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Massachusetts Energy Rebates & Incentives

Guide to energy rebates and incentives available in Massachusetts including: energy efficiency (home, appliances, business), renewables, clean heating and cooling, alternative transportation and more.

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Commonwealth Energy Tool for Savings (energyCENTS)

Ranked Top in Nation (2011-2020)   Massachusetts energy efficiency programs ranked in the top 2 nationally 10 straight years

Massachusetts offers some of the best energy rebates and incentives in the country.  This guide will help consumers, businesses and municipalities find information on the energy efficiency and clean energy (renewable) rebates, incentives and programs available today.  

The Commonwealth Energy Tool for Savings (energyCENTS) provides a single entry point to all of the energy saving opportunities available to Massachusetts residents, businesses and institutions. You can find rebates, loans and financing for electric vehicles, appliances, home energy assessments, solar electricity and far more and then go directly to the sponsor’s website. 

Key Actions   for Commonwealth Energy Tool for Savings (energyCENTS)

energyCENTS: Commonwealth Energy Tool for Savings  Heating Help Massachusetts  COVID-19 Information for Massachusetts Ratepayers 

Rebates/Incentives for your home

Energy Efficiency Programs

Mass Save is the Commonwealth's nation leading energy efficiency program provider.  Below are a list of included services for home owners of single family homes and up to 4 units in a multi-family property. For Municipal utility energy programs visit NextZero; participating municipal utilities listed here or contact utility directly.  

  • Rebates & Incentives: heating and cooling, lighting and appliances, weatherization, building or renovating a home, financing, and additional special offers.
  • Air Source Heat Pumps & Mini-Split Systems: rebates available for electric heating and cooling equipment.
  • Energy Assessments: includes home owners, renters, landlords.
  • Income Eligible Programs: based on your household income, find out if you are eligible for no-cost or discounted energy efficiency services.
  • Residential New Construction: promotes the construction of energy efficient homes in Massachusetts. Incentives for single-family homes and multi-family homes (3 stories or less).
  • Renovations & Additions: provides incentives for including energy-efficiency upgrades in renovations and/or additions to existing homes. Incentives for upgrading single-family or multi-family homes (3 stories or less).
  • For multi-family properties with 5+ units, visit Rebates and Incentives for Multi-Family Properties for available programs.
  • Time-Dependent (Demand Response) Program: Through Mass Save, homeowners, renters, or small business owners can earn incentives from ConnectedSolutions by using their connected devices to help reduce electric use during periods of high energy demand. Earn a $25 enrollment incentive, and a $20 annual incentive for every thermostat connected to a central air conditioner.

Mass Save also has an On-Line Free Home Energy Assessment tool.  

Consumers can also find a shopping guide on Mass Save for lighting, equipment, appliances, electronics and recycling programs.  

 

Clean Energy (Renewable) Programs

Tax Incentives: DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States, includes all state and federal tax incentives for each state.  

Additional Programs

The following energy programs are also available in Massachusetts

  • Home Energy Assistance Programs: state run income eligible programs including fuel assistance and weatherization. See the Energy/Utility Bill Assistance Section of this guide for more information on available assistance programs.
  • MOR-EV: State funded Electric Vehicle Rebate program for purchasing and leasing EVs has been extended. Starting on January 1, 2020, Eligible vehicles listed here. 
  • MOR-EV Truck Program:  EEA and DOER just announced the new  MOR-EV Trucks Program. Purchases of  battery electric and fuel-cell electric trucks with a sales price of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and having a  gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds made on or after February 16, 2021 are eligible for a rebate.
  • Merrimack Valley Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency Programs: In July of 2020, the Administration and Attorney General came to an agreement with Columbia Gas that required the company to pay $56 million for its role in the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions. These funds will provide debt relief for gas bills to thousands of low-income gas customers and enable clean energy and energy efficiency efforts in homes and buildings in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.
  • Energy Switch:  consumers of the (non-municipal) utilities can choose their electricity supplier. Visit Energy Switch to shop and get more information
  • MassEVIP Multi-Unit Dwelling Charging Incentives
    Provides incentives for owners of multi-unit dwellings to acquire EV charging stations (10 or more units)

Key Actions   for Rebates/Incentives for your home

Mass Save  Mass Clean Energy Center  MOR-EV 

Additional Resources   for Rebates/Incentives for your home

Open file,  Energy Switch Massachusetts
Open file,  Find Your Utility
Open file,  FAQ About Utility Bills During COVID-19

Energy/Utility Bill Assistance

If you or someone you know is having issues with your energy or utility bills, here is some information on help with paying bills, shut-off protections, consumer rights and more.  

  • Home Energy Assistance Programs: state run income eligible programs including fuel assistance (LIHEAP) and weatherization (energy efficiency).  Find your local agency at Heating Help Massachusetts.
  • Merrimack Valley Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency Programs: As part of the settlement for the Columbia Gas Merrimack Valley Natural gas explosions, a $56 million fund has been created.  These funds provide debt relief for gas bills to thousands of low-income gas customers and enable clean energy and energy efficiency efforts in homes and buildings in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover
  • Mass. Dept of Public Utilities (DPU); Help Paying Your Utility Bills: provides information on Shut-Off Protections, Discount Rates and more.  Be sure to ask your utility about the Arrearage Payment programs if you are behind on your bill.  Municipal utility customers should contact their utility directly for their programs.  
  • Keeping Your Utilities On:  Massachusetts Attorney General's website providing consumer information on your rights and how to file complaints related to energy bills.
  • Salvation Army Good Neighbor Fund: assists income eligible consumers with utility bills.  Information on 2021-2022 Guidelines and applications is available. 
  • Energy Efficiency Programs:  Mass Save runs the states energy efficiency programs-check for rebates and incentives.  Municipal utility customers should also check NextZero for their utility programs.  

Heating Oil (Fuel Buying) Co-ops (note: some propane included check with Individual Co-ops).  Buying groups or Co-ops can help their members save money by buying fuel for their members in bulk.  May also offer senior discounts. DOER lists the following Co-ops in its Heat Oil Contracts Guide, also available to download as Oil Contract Tipsheet.  

Please note that these are listed as a consumer resource and not an endorsement of these Co-ops by DOER or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  

DOER also conducts heating fuel surveys and posts energy prices.  Find the surveys here.  

 

Key Actions   for Energy/Utility Bill Assistance

State Home Energy Assistance Programs  DPU Consumer Information  AG's Keep Your Utilities On 

Rebates/Incentives for your business or institution

Energy Efficiency Programs

In addition to residential programs, Mass Save also offers incentives, rebates and programs for businesses.  Here is a summary of what's available:

Solutions for Whole Buildings

Eligible Equipment Rebates

Controls Tuning:

Mass Save also has a Learning Page with equipment information, servicing and financing, recycling, technical assistance and engineering services and more.  

Time Dependent (Demand Response) Programs: Through Mass Save, your business can earn incentives for reducing energy use during times of peak demand and helping to reduce carbon emissions and strain on the electric grid by enrolling in the ConnectedSolutions demand response program.

Small Business Owners should also consider the related Thermostat Time Dependent Program.  

Businesses served by Municipal Utilities, check with your utility for available programs.  

Visit DOER's Energy Efficiency Division for information on High Performance Buildings (Zero Net energy), technical assistance and more

Clean Energy (Renewable) Programs

Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program (SMART): a long-term sustainable solar incentive program offered by DOER and sponsored by National Grid, Eversource and Unitil electric utilities and open to those utility customers. 

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (Mass CEC) offers several programs for businesses:

  • Clean Heating and Cooling: includes ground-source heat pumps, wood heating systems and solar hot water.
  • Solar Electricity: visit About Commerical Solar to learn the basics of solar electricity, find information and resources about how to procure solar, and ask questions from a commercial solar advisor. 
  • Hydropower:  grants to businesses (for-profit or non-profit) for eligible projects to upgrade their hydroelectric systems.
  • Organics-to-Energy:projects transform certain types of waste – including food, animal waste and yard waste – into renewable electricity or heat. 
  • Wind Energy: includes grant funding and technical assistance
  • Please note that some solicitations may have closed but check for new application periods for 2021.

Tax Incentives: DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States, includes all state and federal tax incentives for each state.  

Additional Programs

Merrimack Valley Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency Programs: In July of 2020, the Administration and Attorney General came to an agreement with Columbia Gas that required the company to pay $56 million for its role in the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions. These funds will provide debt relief for gas bills to thousands of low-income gas customers and enable clean energy and energy efficiency efforts in homes and buildings in Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover.  Additional programs will also be available for businesses.  

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) On July 28, 2020, MassDevelopment and DOER announced that financing is now available through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Massachusetts to fund energy improvements on commercial and industrial buildings, multifamily properties with five or more units, and buildings owned by nonprofits.

Through PACE Massachusetts, property owners can finance energy efficiency upgrades, renewables, and gas line extensions by agreeing to a betterment assessment on their property, which repays the financing.

Read the full release here

Alternative Transportation

  • MOR-EV Truck Program:  EEA and DOER just announced the new  MOR-EV Trucks Program. Purchases of  battery electric and fuel-cell electric trucks with a sales price of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)  and having a  gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 8,500 pounds made on or after February 16, 2021 are eligible for a rebate.
  • MOR-EV: Beginning June 25, 2020, commercial and nonprofit fleets, which include company-owned vehicles, companies with vans, rental car companies, and companies that provide vehicles to employees instead of paying mileage, will be eligible to receive rebates. Eligible vehicles must meet the same criteria as the current program. Other restrictions apply.
  • Mass. Clean Cities Coalition-Public & Private Fleets: Visit the MCCC page for information on how to get alternative vehicles for public and private fleets.  
  • Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Funded Grants & Incentives:  run by Dept. of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), these programs include funding for ic, that help property owners with publicly accessible parking get EV charging stations and MassEVIP Workplace Charging Incentives  for employers to acquire Level 1 and Level 2 EV charging stations. Note: some application periods may have closed. 

Visit the Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition for more information on alternative transportation in the Commonwealth.  

Energy Switch: businesses and consumers of the (non-municipal) utilities can choose their electricity supplier.  Visit Energy Switch to shop and get more information

Key Actions   for Rebates/Incentives for your business or institution

Mass Save  Mass CEC   PACE Massachusetts 

Municipalities/State Facilities

Cities/Towns

Green Communities: DOER's Green Communities Division (GCD) provides grants, technical assistance, and local support from Regional Coordinators to help municipalities reduce energy use and costs by implementing clean energy projects in municipal buildings, facilities, and schools. Currently 271 of Massachusetts 351 cities and towns are Green Communities.  To learn more about how your community can become a green community visit the Becoming a Green Community Guide.  

The Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition is part of a nationwide partnership sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Program. Clean Cities aims to reduce petroleum consumption in the transportation sector and support development of infrastructure necessary to make alternative fuel vehicles a viable transportation option.  Cities and towns can get assistance on converting fleets and installing infrastructure to support adoption of alternative vehicles. Check out the Electric School Bus Pilot to see what your community can do.  

Energy Management Services: is an alternative public procurement method used to purchase energy conservation measures, energy efficiency and water conservation measures and onsite energy generation.

Community Clean Energy Resiliency Initiative: This $40 million initiative is part of the Commonwealth’s effort to address climate change. It’s a grant program that helps cities and towns use clean energy technologies to protect citizens from service interruption caused by severe weather due to climate change.

Solarize Massachusetts (Solarize Mass) seeks to increase the adoption of small-scale solar electricity in participating communities through a competitive solicitation process that aggregates homeowner buying power to lower installation prices for participants. 2020 Solarize Mass has closed  but check for new round later this year.  

Visit Mass CEC for more information on additional renewable energy programs for governments and non profits: 

Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit offered by Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) the toolkit provides comprehensive resources and tools for your community to save money and energy, and to protect its natural resources.  

State Facilities/Public Colleges/Universities

Leading by Example: works with the Massachusetts state government to set targets for facilities in regards to greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, water conservation, clean transportation and renewable energy.

Massachusetts Clean Cities Coalition: in addition to private business and municipalities, Mass CCC works with LBE to assist with procurement of and infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles for state entities.  

 

Key Actions   for Municipalities/State Facilities

Becoming a Designated Green Community  Mass CEC  Smart Growth/Smart Energy Toolkit 

Rebates/Incentives for Farms

AgEnergy Grant Program

The Agricultural Energy Grant Program (ENER) is a competitive grant program that funds agricultural energy projects in an effort to improve energy efficiency and the adoption of alternative energy by Massachusetts farms.  Includes traditional grant for renewables/efficiency measures and 'special projects" grants with greater cost but bigger long-term benefits.  To learn more about this program, click here. 

Agricultural Climate Resiliency & Efficiencies (ACRE) Program

The ACRE program is a competitive, reimbursement grant program that funds materials and labor for the implementation of practices that address the agricultural sector’s vulnerability to climate change, improves economic resiliency and advances the general goals identified in the Massachusetts Local Action Food Plan. To learn more about eligibility and funding rounds, click here.  

Massachusetts Farm Energy Program

MDAR working in conjunction with USDA NRCS and Berkshire Pioneer Resource Conservation & Development, created the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program (MFEP).  Now in its eighth year of operation, MFEP is intended to be the one-stop shop for Agri-businesses in Massachusetts, being a clearinghouse of information, technical assistance, incentives, rebates, grant programs, etc. Please visit Mass Farm Energy and become part of the  Massachusetts Farm Energy Program.

Farm Energy Discount Program

The Farm Energy Discount Program provides discounts on electricity and natural gas bills of 10% to eligible entities engaged in production agriculture. Subject to certification by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR), click here for more information.  

For more information on additional agricultural programs visit the MDAR Energy Programs page

Related Programs/Initiatives

Regulatory Measures

Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS): Massachusetts' RPS was one of the first programs in the nation that required a certain percentage of the state's electricity to come from renewable energy.

Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (APS): established to complement the RPS Program, providing requirements and incentives for alternative electricity technologies.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI): a cooperative effort by Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States to reduce CO2 emissions from large fossil-fueled power plants. RGGI is a regulatory program that uses market incentives to combat climate change.

Energy Initiatives

Energy Storage Initiative:  aims to make Massachusetts a national leader in the emerging energy storage market.

Clean Peak Energy Standard: In August, 2020, Massachusetts launched the first-in-the-nation Clean Peak Energy Standard (CPS), a financial incentive program that promotes the use of clean energy technologies to supply power when electricity demand is at its highest, also known as peak demand. Through the CPS, the use of clean energy during seasonal peak periods will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower electricity costs and facilitate the continued growth of renewable energy in the Commonwealth.

The Mass. Energy Data section of DOER's website highlights data used by DOER and others to determine how the state uses energy and how much progress we are making in reaching our clean energy goals. 

Related Links

Home and Auto Fuel Prices

DOER News & Events

Reports

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