Maine solar rebates and tax credits calculator

Solar incentive

Federal ITC 30% (tax credit)

State tax credit: No

Net metering (by utility)

Calculate for your home's location

There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.

Summary of Maine solar incentives 2024

Maine saw a big win for home solar in 2019, with new governor Janet Mills reversing the “gross metering” policy of outgoing dumpster fire Paul LePage, and reinstating net metering for all Mainers.

That means your utility company now has to give you full credit for the solar power you send back to them which you can’t use onsite. That’s the kind of change the state’s voters asked for in 2018, and they got it!

Read on to see how that change impacts your home savings estimates for going solar in Maine!

On this page, you can:

  1. Learn what solar incentives are available to Maine homeowners

  2. See what Maine solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city

  3. Find out how much these incentives and/or Maine solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries

Federal solar investment tax credit

The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Maine

If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.

Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.

The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.

Net energy metering in Maine

With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.

Net Metering requires your utility to monitor how much energy your solar power system produces and how much energy you actually consume to make sure you get credit for the surplus.

With kudos to governor Janet Mills, Maine has re-established 1-to-1 net metering credits at full retail for solar home solar energy. However, if you have unused net metering credits at the end of the year, they get reset to zero and cannot be credited toward your January bill from December.

Therefore, it’s important to size your home solar system well, to ensure you aren’t running over and unable to use credits after the year is up. Connect with a local solar expert to help get your system sized well and calculate your savings.

Maine solar rebates

While Maine does not have a dedicated state rebate for solar panel installation, some manufacturers like LG offer their own solar rebates. These programs are usually time sensitive. For example, LG offers a $600 solar rebate on their equipment, which your installer can help you redeem over the next year.

Cost of solar panels in your part of Maine after all applicable solar incentives

Solar prices near you

Cost range of local prices

$16,871-$20,620

Payback period

9-11 years

Net profit (savings less system cost)

$39,000-$47,667

Average size system installed in ME in 2024

8.8kW

Solar panel cost calculator

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