Maine Solar Incentives, Policies & Utility Rates (2026)
Written by Aditya Patil · Last updated 2026-09-24
Maine residents face some of the highest electricity rates in the country, averaging 29.59¢/kWh. Fortunately, the state's 1-for-1 Net Energy Billing (NEB) policy makes home solar a strong investment to offset those costs.
$131
Avg. monthly bill
29.59¢/kWh
Avg. rate
1-for-1 kWh credit
Net metering policy
NEB Program
Net Energy Billing (Export Rules)
Maine uses Net Energy Billing (NEB) instead of traditional net metering, but for homeowners, the benefits are practically the same. Under the NEB kWh Credit Program, any excess solar electricity your panels send back to the grid earns a 1-for-1 credit. These credits are applied directly to your future utility bills against your kilowatt-hour usage.
This is an incredibly consumer-friendly policy compared to many other states. If you produce more energy in the sunny summer months, your credits roll over and can be used to cover your energy needs during the darker winter months. Just keep in mind that any unused credits will expire after 12 months.
| Policy | Net Energy Billing (NEB) |
| Residential Program | NEB kWh Credit Program |
| Export value | 1-for-1 kWh credit against future usage |
| Credit expiration | 12 months |
| System size limit | Under 5 MW |
Residential and small NEB kWh Credit customers are credited a kilowatt-hour of generation 1-for-1 against future usage at the customer's own retail volumetric rate, rather than a single published flat $/kWh figure, and unused credits expire after 12 months. Non-residential customers on the NEB Tariff Rate Program are instead paid a $/kWh rate the MPUC sets annually (with separate rates for under-3-MW 'Original' vs. 'Alternative' tariff projects and for 3-5-MW projects); the exact current cents/kWh figures are set in the MPUC's NEB tariff-rate order and were not extractable from the docket summary reviewed for this report.
Incentives & rebates
| Program | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Small Battery Incentives (Battery Sharing Program) | No fixed rebate. Efficiency Maine qualifies participating battery manufacturers whose home battery-sharing (virtual power plant) programs pay enrolled owners for allowing the manufacturer to discharge stored energy to the grid during events (at least 2x/month, with customer opt-out), plus separate time-of-use bill savings. Efficiency Maine's own materials cite an example of roughly $5,000 in battery-sharing payments plus roughly $5,000 in time-of-use savings over 10 years for a 15 kWh battery, and reference a $160/kW/year manufacturer incentive figure in a cost comparison; actual payments are set by each manufacturer's program, not by Efficiency Maine. | open |
| Energy Storage System (ESS) Program Opportunity Notice | $200 per kW of validated reduction in grid-supplied power, paid annually over 5 years; individual project awards range from about $4,000 to $600,000 depending on system size and measured performance. | open |
Batteries & VPP programs
Maine is actively encouraging the adoption of home batteries through Efficiency Maine. Instead of offering a flat upfront rebate, Efficiency Maine facilitates virtual power plant (VPP) programs that can pay you directly for grid support.
Small Battery Incentives (Battery Sharing Program)
Residential/small-commercial program: any Maine customer with a battery from a participating manufacturer, on a qualifying residential/small commercial/small general service rate, can enroll in the manufacturer's battery-sharing program for grid-discharge payments plus time-of-use bill savings. Efficiency Maine cites an illustrative $5,000 (battery-sharing) + $5,000 (TOU savings) over 10 years for a 15 kWh battery; exact payments depend on the manufacturer program chosen.
Energy Storage System (ESS) Program Opportunity Notice
Commercial/institutional storage incentive administered by the Efficiency Maine Trust: pays $200 per kW of validated demand reduction, disbursed annually over 5 years, for systems 20 kW or larger meeting UL-listing, efficiency, warranty, and interval-metering requirements. Requires pre-approval and a contract with Efficiency Maine before installation; not available to residential or small business customers.
Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Integrations
Small Battery Incentives (Battery Sharing Program)
Efficiency Maine's residential/small-commercial battery program qualifies participating battery manufacturers to enroll owners in a manufacturer-run battery-sharing arrangement: the manufacturer remotely discharges the customer's battery to the grid during periodic events (at least 2x/month, with opt-out) and pays the owner directly, functioning as a manufacturer-aggregated virtual power plant. Efficiency Maine funds and lists participating manufacturers but is not a party to the payment agreements.
Top utilities in Maine
The Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) oversees the investor-owned utilities that serve the vast majority of the state. Rates have steadily risen, adding urgency to solar adoption.
| Utility | Residential rate | Customers |
|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Power Co | 23.43¢/kWh | 519,295 |
| Versant Power | 26.52¢/kWh | 28,935 |
| Electricity Maine, LLC | 16.77¢/kWh | 17,749 |
Estimate your own numbers
The numbers above are for a household at Maine's average usage. Use the solar calculator with your own usage and any quote you've received.
FAQ
Does Maine have net metering for solar?
Yes, Maine offers Net Energy Billing (NEB). For residential customers, the NEB kWh Credit Program provides a 1-for-1 kilowatt-hour credit for excess solar energy sent to the grid, which you can use to offset your energy consumption in future months. These credits roll over but expire after 12 months.
Are there any solar or battery incentives in Maine?
Maine currently offers strong battery incentives through Efficiency Maine. Homeowners can participate in the Small Battery Incentives (Battery Sharing Program), where participating manufacturers pay you for allowing your battery to discharge to the grid during high-demand events. Commercial customers can access the Energy Storage System (ESS) Program for demand reduction.
Is it worth going solar in Maine with current electricity rates?
With Maine's average electricity rate at 29.59¢/kWh, which is quite high compared to the national average, solar can offer substantial savings. The 1-for-1 Net Energy Billing credit allows you to effectively offset your high utility bills year-round.
Data sources
Last updated 2026-09-24
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity Data Browser — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL PVWatts — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL Solar Resource Data — accessed 2026-09-24
- LBNL Tracking the Sun (public data file, host-owned residential systems) — accessed 2026-09-24
Written by Aditya Patil