Massachusetts H.5175 passed the House 128–27 on February 26, 2026, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 2. With the highest electricity rates in the continental US (~$0.33/kWh), Massachusetts residents stand to save $395+ per year from an 800W plug-in solar system.
Massachusetts H.5175: Plug-In Solar Bill Passes House 128–27, Now in Senate
🏛 Passed House — In Senate Committee on Ways and Means
Massachusetts H.5175 passed the House 128–27 on February 26, 2026. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 2, 2026. A Senate vote is expected in May–July 2026. Governor Maura Healey (D) is expected to sign the bill if it reaches her desk.
Massachusetts is one step closer to legalizing plug-in solar. The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed H.5175 — An Act Relative to Energy Affordability, Clean Power and Economic Competitiveness by a strong bipartisan margin of 128–27 on February 26, 2026. The comprehensive energy bill, which includes explicit plug-in solar provisions, now awaits action in the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
The bill's path through the House was methodical. The original bill, H.4744, was introduced by Rep. Jeff Roy (D-Framingham) and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, which produced a committee version designated H.5151. After floor debate on February 26 — during which the House rejected more than a dozen amendments before adopting three consolidated amendments — the House passed the bill and published it as H.5175, the enrolled version now before the Senate.
What H.5175 Would Do for Plug-In Solar
The plug-in solar provisions in H.5175 create a clear legal framework for Massachusetts residents who want to self-install a portable solar system without navigating utility interconnection bureaucracy:
- 1,200W AC output cap per meter: Systems are limited to 1,200 watts AC output per electrical meter — consistent with the laws enacted in Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland.
- No utility fees or prior approval: Eversource, National Grid, Unitil, and other Massachusetts utilities would be prohibited from charging extra fees or requiring prior approval for qualifying systems.
- No building permit required: Qualifying systems can be self-installed without a building permit.
- Landlord protection: Landlords cannot prohibit tenants from installing qualifying plug-in solar devices.
- Certification required: Devices must be certified by UL or an equivalent nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Why Massachusetts Matters: The Highest Rates in the Continental US
Massachusetts has the highest residential electricity rates in the continental United States, averaging approximately $0.33 per kWh — more than double the national average of $0.16/kWh. Eversource customers in eastern Massachusetts regularly pay $0.35–$0.40/kWh during peak periods under Time-of-Use rates, making the financial case for plug-in solar exceptionally compelling.
An 800-watt plug-in solar system in Massachusetts, generating approximately 1,200 kWh per year at Boston's 4.2 peak sun hours per day, would offset roughly $395 in annual electricity costs at average rates — and potentially $480+ for Eversource customers on TOU plans who can shift consumption to off-peak hours. At typical system costs of $600–$900 for an 800W setup, payback periods of 18–27 months are achievable.
| State | Rate (¢/kWh) | Est. Annual Savings (800W) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 33.0 | ~$395 | In Senate (H.5175) |
| New Hampshire | 28.1 | ~$337 | Awaiting Gov. Ayotte |
| Connecticut | 26.0 | ~$312 | Awaiting Gov. Lamont |
| Vermont | 24.8 | ~$298 | Senate Amendment Vote Pending |
| Maine | 22.5 | ~$270 | Enacted (April 2026) |
The Massachusetts Renter Opportunity
Massachusetts has approximately 1.6 million renter households, representing about 38% of all households in the state — one of the highest renter shares in New England. Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Springfield, and other dense urban areas have renter majorities, and these communities also tend to have the highest electricity bills due to older, less efficient housing stock.
H.5175's landlord non-prohibition clause is particularly significant for Massachusetts renters. Under current law, a landlord can simply refuse to allow any solar installation. H.5175 would remove that barrier, giving renters in the state's 1.6 million rental units the same access to plug-in solar savings that homeowners enjoy.
The Legislative Path: From H.4744 to H.5175
The Massachusetts plug-in solar effort began with H.4744, introduced by Rep. Jeff Roy (D-Framingham), a longtime clean energy champion who has sponsored solar legislation for over a decade. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, which incorporated it into a comprehensive energy affordability package alongside provisions on grid modernization, offshore wind, and energy storage.
The committee version, H.5151, was reported out on February 23, 2026. After floor debate on February 26 — during which the House rejected more than a dozen amendments (most by margins of 25–130 NAYS) before adopting three consolidated amendments by wide margins — the House passed the bill 128–27 and published it as H.5175. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) praised the passage, calling it a step forward for energy affordability and clean power access.
The bill was read and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on March 2, 2026. The Senate has been developing its own energy priorities — the Senate passed the MASS READY Act (S.3050), a $3.64 billion environmental bond bill, on April 15 (36–3) — but H.5175's energy affordability provisions are expected to be taken up separately. Massachusetts has no fixed session deadline, meaning the Senate can act on H.5175 at any time.
Governor Healey's Energy Agenda
Governor Maura Healey has made clean energy a centerpiece of her administration. On March 16, 2026, she signed an Executive Order establishing a target of 10 GW of new energy capacity through 2035. Her administration has been a consistent advocate for energy affordability, and Vote Solar and other clean energy groups have cited her office as supportive of the plug-in solar provisions in H.5175.
If H.5175 passes the Senate and reaches Governor Healey's desk, she is widely expected to sign it. The bill carries an emergency preamble, meaning it would take effect immediately upon signing rather than after the standard 90-day waiting period — a significant detail for the 1.6 million Massachusetts renter households who would immediately gain the right to self-install plug-in solar.
What Happens Next
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means is reviewing H.5175 alongside other energy priorities. A Senate floor vote is expected in May–July 2026. If the Senate passes a version identical to H.5175, the bill goes directly to Governor Healey. If the Senate amends the bill, the House and Senate would need to reconcile their versions — either through a conference committee or by one chamber concurring with the other's amendments.
Massachusetts residents interested in following the bill's progress can track H.5175 on the Massachusetts Legislature website. Contact your state senator to express support — constituent calls and emails to Senate offices are among the most effective tools for moving legislation through committee.
References
- Massachusetts H.5175 — MA Legislature Bill Status
- Massachusetts H.5151 — MA Legislature Bill History (House passage record)
- SEIA: Massachusetts Advances Affordable, Clean Energy Legislation (February 26, 2026)
- MAPC: House Energy Affordability Bill Summary H.5175 (March 5, 2026)
- Vote Solar: Massachusetts Has a Once-in-a-Generation Chance to Lower Your Electric Bill (April 17, 2026)
- EIA Electric Power Monthly — Massachusetts residential electricity rates