Solar with National Grid in Massachusetts
If National Grid is your electric utility, here's exactly how solar, net metering, and SMART work for your account in 2026 — plus the interconnection basics.
National Grid is one of the three investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts, serving central and northeastern Massachusetts including Worcester, the Merrimack Valley, and the South Shore. That matters for solar, because the three regulated utilities — National Grid included — are required to support full retail-rate net metering and participate in the SMART program. That's what makes solar economics strong for National Grid customers.
Net metering as a National Grid customer
When your panels produce more than your home uses, National Grid credits the excess to your account at the full retail rate — about 31.5¢/kWh as of April 2026 — and those credits roll over month to month. Because Massachusetts electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, that credit is worth more here than in most states. Full net metering details here.
SMART enrollment through National Grid
National Grid customers qualify for SMART production payments of roughly $0.03/kWh for 20 years. Your installer submits the SMART application and the interconnection paperwork to National Grid on your behalf as part of the install process. National Grid covers a large share of Massachusetts, and its SMART and net metering processes are well-established.
The Massachusetts DPU is reviewing possible net metering changes (docket 25-200). Interconnecting sooner generally grandfathers your system at current rates. And remember — the federal tax credit expired at the end of 2025, so any quote showing it for a 2026 purchase is outdated.
Interconnection basics
Interconnection is the process of formally connecting your solar system to the National Grid grid so you can export power and earn net metering credits. For most residential systems (inverters under 25 kW), it's a standard process your installer manages. Once approved, your net metering and SMART benefits begin. We'll make sure any installer we connect you with handles all National Grid paperwork correctly.
What to expect from the National Grid interconnection process
For most National Grid residential customers, connecting a solar system is a standardized process your installer manages from start to finish. After your system is designed, your installer submits the interconnection application to National Grid along with the SMART paperwork. National Grid reviews it to confirm the system meets technical requirements, and once approved, your net metering begins and your SMART payment term can start. National Grid covers a large share of central and northeastern Massachusetts, so its solar interconnection process is well-established and most local installers know it well.
Getting the most value as a National Grid customer
To maximize your solar value on National Grid, size your system appropriately to your actual usage so you capture the full benefit of net metering. Confirm your installer enrolls you in SMART and handles the National Grid interconnection correctly, since mistakes there can delay your incentives. Consider whether a battery makes sense given the ConnectedSolutions income available in your area. And given the ongoing state review of net metering, interconnecting sooner rather than later generally locks in today's more favorable credit terms for the long term.
Why the utility matters less than you might think
A reassuring point for National Grid customers: because all three regulated Massachusetts utilities must offer full retail net metering and participate in SMART, your core solar economics are broadly similar no matter which serves you. The real differences come down to process and timelines rather than the fundamental value of solar. What matters far more is the quality of your installer, whether your system is sized right, and whether your quote uses honest 2026 numbers — all things we help you confirm.