State solar guide
Maine has strong solar fundamentals in 2026. The federal residential credit expired December 31, 2025, but state incentives and net-metering rules still support solid payback timelines for qualified homeowners.
Sources: ElectricChoice June 2026 | NREL PVWatts (verify at your assessment) | EnergySage mid-2026 | Federal residential credit: Section 25D expired December 31, 2025, H.R.1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act).
Net metering
Maine uses Net Energy Billing (NEB) rather than the traditional net metering label, but the mechanism is full retail compensation: all excess solar generation exported to the grid earns credit at the full retail rate of the serving utility. Central Maine Power (CMP) customers receive NEB credits at approximately $0.27 per kWh, and Versant Power customers (northern and eastern Maine) receive approximately $0.32 per kWh, the highest net metering credit rate in the Northeast. Credits roll month to month for up to 12 months with no participation cap and no application fee. Maine's electricity rate of 32.17 cents per kWh (up 22.6% year over year) makes NEB credits especially valuable for 2026 solar customers. As of 2026-06, verify current NEB credit rates at dsireusa.org or with your utility.
Central Maine Power (CMP, now owned by Avangrid/Iberdrola) serves southern and central Maine. Versant Power (formerly Emera Maine, now owned by ENMAX) serves northern and eastern Maine. CMP NEB credit: approximately $0.27 per kWh. Versant NEB credit: approximately $0.32 per kWh (reflecting higher Versant retail rates in northern Maine). The Versant rate is the highest net metering credit in the Northeast. Credits roll month to month for up to 12 months.
Program: NM1_full_retail. Last verified: June 1, 2026. DSIRE source (opens in new tab).
Verify with your utility
Net-metering rules change by utility and program cycle. Confirm current export credit rates and eligibility with your specific Maine utility before contracting. Current program details at DSIRE (opens in new tab).
State incentive stack
The federal residential credit expired December 31, 2025. The programs below are what remains for Maine homeowners. Amounts and availability change; every program is date-stamped and linked to its DSIRE source.
Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).
| Program | Benefit | Eligibility | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Net Energy Billing (NEB), CMP and Versant Power Net metering (full retail) Retail rates that determine NEB credit value can change with PUC rate cases. Maine's rate jumped 22.6% in 2025-26, future rate changes (up or down) directly affect NEB credit value. | Full retail rate: approximately $0.27 per kWh (CMP) or $0.32 per kWh (Versant Power) Full retail rate Net Energy Billing for residential solar systems through CMP and Versant Power. CMP customers receive NEB credits at approximately $0.27 per kWh; Versant Power customers receive approximately $0.32 per kWh. No application fee, no participation cap. Credits roll month to month for up to 12 months before true-up. Maine's electricity rate of 32.17 cents per kWh (highest in this study) makes NEB credits especially valuable. | Maine residential customers of CMP or Versant Power with a grid-connected solar system. System must be registered through utility interconnection process. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| Maine Property Tax Exemption (Title 36, Section 655) Property tax exemption The exemption covers solar equipment value specifically. Confirm how your local assessor applies this for your property type. | Full assessed value of solar equipment excluded from property tax 100% statewide property tax exemption on solar energy equipment under Maine law Title 36, Section 655. No local opt-out provision, applies uniformly to all Maine municipalities. Solar equipment is fully excluded from property tax assessment. | Maine residential property with a qualifying solar energy system. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
| Maine Sales Tax Exemption on Solar Equipment Sales tax exemption Confirm exemption is applied by your installer at the time of purchase. Verify whether standalone battery storage is covered under the current exemption language. | Full exemption from 5.5% state sales tax Maine exempts solar energy equipment purchases from the 5.5% state sales tax. Saves approximately $1,460 on a typical 9 kW system at $2.95 per watt. | Residential solar energy equipment purchased and installed in Maine. | Active | DSIRE (opens in new tab) |
Data last verified June 1, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.
Battery storage incentives in Maine
No dedicated statewide residential battery storage rebate program in Maine as of mid-2026. Efficiency Maine offers battery storage incentives for non-residential customers but limited residential battery programs exist. The sales tax exemption covers solar equipment (confirm if it covers standalone battery storage). The primary driver of Maine solar economics is the high retail rate (32.17 cents per kWh) and full retail NEB, not battery incentives.
Savings example
This example uses real Maine market data. No federal residential credit is applied. Figures are illustrative; your in-home assessment uses your actual utility bills and the current rate schedule for your specific utility.
Annual production estimated at 9,750 kWh based on 3.5 peak sun hours in Maine. Full retail NEB at approximately $0.27 per kWh (CMP). Self-consumption at full retail 32.17 cents per kWh. Rate escalation at 3% annually (electricity rates jumped 22.6% in 2025-26 alone, escalation assumption may be conservative). System price at $2.95 per watt market average. Federal residential credit: $0 (expired). EnergySage cites approximately 9.4-year payback for Maine under current conditions. Figures are illustrative.
Maine homeowner savings example, Central Maine Power territory (illustrative)
Illustrative example. Federal residential credit: $0 (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Your estimate will use your actual utility bills and current rate schedule.
Permitting
Maine solar permitting is managed at the local municipality level with no statewide permit fee cap as of 2026. Permit timelines vary: Portland and larger cities average 3 to 6 weeks; smaller towns and rural areas average 2 to 4 weeks. CMP interconnection review adds 4 to 8 weeks after permit issuance; Versant Power interconnection adds 3 to 6 weeks. SolarAPP+ automated permit approval is not widely adopted in Maine as of 2026. Maine's distributed, often rural nature means installer logistics and site access add to timelines in some regions. Contract to energization typically runs 10 to 18 weeks statewide. The Maine Public Utilities Commission (PUC) oversees NEB interconnection rules.
Maine has a smaller solar installer market than southern New England states. Installer availability and scheduling can add to timelines in rural areas. Confirm your installer's current schedule and experience with CMP or Versant Power interconnection.
Commercial solar in Maine
The commercial solar credit (Section 48E, 30 percent) remains available for qualifying commercial projects. Construction must begin by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the full placed-in-service window. Combined with MACRS accelerated depreciation and 100 percent first-year bonus depreciation, the combined first-year federal benefit can reach 45 to 55 percent of project cost for many Maine business owners. Direct Pay is also available for nonprofits, municipalities, and other tax-exempt entities.
Commercial solar overviewCommercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
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