Solar by State / Maine
Data last verified: August 2026Is Solar Worth It in Maine in 2026?
The honest answer depends on four numbers that are unique to Maine: your electricity rate, your solar production, your net metering policy, and your state incentives. Here are the real figures, with sources and dates.
Maine Solar Snapshot (2026)
| Residential electricity rate | 29.7¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May) |
| Solar production | ~1319 kWh per kW installed per year (NREL PVWatts v8) |
| Net metering | Full retail 1:1 |
| State tax credit | None in 2026 |
| Rebates / performance | None |
| SREC market | No active SREC market |
| Property tax exemption | No |
| Sales tax exemption | No |
Estimate Your Own Payback in Maine
The table above is a 6 kW benchmark. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with Maine pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.
Maine FAQ
Does Maine have a solar tax credit in 2026?
Maine does not offer a state income tax credit for residential solar in 2026. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.
What is net metering like in Maine?
Maine uses full retail net metering. This means every exported kWh is credited at your retail rate — the most favorable setup for solar.
Is solar worth it in Maine after the federal credit ended?
At a typical 3.00/W installed cost and 29.7¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Maine has an estimated payback of about 7.3 years (rank #9 of 51 states). That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.
Compare Maine with Another State
See how Maine stacks up against Pennsylvania — or use the state comparison tool for a side-by-side of any two or three states.
Popular guides
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What changed when the federal 25D credit expired.
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Read →Net Metering vs Net Billing
Why your export credit matters as much as your rate.
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