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Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target Program (SMART)
If you purchased your solar outright, you may qualify to earn monthly incentive payments
Do I Qualify for SMART?
To qualify for the SMART program through Eversource, your system must be:
- Smaller than 5MW
- Connected to the Eversource electric grid
- Installed after January 1, 2018
- Owned outright by yourself
If you qualify, your installer will submit the application for you.
Monthly SMART Incentives
How much you earn per month through the SMART program depends on two main factors:
- Your SMART incentive rate
- How much energy your solar installation produced that month
SMART incentive rate
Your SMART incentive rate will be determined by the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) when your system is approved for the program. They look at several factors when determining your rate, including the date you applied for the program, where your system is located and if you have any energy storage capacity (like a battery storage system).
Learn how the rate is calculated
The DOER determines your SMART incentive rate using the following formula: Base Compensation Rate + Energy Storage Adder - Value of Energy
- Base Compensation Rate is determined by where you live, whether you qualify for an income-eligible discount, and the date you applied to the SMART program under SMART 1.0 and 2.0. Your location and application date matter because the need for solar generation in an area diminishes as more solar systems come online, so the SMART program is designed to encourage early solar adopters. Under SMART 3.0, base compensation rates are determined by the size of your system and the program year in which you apply.
- Energy Storage Adder is calculated based on the size of any energy storage system you might install. Adding battery storage to your system has many benefits, but can also add significant cost to your solar installation. Consult with your solar installer to determine if adding an eligible system is right for you.
- Value of Energy is the estimated energy savings you're expected to achieve with your solar based on the average cost of electricity you paid over the last three years. This value is subtracted from the SMART incentive calculation to avoid compensating system owners twice for the energy they produce.
Once your SMART incentive rate is calculated, you'll receive incentive payments each month based on how much energy you produce. You'll remain eligible to receive SMART payments at this rate for the next 10 to 20 years.
Your new bill
Once you're enrolled in SMART, the design of your bill will change to show how much electricity your solar produced, and how much your house consumed.
SMART Application and Payment Timeline
If your project qualifies, your solar installer starts the application process for you before installation of your solar begins. Once your system is interconnected and approved to operate, they'll also submit a SMART claim to DOER.
Once DOER has approved your claim, you'll start receiving payments. Typically, your first SMART payment will arrive about two months after approval and will be calculated back to the day your system first received permission to operate.
Subsequent payments will arrive monthly about four to eight weeks after the end of the solar production period reported on your bill statement.
You will need to also submit a W-9 tax form and indicate how you would like to receive your incentive payments.
Have Questions?
Answers to many of the most common questions are available in our Solar Help Center.
For questions about your SMART application and claim, please contact the SMART program administrator, CLEAResult, at 888-989-7752 or email MA.SMART@clearesult.com.
For questions about your SMART incentive payments, please contact the Eversource solar team at 844-726-7573 or email SMART@eversource.com.
Current SMART Customers
Track the status of your application, get payment information and more.