Net metering eligibility

Here, you can find helpful information to determine whether you are eligible to net meter in Massachusetts.

Overview

To net meter, you must be a customer of a regulated electric company (Eversource, National Grid or Unitil).  In addition, your generating facility:

1. must be interconnected by your electric company
2. must meet all of your electric company’s requirements before you interconnect your generating facility
3. must meet all of the rules and regulations
4. you may need to apply for a cap allocation with the MassACA

Your net metering facility may be any type of generating resource if it smaller than 60 kilowatts (kW). G.L. c. 164, § 138; 220 C.M.R. § 18.00.  If your net metering facility uses wind, solar, or anaerobic digestion, it must be:

• 2 megawatts (MW) or less for a private facility
• 10 MW or less for a public facility. G.L. c. 164, § 138

Net metering and solar Massachusetts renewable target (SMART)

The net metering and SMART programs are separate and administered by different agencies.  If a solar facility meets the requirements of both programs, the facility would generate net metering credits and participate in the SMART Program.  Solar facilities, however, cannot generate net metering credits and alternative on-bill credits (AOBCs) at the same time.  AOBC facilities are an alternative to net metering, which is offered through the SMART program.  For more information on which agency to contact with your question, visit our who to contact page.

Net metering and solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs)

The net metering and SREC programs are separate.  If a solar facility meets the requirements of both programs, the facility would generate net metering credits and SRECs.   The SREC program is closed and no longer accepting applications for new solar facilities.  New solar facilities may be able to qualify under the SMART program.  For more information on which agency to contact with your question, visit our who to contact page.

Net metering and competitive supply

If you have a competitive electric supplier (CES) you may receive net metering services. However, please keep these rules in mind:

• If your CES bills your supply charges through the electric company, you can apply net metering credits to the entire electricity bill including the supply portion of the bill.
• If your CES bills you directly for supply charges:
  • you can only apply net metering credits to non-supply charges assessed on the bill from the electric company (such as delivery and tax charges)
  • you cannot offset your consumption or supply on the CES bill with your net metering facility's generation.  For example, if you consumed 700 kilowatt hours (kWh) in a month, you would need to pay the CES for those 700 kWh regardless of how much energy your net metering facility generated.

The value of the net metering credit is based on the electric company’s basic service rate (not the supply rate of the CES).  For example, if the electric company is charging 17 cents per kWh for basic service, but you are paying the CES 15 cents per kWh for its supply, the net metering credit component is still 17 cents.

Entities that cannot net meter

• An electric utility
• A generation company
• An aggregator (as defined in G.L. c. 164, § 1)
• A supplier
• An energy marketer
• An energy broker G.L. c. 164, § 139(2)(e).
• A customer of a municipal electric company.  Contact your municipal electric company to find out whether it offers net metering.