Residential Solar Power
Residential Solar Power
Why Go Solar
Solar energy is a cost-effective way to save on your energy bills and support a green future. Solar panels can be easily installed on your home or property and set up to collect the most power possible. As utility costs keep rising, solar power will allow you to control your costs and save money. State incentives also make it easy to install new solar panels and tax credits can save you money during tax season.
The Process
Massachusetts is one of the top ten states for solar power, with over 130,000 installations throughout the state. Discover what your neighbors already know by choosing solar power for your home. Work with BD Electrical & Solar to learn more about installing solar panels and gaining from this new technology.
BD Electrical & Solar will first obtain a copy of your energy bill to assess your current costs. We’ll figure out how much you can save by switching to solar power and discuss your current and future power needs.
Next, our team will schedule a site visit to take photos of your property and analyze the space. We’ll use this information to create a realistic 3D rendering of the final project to show you what your property will look like with solar panels.
After that, BD Electrical & Solar will schedule installation dates for your solar panels. Our team will come to your home and install brand-new solar panels at just the right angle to catch the most solar energy.
Lastly, we’ll monitor your electrical usage and show you how much you’re saving with your new solar panel system. Your energy bill will reflect the amount of power you’re using from the city grid and how much you’re using from your solar panels.
Massachusetts State Incentives
Our state has a wide range of tax incentives and rebates available to help cover part of the cost of installing solar panels. Check the list of programs below to discover what is available:
Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit
This program offers a credit for part of the cost to install a new solar energy system. Owners of a renewable energy system can receive a credit equal to 15% of the cost to add any renewable system to their property, set against their state income tax, with a limit of $1,000 in total.
Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART)
The SMART program offers incentives to customers of Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil. Massachusetts customers can receive a fixed rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy produced over the course of a decade. Rates range from nine to thirty-one cents per kWh depending on location and utility. Low-income residents and those who add a battery storage unit to their solar power system can receive additional incentives.
Net metering in Massachusetts
Net metering measures the amount of electricity sent back to the local grid. Electric companies pay consumers for excess solar energy produced by their systems. Rates vary by company, providing a way to earn extra income from a robust solar panel system.
Massachusetts solar tax exemptions
Net metering measures the amount of electricity sent back to the local grid. Electric companies pay consumers for excess solar energy produced by their systems. Rates vary by company, providing a way to earn extra income from a robust solar panel system.
Residential Clean Energy Credit
Also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the Residential Clean Energy Credit can lower the cost of your Massachusetts solar power system by 30%. This credit is available to anyone who buys their PV solar energy system outright and has sufficient income for the credit to be meaningful.
Municipal Light Plant Solar Rebate Program
Certain municipalities throughout Massachusetts offer a rebate program that provides money to residents who go solar. These municipalities offer a one-time lump sum payment for installing a solar panel system at their homes. Residents should check with their local Massachusetts municipality to see if the rebate is offered and the amount that can be paid out.
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Incentives
Electrical Panel Upgrades
For those who qualify (income no more than 150% of the community’s median), the IRA covers up to $4,000 to install a new electrical panel.
A separate electrical panel upgrade tax credit is available for non-qualifying homeowners: 30% of the project cost or a maximum of $600.
A separate electrical panel upgrade tax credit is available for non-qualifying homeowners: 30% of the project cost or a maximum of $600.
EV Charger Installations
The Clean Vehicle Credit covers 30% of the cost to install a home EV charger, up to $1,000. This credit also provides up to $7,500 off the price of a new electric vehicle and up to $4,000 off the price of a used electric vehicle.
Wiring Upgrades
The Energy Efficient Home Credit covers up to $2,500 for wiring replacements and renovations in older homes.
Heat Pump Adoption
The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit offers 30% of the cost for various energy efficiency improvements, including up to $2,000 for heat pumps. Other improvements have varying limits, such as $600 for energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment and $1,200 for overall qualified energy efficiency improvements.
What to expect when you switch to solar with BD Electrical and Solar
Talk with you about your need for solar panels and obtain a current utility bill
Use HD satellite imagery and 3D software to create a preliminary report
Schedule a site visit to conduct an in-person audit of your property
Create a service contract and price for the project
Design and engineer construction drawings and structural stamp
Apply for building & electrical permits for the project
Schedule installation and install the solar panels
Inspect the finalized project and file documents with local utilities
Coordinate with local utility to install NET meter and SMART meter
Turn on the system, explain the metering app, and answer questions
BD Electrical & Solar will continue to monitor your solar panel system remotely for one year, totally free of charge. This allows you to see how much power you’re producing and how much money you are saving on your electricity.