’t leave the industry and take its warranty with it.
Trinity offers high-quality and high-efficiency panels and solar energy storage solutions to help offset the above-average electric bills and combat the frequent power outages in Massachusetts. Plus, many options are available at below-average prices, which is great in a state where the price-per-watt for photovoltaic (PV) equipment is one of the highest in the nation.
Trinity also offers good physical warranty coverage — up to 25 years for panels — that provides some peace of mind when hurricanes, tropical storms or other extreme weather events hit the area.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
Pros
Cons
We picked Boston Solar as one of the best local solar providers in part because of its experience. With over 5,000 local installations under its belt, the technicians understand the local needs of Massachusetts residents, like high-efficiency panels, the ability to eliminate high energy bills and durable equipment to persist through extreme weather.
As one of the most reliable companies in the Greater Boston Area, Boston Solar guarantees that your system will perform as advertised for a full decade, or it will pay you the difference. Guarantees like this are rare in the industry and showcase how experienced the company is in sizing systems appropriately for Massachusetts residents.
Boston Solar also cuts through the noise of over 150 state installers by providing above-average customer service. Most of the reviews are positive and rave about the communication, the response time to warranty claims and the overall service.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
EnergyPal is a progressive Canadian solar company providing unbiased service with the goal of helping you fully understand the best system size, brand and setup for your needs. While most solar companies only carry certain brands (often encouraging their customers to choose the brands they already carry), EnergyPal first helps you first understand what makes your energy needs unique. It then connects you with the best of its vetted, partner contractors to perform the installation itself.
EnergyPal primarily advises its clients rather than performing the installations itself, so it has far lower costs and overhead relative to most of its peers. This unique setup is what allows it to offer such competitive prices for its customers.
The only real con of EnergyPal is that the services available to you will depend on the service area that your home is in. While its partner contractors are reputable and reliable, maintaining excellent reviews, the details of its warranties and services will vary from state to state, even region to region.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4 |
A+ |
2008 |
$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
SunPower, REC, Qcells, Solaria, Mission |
Varies by location |
Pros
Cons
All Energy Solar is one of our top picks in Massachusetts because of its stellar reputation and commitment to full-service energy efficiency upgrades and home improvements.
In addition to the standard solar panel and battery installations, All Energy offers efficiency audits, general contracting and complete system monitoring. These services combine to create an all-inclusive energy efficiency package that can help maximize your energy savings.
This is especially helpful in Massachusetts, where energy rates are nearly double the national average. Many property owners in the area look to improve overall efficiency to save even more on utility bills, and All Energy is one of the few companies that can accommodate those needs.
All Energy Solar’s technicians are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and have a reputation for extensive knowledge regarding clean energy and efficiency. You can rest assured that this company is not one of the many in Massachusetts that are in the industry just to turn a quick profit.
This company is more costly than most, but it’s still a great option if you’re looking for more than the standard solar services.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Electrical Work, System Monitoring |
Pros
Cons
ACE Solar is a smaller local company, which means it brings outstanding customer service and a custom approach to your solar needs. In an area like Massachusetts, where there are over 150 installers available and a tendency to install cookie-cutter systems, ACE stands out as an excellent option.
ACE is a bit on the expensive side, but you get what you pay for with this installer. Its technicians hold certifications from NABCEP and include licensed electricians, inspectors and engineers.
The team is knowledgeable about solar in general and about energy needs in Massachusetts, specifically. That means it can help you take advantage of the many incentives available in Massachusetts to help bring down costs and drive up long-term savings.
The company has also won awards for its installations and excellent customer service, including being named one of the top solar contractors in the country by Solar Power World magazine for five consecutive years.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Commercial Solar |
Pros
Cons
Momentum Solar is a relatively large regional company, but its technicians and employees that operate in Massachusetts are locally-trained and experienced. That means they can size your system appropriately and help you take advantage of local incentives to maximize your return on investment and savings on your high energy bills.
Momentum comes in around average in terms of price, which is great news in an area like Massachusetts, where the cost to go solar is above average. The company helps keep upfront costs low to make solar more worthwhile for Bay Staters.
Plus, the company offers a robust 25-year warranty that can help your system stand up to the extreme weather that frequents the area. It also helps guarantee that your system continues to produce at its maximum capacity for years after installation, which helps minimize how often you have to pay for the expensive electricity in the Bay State.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4.5 |
A+ |
2009 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries |
Q Cells, REC, Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar and others depending on location |
25-year manufacturer and workmanship warranties |
There are a few ways to save money when converting to solar in Massachusetts, which most residents will want to take advantage of. The average cost of installing solar equipment in Massachusetts is around $19,110. This assumes the average local cost of $2.94 per watt and the typical system size of 6.5 kilowatts (kW).
The per-watt price in Massachusetts is well above the national average of $2.66, although the all-in cost is a few thousand below the U.S. average. This is due to Bay Staters using below-average amounts of electricity each month and requiring smaller systems than most Americans.
Still, the upfront price of solar in Massachusetts can be prohibitively expensive on its own, in which case we recommend considering the below tips to help bring your all-in costs down and raise your long-term savings:
In our opinion, the best way to keep the cost of your solar panel system to a minimum is to make sure you take advantage of the many incentives Massachusetts has to offer for PV equipment. We’ll include a quick breakdown of the incentives offered to Bay Staters below, but you can get more information by checking out our guide to solar benefits in MA.
Massachusetts Solar Incentive | Program Overview |
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | The federal tax credit provides a credit to your income tax burden for the year your system is installed and commissioned. The credit is for 30% of your system cost, or an average of $5,733 in Massachusetts. |
Massachusetts Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit | A state tax credit that provides a credit to your income taxes for the year your system is installed. This credit is for up to 15% of your system cost or $1,000, whichever is lower. Most residents will get the maximum of $1,000. |
Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program | This program pays you for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) you generate with your system for the first ten years. This will earn the average customer up to $1,800 per year. |
Massachusetts Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing | Offers a low-cost, low-APR financing solution for low-income households looking to convert to solar. |
Massachusetts Sales Tax Exemption for Solar Equipment | The 6.25% state sales tax is waived on all solar equipment in MA, including panels, inverters, batteries, EV chargers and more. This can bring down your upfront costs by an average of over $1,100 in Massachusetts. |
Massachusetts Property Tax Exemption for Solar Equipment | Massachusetts doesn’t include the value of your PV equipment when evaluating your property taxes. As a result, your taxes won’t increase just because you go solar. |
Net Metering | Net metering credits you for all excess energy you produce with your panels and return to the electric grid. Those credits can offset any energy you pull from the grid, which is extraordinarily helpful in Massachusetts, where the energy rates are so high. |
Local Incentives | Several utility companies in Massachusetts offer rebates for solar conversion. These include Hudson Light & Power, Concord Municipal Light Plant, Taunton Municipal Light Plant, Reading Municipal Light Department, Holyoke Gas & Electric and Chicopee Electric Light. |
Next, we recommend you opt for a high-efficiency panel brand when converting to solar energy in Massachusetts. The state receives around the average number of sunny days per year — 200 as opposed to 205 in the rest of the country — but maximizing energy production is essential for minimizing your energy bills.
Massachusetts residents pay an average of 22.89 cents per kWh, which is nearly double the national average of 13.66 cents.3 Despite residents using far less energy than average, they still see the fourth-highest monthly energy bills in the nation as a result of the per-kWh cost.
Opting for a high-efficiency panel like SunPower, Panasonic or Tesla will likely drive up your initial costs. However, these options will more swiftly pay for themselves over time, as they will provide more energy for the space, boosting your long-term energy savings.
The size of your rooftop solar system should be based on your monthly energy consumption, your home size, how much sunlight your roof gets and more. Unfortunately, undersizing your system can lead to paying for a solar system and an expensive utility bill, and oversizing it means you’ll unnecessarily pay for more expensive equipment with no upside.
We recommend choosing one of the reliable and experienced installers we’ve mentioned above. These companies all have technicians who understand the needs of Massachusetts property owners and can ensure your system is sized accordingly.
Finally, we recommend getting a few quotes from different companies to save money on your system.
Massachusetts is home to over 150 solar providers, all of which charge different prices for labor, carry different equipment and offer varying levels of help in taking advantage of local incentive programs. These seemingly small differences can lead to paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars less for your system.
As such, we suggest you get a few quotes and compare them based on the overall cost and the quality of the equipment and service you get for the price.
For more information about how to estimate the cost of your solar equipment and how to save throughout the installation process, you can use our solar calculator.
Yes, installing solar panels on your home in Massachusetts is expected to make your home more valuable.
While there are a few things to consider when estimating the value added, research conducted by Zillow suggests that homes with panels are around 4.1% more valuable.4 In MA, where the average property value is approximately $581,095, that’s a bump of about $23,800.5
One thing to consider is that some property owners inevitably won’t like the appearance of solar panels, especially on the front of the home. As solar is becoming more widely popular in Massachusetts — with more installations occurring in 2021 than ever before — that stigma is expected to change, which means solar may boost value even more going forward.
Another thing to consider is that solar is more popular — and more valuable — in high-density areas, which often have above-average energy rates as well. It’s reasonable to expect a higher value increase in more populated cities like Boston, Marlborough and North Andover.
In most cases, we strongly recommend hiring a professional rather than trying to save money with a DIY installation. Although DIY installation is more affordable, there are a few reasons we recommend against it. We’ll discuss these briefly below.
First off, DIY panels usually have a lower efficiency rating than professionally-installed panels. In an area like Massachusetts, where electricity rates are abnormally high, getting every drop of efficiency out of your panels is crucial for saving money over time.
While DIY panels might be more affordable upfront, the lower efficiency will very likely diminish your long-term energy savings and could end up being more expensive overall.
Secondly, DIY panels often have far less attractive warranty coverage, and you get no coverage for the labor since you’ll be doing the work yourself.
Professional installers can offer up to 30 years of coverage for physical damage, energy production and labor. DIY panels often have up to 10 years for physical damage and efficiency and offer no labor coverage.
Massachusetts is prone to hurricanes, tropical storms and nor’easters that can put your panels at risk of damage and your roof at risk of leaking.6 As such, robust warranty coverage can end up saving you the cost of replacing or repairing your system or your home and end up being more affordable over time.
Finally, all municipalities in MA require building permits for solar system installations. Not only can the permitting process be challenging to navigate for those unfamiliar, but you can also run into issues with your own installation that could cause delays in your project. In some cases, you may need to hire a professional after all to get the installation up to code.
In either case, going through the permitting process yourself can be time-consuming and expensive. We recommend saving yourself the headache and paying a premium to have an experienced professional do the work and the permitting for you.
Choosing a single installer out of the 150+ that serve Massachusetts is difficult, but there are a few factors we recommend you prioritize. Narrowing your search based on the below things will help you choose an installer that will provide a positive experience and maximize your savings:
One of the first things we recommend you look at is the average cost per watt of a company’s equipment and what you get for that price. This is important everywhere but especially in Massachusetts, where the cost per watt is the third-highest in the country.
In addition to the cost of the equipment, we suggest you consider the quality of the panels and the service. Paying more for one of the best solar products is often a good financial decision in the long run.
Next, we suggest you consider warranty coverage — and read the fine print. Solar warranties often cover some combination of the following:
All of these are important, but we suggest you prioritize efficiency and labor. High-efficiency panels are more likely to save you on energy bills over time. Workmanship warranties will also help reduce the risk of roof leaks and other issues, an important thing to consider in MA, where the average rainfall is around 1.5x the national average.7
With the demand for solar conversion growing in Massachusetts, more and more companies are popping up to turn a profit. While this indicates a strong local solar market, it also puts unwitting customers at risk of below-average customer service and voided warranties from newer companies that don’t last.
We suggest you choose a company that has been serving the Bay State for at least five years. This gives you a better chance of the installer sticking around but also helps you choose one that understands local needs and can size your system appropriately.
Finally, we suggest you look at the company’s overall reputation and read through some online reviews. Getting a sense of the quality of service and communication you can expect from an installer can help you weed out companies that are less likely to provide a positive experience.
We strive to bring you the best solar providers possible and ensure you have a good experience and save money with your solar system. In pursuit of that goal, we rank companies based on several criteria, including:
Most importantly, we never let commercial partnerships affect our ratings or our methodology. As a result, you can always rest assured that the companies we recommend will provide a quality solar energy system and excellent service.
First off, we look at how qualified a company is and the reputation it holds in your area. Massachusetts is home to over 150 installers, some of which provide poor customer service, rarely respond to warranty claims and offer unprofessional installations that can cause roof leaks and other property damage.
We first rank companies based on their online reviews, Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings and reviews on other sites, like Yelp. We check for NABCEP certification and certification from other industry organizations that suggest quality installations.
Finally, we reconsider companies that have any history of lawsuits or repeated BBB complaints. This is one reason why you rarely see companies like Vivint or Sunrun in our rankings.
Next, we consider the warranty coverage and the company’s likelihood to respond to warranty claims. Massachusetts residents pay above-average per-watt prices for their solar panels. Not only is PV equipment expensive, but it’s also at risk of damage in the area from extreme weather, like hurricanes and tropical storms.
We give precedence to companies that offer robust warranty coverage, particularly those that cover production guarantees, equipment damage and/or labor for 25 years or more. We also read through dozens of reviews to see how likely a company is to respond to an issue covered by warranty and how quickly a resolution is offered.
As mentioned above, solar is more costly in Massachusetts on a per-watt basis than it is in most states. For that reason, we look at each company’s overall cost and the payment options they provide.
Companies that keep per-watt costs down by offering discounts or lower installation charges get ranked higher. Similarly, we rank companies higher that provide access to a variety of payment options to keep solar accessible to all situations.
Next, we look at local experience. A company gets a perfect score in this category if they have ten or more years of experience, specifically in New England and Massachusetts. Companies with fewer than five years get docked points, while companies with between five and ten years are considered average in our book.
Massachusetts is a relatively small state, but some solar panel installers in the area only serve heavily populated areas like Boston, Worcester and Cambridge.
While companies that specialize in these areas will obviously appeal to the most people, we rank those higher that offer service throughout the state.
Not every solar provider in MA offers the same services and equipment, so we consider the offerings of each company next.
Most installers will provide access to panels and batteries — like the Tesla Powerwall — but we rank companies higher if they offer other add-ons. These can include EV chargers, solar roof shingles, efficiency upgrades, general contracting and more. The more services offered, the more likely a company is to appeal to homeowners.
Finally, as a website that focuses on environmental friendliness, we rank companies higher if they take action to promote home energy efficiency and renewable energy in general.
Many companies are just in the industry to turn a profit, so those that donate to pro-solar funds, offer solar solutions to low-income residents or align themselves with industry organizations will always get a boost in their rankings.
Read More About Going Solar in Massachusetts
Given the popularity of solar in Massachusetts, we get lots of questions about how to choose an installer in the area. Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we see from residents in your area.
In our opinion, SunPower is one of the most reputable solar installers in Massachusetts. SunPower has been dominating the national solar industry since 1985, so it has decades of experience sizing systems and providing outstanding customer service.
SunPower also offers some of the highest-efficiency equipment available on the market, as well as one of the best warranty packages available. Although its prices are above-average, we feel comfortable recommending this installer to any homeowner in Massachusetts who can afford it.
However, if you prefer to opt for the local option, we recommend connecting with Green Power Energy, ACE Solar or Boston Solar — whichever is closest to you.
Yes, absolutely! PV panel brand selection matters for two primary reasons.
First, the brand of panel you install will play a role in how much of the available sunlight your system can convert into energy. The efficiency rating of your panels will affect your long-term savings, which is a crucial thing to consider when going solar in any state.
Second, different panels come with different warranty coverage options. In a state like MA, where extreme weather is common, a panel that has a lengthy and robust physical protection warranty will usually be a better option.
Ultimately, we recommend prioritizing panels that have an above-average efficiency rating and a long-standing warranty for the best experience and the highest savings over time.
Finding the most affordable installer in Massachusetts involves getting quotes from all of the providers that service your area and comparing them based on an equivalent system size and quality.
This is not only a time-consuming process, but it often doesn’t lead to the most value or the highest savings from your panels.
We recommend instead looking at reputable installers that provide high-quality equipment and above-average customer service. Paying a bit more upfront for these installers can often lead to greater long-term savings and a better experience overall.
Comparing authorized solar partners
Having trouble deciding? Click below and use our process to receive multiple quotes instead: