Massachusetts Is Reviewing Net Metering — Here’s What It Means for Your Home
The state is currently reviewing how net metering works. Nothing has changed yet, but understanding the basics — and how timing plays a role — can help you make a confident, informed decision for your home.
What Is Net Metering?
Net metering is a foundational part of how residential solar operates in Massachusetts.
At a high level, excess solar energy is sent back to the electric grid and recorded as bill credits. Those credits are then applied later when electricity use exceeds production, such as at night or during lower-production months.
For a detailed explanation of how net metering credits work, how utilities apply them, and what constraints and eligibility rules apply, see our Massachusetts Net Metering & Utility Rules guide.
What the Massachusetts DPU Is Reviewing
In December 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) opened an official review of net metering policies (D.P.U. 25-200).
The goal of this review is to study whether net metering credit values should change in the future and how Massachusetts compares to other states.
This is a formal process that includes:
- Utility filings
- Public comments
- Careful review before any decisions are made
At this time:
- Current net metering rules remain in place
- No changes have been approved
For homeowners who want to read the original filing or follow the process directly, the docket is publicly available on the Massachusetts DPU website:
View D.P.U. 25-200 on the Massachusetts DPU
(link : https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/dpu/fileroom/#/dockets/docket/12804)
Why Net Metering Matters When Going Solar
Net metering plays a significant role in how the long-term value of a solar system is determined.
When net metering credits are strong:
- Solar offsets a larger portion of your electric bill
- Savings are more consistent year after year
- Long-term value is easier to plan for
If net metering credits are reduced for new systems in the future:
- Excess solar energy may be credited at a lower rate
- Overall lifetime savings may be lower
- The economics of solar can change for new homeowners
Other states that went through similar reviews eventually made changes for new solar customers, while keeping existing systems protected.
What Happens to Homeowners Who Go Solar Before Changes
In Massachusetts — and in other states that updated net metering — homeowners who enrolled under existing rules were typically protected.
This means:
- If you install and interconnect under current net metering rules
- Your credit structure does not change later
- Your system keeps its original terms long-term
If changes are approved in the future, they usually apply only to solar systems installed after the new rules take effect.
That’s why timing becomes part of the conversation for many homeowners who are already considering solar.
Why Timing Is Worth Understanding
There’s no requirement to act immediately, and no one decision is right for everyone.
However, some homeowners choose to explore solar now because:
- Current net metering rules are still in place
- The DPU review process can take time, but outcomes matter
- Once new rules are approved, options for new systems may be different
Understanding your home’s solar potential under today’s rules simply gives you more information — and more control — before any changes occur.
Why Homeowners Choose Valley Solar
Valley Solar is a local Massachusetts solar company focused on clarity, honesty, and long-term value.
Homeowners choose us because we offer:
- A local Massachusetts-based team
- Clear, straightforward explanations
- No high-pressure sales tactics
- Guidance focused on what makes sense for your home
We believe solar decisions should be made with good information, not pressure.
Free Solar Assessment for Your Home
This short assessment helps you understand how solar would work for your specific home under today’s Massachusetts net metering rules.
We use your address and average electric bill to:
- Check your roof’s solar potential
- Estimate how much energy your system could produce
- Explain how net metering credits would apply to you
- Show available options, without pressure
This is not a commitment to install solar. It’s simply a way to get clear, personalized information.